Stanford or Wisc-Madison

[honeybee14]

Hi guys,

I'm a new joinee here, and am in a dilemma.

I got admits for MS in CS from several universities but have boiled down to two.
1) Stanford, no aid whatsoever, ranking: 1
2) Wisconsin-Madison, full tuition waiver+TAship, ranking: 7

I cannot afford Stanford without a loan. I have got mixed reviews from people about the MS program at Stanford. Some people tell me that I need to go there, it will be a star in my CV, but others say that for a good job don't need to take a loan, Wisc is good enough too.

I don't just want a job, I want to learn a lot too, presently I am inclined towards Stanford, please tell me your opinions to help me decide what to do.

Thanks

[feyvazi]

If you want to learn, go to Stanford. You will find a good job later and you can easily pay your loan.

TAship is just a waste of time if you don't want to become a professor later.

Database group of Wisconsin is better though.

[honeybee14]

Thanks feyvazi,

I wanted to work in network security. Was just worried about the level of personal attention given at Stanford, and whether I will be able to keep up my good grades with the financial pressure and high competition, and whether I will be able to get a good job if I don't get good grades. <apprehensive!>

mugdha

[oldprogrammer]

Personally, I would choose free Wisconsin with TAship over Stanford + >60K in debt.

And I think the TAship would be very helpful for you regardless of your career aspirations. Helping someone else learn something can often be the best way to master it yourself. And I'm willing to bet that having the TAship (and scholarship) will help in getting personal attention from professors versus being another number in the Stanford MS gravy train.

[CalmLogic]

I agree. I would prefer Wisconsin-Madison with funding over Stanford.

[honeybee14]

Would you plz explain why?

I want to specialize in network security, and found there are fewer courses and projects at wisconsin, as compared to Stan. Also, many more professors at Stan are working in this field, so more chances of my landing in an RA position.

Please evaluate my situation and advise, its high time I took my decision!

[honeybee14]

PS: I will do a TA/RA job at both Stan/Wisc. The amount of work will be same at both places, only the stress will be less at Wisc because I have aid.

[oldprogrammer]

I'm curious how you will do a TA/RA without aid at Stanford. Usually, those positions are limited and are the aid itself (coupled with a tuition waiver). As an MS student, I wouldn't count on getting an RA position at Stanford if one wasn't already offered.

[Arooj_k]

Yeah, wouldn't TA/RA be very competitive at Stanford. I'd say go to Wisconsin-Madison. Its 7th in rankings you said which is not bad at all. And you get a full waiver so it means you won't have to fret over money. You can study in peace without worrying about financial issues. And of course the course choices will be more at Stanford, its no 1! But WM is no 2 for a reason too!

[w_guy]

Go to Univ of Wisconsin. You can only do RA/TA at Stanford if you get some sort of funding. If you do, then ofcourse Stanford all the way. But from your description, you mentioned you did not get any funding from Stanford, so trying to get one will be difficult as you will be competing with a lot of other smart people there.

but any ways, congrats on both the admissions!