Help me choose between UCSD and GA Tech

[pomegranatesrgood]

Please help me choose between these two schools for Computer Science Masters. They're both ranked about the same on US News for CS grad school. My ultimate goal is to go to Berkeley or Stanford for PhD. Would UCSD offer an advantage in phd application for Berkeley since it's both in-state and part of the UC system? Also, how much does the Masters advisor's prestige matter for phd application?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

p.s. - I didn't get into Berkeley MS program

[dost]

I also got in GA Tech. I would choose UCSD because of its location, it's such a beautiful place to live in However, also consider the number of faculty members with matching research interests...

[MAHM fegc]

UCSD .... Really too good in CS

[raza5680]

GA Tech

[MAHM fegc]

well I know couple of people from my university who got in gatech and are there. First of all considering the location where gatech is. its not preferable. You cannot move around after 8 Pm. UCSD is great in CS and so is gatech. but location wise and considering other factor, If I were you I would never have given a second thought to UCSD.
BTW search all the posts of Gforce, you can find few more advantages of UCSD.

[MAHM fegc]

The other thing is if Gatech has given you full funding and UCSD has not then perhaps you should move to gatech.

[pomegranatesrgood]

Neither school has guranteed funding (Masters students usually don't get that anyway). I know UCSD is more beautiful, but GA Tech has more faculty of matching interests. How much does that matter for MS?

Also I'm wondering if it's easier to get into UC Berkeley for PhD if I graduate from UCSD.

[raza5680]

GATech is a better option in your case...as you said that faculty has matching intrests well it will help you in preparing for PhD...and with good profile you can get into Berkely...in my opinion MS from UCSD will not be a major factor..

good luck

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NOT FAILURE BUT LOW AIM IS CRIME

[MAHM fegc]

Originally Posted by pomegranatesrgood

Neither school has guranteed funding (Masters students usually don't get that anyway). I know UCSD is more beautiful, but GA Tech has more faculty of matching interests. How much does that matter for MS?

Also I'm wondering if it's easier to get into UC Berkeley for PhD if I graduate from UCSD.

If the faculty at gatech has research interests very similar to you then whats the point in asking this question. Move to gatech and CoC at gatech has enough funding to offer RA ship to masters students. Try contacting professors or if you know anyone over there do ask him funding options. Remember your aim is to get UC berkeley/MIT so you should look forward to work with big names at gatech. Good luck

[pomegranatesrgood]

Well actually UCSD has faculty of my interest too, just not quite as many as GA Tech. I called Berkeley and they said they don't really care if your advisor is a "big name" or whatever, they just want to see if you're capable of doing quality research, and if you align with one of THEIR professors when you apply for PhD. Also, one of the professors at UCSD is a visiting professor at Stanford in my area of interest, so I think he's pretty well known in that area too (a "big name" so to speak).

So academically there's not much difference between the two. My decision is pretty much going to be swayed by other factors like campus/weather/city/culture, and I think UCSD wins in that