Penn State

[Commentor]

What do you think about it? In particular, about Math. department?
I include in my question the level education as well as the level of financial support and other parameters.

[gforce]

PSU University Park campus is a highly respected school.
The quality of education at the CS dept. is extremely good...can't comment specifically about the Math department.
I don't recommend the seemingly unknown Erie campus.

[Plazzain]

What do you think about it? In particular, about Math. department?
I include in my question the level education as well as the level of financial support and other parameters.

It's a real good school. Their math department is kinda in the middle, so you'll get a good education and won't have to compete with as many people. Also, I hear the profs there are a lot more open for help and office time.

[Commentor]

Thanks for the replies.
Wouldn't it bother you too much, to list 3-4 math. departments that are definitely better to compare only the level of education?

Any other comments are welcomed.

[Klimano]

Cornell, Duke and Michigan will be comparable (and are even better) I think...

[Commentor]

Do you mean Michigan State U.? It doesn't seem to have any math/csience/... departments..

I've heard something that there's some official USA-system of rating universities to distribute money and so forth... Moreover, I've heard, though I'm not certain about it, that the rescaling is to be performed the next year so they all are doing their best now...

[Klimano]

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

[Plazzain]

Do you mean Michigan State U.? It doesn't seem to have any math/csience/... departments..

Sure it does, I was there this winter and visited those departments

[nikishin]

Commentor, if you wish to choose pure math as your career, you should think of jobs availabilty after you obtain the degree. There are millions of mathematicians in the US and many of them end by working for a second degree because it is difficult to find a job for a mathematician. A friend of mine, who graduated from Cal. tech Math department (Ph.D), and my former Math professor who graduated from UCLA (Ph.D), both told me that unless you have a degree from the top ten schools, the job market for mathematicians is very competitive. I know many Ph.D math students who are in second tierel schools are worried where they can find jobs after they complete their degree.
From your discussion, it seems that you have very good competitive math back groud, you should opt for the top ten universities.

N.