Physic@BU OR MSE@SUNY-SB?

[lijiang555]

Both admissions are supported with TA assistantships. First-year stipends are as follows:
Physics@Boston University TA: $18000+9000(Summer TA/RA)
MSE@Stony Brook TA: $17000+4000(Summer TA)

My academic interest lies in interdisciplinary research related to nanoscience and bionanotech. As for my career aspiration, I look forward to becoming a faculty in a university after 5~6 years of posdoctoral research. At this moment, I tend to choose Boston University becasue the city of Boston seems to be a more interesting place to live at.

Could you please kindly give your comments on my choice?

[naseermk]

Stony Brook also manages the Brookhaven Natl Lab. You might want to check research activities on your area of interest at Brookhaven as well since SB students have an option of Brookhaven scientists serving as advisors.

On the other hand, Boston puts you in close proximity to MIT/Harvard and you could develop contacts with faculty there which might pave a way for future post docs etc.

Its your call. I haven't heard back from Stony Brook, yet.

[lijiang555]

Stony Brook also manages the Brookhaven Natl Lab. You might want to check research activities on your area of interest at Brookhaven as well since SB students have an option of Brookhaven scientists serving as advisors.

On the other hand, Boston puts you in close proximity to MIT/Harvard and you could develop contacts with faculty there which might pave a way for future post docs etc.

Its your call. I haven't heard back from Stony Brook, yet.

Thanks, naseermk! Both seem to be good choices. Some friend told me that "Boston University is a huge bureaucracy with too many sub-departments, and everyone is trying to do their own thing. Plus Boston U. has kind of elitist character, in my opinion." Will this be an obstacle for conducting interdisciplinary research which usually requires cooperation between more than one research group?

[G01]

Some friend told me that "Boston University is a huge bureaucracy with too many sub-departments, and everyone is trying to do their own thing. Plus Boston U. has kind of elitist character, in my opinion."

Doesn't this describe every University on the planet?

Seriously though. I have learned from experience not to trust other people's opinions on schools without seeing them myself. Are you going to the BU open house this weekend? If not, you should consider making a visit. Otherwise, you won't have any experience with the school to make a valid judgement of your friends statements.

I had some friends tell me stuff about BU that I found out wasn't true. I realized that one who thought the school was elitist really held that attitude about everything and everyone in New England. (He had never actually been to BU.)

[PhysicsPdx]

Only based on where you would be living, go with BU. Stony Brook the campus is a ***-hole, the physics building is ugly ugly. Long Island in general is not very pleasant and Stony Brook is a crappy little place to live. People tout it's proximity to New York but be realistic, are you really going to take the train into NYC enough to make that a legitimate draw?

If your surrounding don't make a difference, I personally feel that SB is a better school academically. But, what do I know?

[lijiang555]

If your surrounding don't make a difference, I personally feel that SB is a better school academically. But, what do I know?

Thank you for your suggestion. For me, surrounding makes a big difference because my girlfriend will go with me. She studied theater art and performance and I guess Boston city is more advantageous than Stony Brook in this sense.

[lijiang555]

Are you going to the BU open house this weekend? If not, you should consider making a visit. Otherwise, you won't have any experience with the school to make a valid judgement of your friends statements.

I would love to go to the BU open house but I am physically in Beijing. But the way, is it easy to find a small studio within walking distance to BU at the price of 1000 bucks?

[G01]

Are you going to the BU open house this weekend? If not, you should consider making a visit. Otherwise, you won't have any experience with the school to make a valid judgement of your friends statements.

I would love to go to the BU open house but I am physically in Beijing. But the way, is it easy to find a small studio within walking distance to BU at the price of 1000 bucks?

That's too bad. I'm currently in boston awaiting the open house tomorrow!

Housing in Boston is not cheap but you will definitely be able to find something that you will be able to afford. It will be easier if you look for places farther away from BU. Boston has a great subway system, so living a little farther away may not be a problem, assuming you don't mind mass transit.