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(USA vs Singapore) Decision, decision….

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:59 pm
by FNR
So this week is the week. We all need to decide which grad school we are going to attend. As for myself, I am considering several offers right now:

1) PhD in Physics at National University of Singapore. I got Research Scholarship on Nanotech Physics. :D

2) MA in Physics and PhD in Science Education at Western Michigan University. Yes, I applied for concurrent-enrollment program in which I am to get double degree in Physics and Science Education in the end of my graduate studies. I got Teaching Assistantship and stipends to fully cover my graduate studies at WMU. :D

BTW, am I still eligible to stay in the United States for the 12 + 17 months "optional practical training (OPT) period" for F-1 holder after graduating from Western Michigan and getting both degrees in Physics and Science Education?

3) PhD in Physics at Kansas State University. Officially, my application has been approved. However, K-State has not guaranteed any assistantship or financial assistance up to this point. :(

Perhaps next week, but I am not that sure. My research interest at K-State is on Physics Education.


Money is not the most important issue here. I am more concerned about my prospective career plan right after graduating from the grad school. Maybe it is too naive, but as for my long term career goals. I intend to eventually obtain tenure-track faculty positions / professorship (either in the United States or Singapore), where I would have the opportunity to do research and to act as a teacher and mentor to undergraduate and graduate students.

If any of you could give me advice and suggestion based on my options, I would truly appreciate that.

Re: (USA vs Singapore) Decision, decision….

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 2:29 am
by gumpstuck
FNR wrote:
1) PhD in Physics at National University of Singapore. I got Research Scholarship on Nanotech Physics. :D

...

I intend to eventually obtain tenure-track faculty positions / professorship (either in the United States or Singapore), where I would have the opportunity to do research and to act as a teacher and mentor to undergraduate and graduate students.

If any of you could give me advice and suggestion based on my options, I would truly appreciate that.
As far as I know, nanotech physics at NUS is generally pretty strong. Take a look at Prof. Li Baowen, Prof. Wang Jian Sheng for example. However, from what I have heard getting a tenure track at NUS is going to be prohibitively difficult unless you have a strong postdoc preferably from outside of Singapore. Just my 2 cents worth, if you go to NUS, don't expect to grab a professorship until you got strong postdoc credentials.

Re: (USA vs Singapore) Decision, decision….

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:45 am
by FNR
Hmmm... that's rather one disadvantage for NUS. :?

What about the other? Western Michigan and Kansas State?

Re: (USA vs Singapore) Decision, decision….

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:37 am
by Peter
Both Western Michigan and Kansas State suck big time (they are not even in top 80), it is not worth coming to the US for these schools. You have practically no chance of getting a facutly position at a decent university with such a Ph.D. I would go to Singapore if I were you. Another option is to reapply next year.

Re: (USA vs Singapore) Decision, decision….

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 1:24 am
by gumpstuck