Physics GRE Discussion Forums

Hi all,

I'm planning to get my Ph. D. in particle experiment (hopefully working on the CMS or ATLAS experiments at CERN) and I've been accepted into The University of Virginia, University of Wisconsin - Madison and University of Colorado - Boulder. I've heard great things about all of these schools, but I'm wondering what people think is the best for HE experiment.

Thanks so much!

HowIGaussLaw wrote:Hi all,

I'm planning to get my Ph. D. in particle experiment (hopefully working on the CMS or ATLAS experiments at CERN) and I've been accepted into The University of Virginia, University of Wisconsin - Madison and University of Colorado - Boulder. I've heard great things about all of these schools, but I'm wondering what people think is the best for HE experiment.

Thanks so much!

The school you would enjoy being at the most.

-Riley

Weren't you able to attend an open house or two?

Personal comfort is a big factor. Still, at this point with those schools you're not really picking the school anymore as much as you're potential advisor. Which advisor's work are you most interested in, do your personalities seem well matched, are there good connections to be made in the places you want, what's the funding situation, etc? That's something that we can't give advice about. The place doesn't matter as much now that your accepted to relatively equal schools, now it's all about your comfort and the people you'll work with.

midwestphysics wrote:Personal comfort is a big factor. Still, at this point with those schools you're not really picking the school anymore as much as you're potential advisor. Which advisor's work are you most interested in, do your personalities seem well matched, are there good connections to be made in the places you want, what's the funding situation, etc? That's something that we can't give advice about. The place doesn't matter as much now that your accepted to relatively equal schools, now it's all about your comfort and the people you'll work with.

Exactly. Madison and Boulder would be slightly higher ranked than Virginia, but it really isn't worth the difference if there is someone at Virginia you'd love to work with that has the available funding. Truly, if they all have a few groups you'd see yourself content with, then pick the school that you'd feel the most at home.

-Riley

What about "quality-of-life" issues and cost-of-living considerations?

HowIGaussLaw wrote:Hi all,

I'm planning to get my Ph. D. in particle experiment (hopefully working on the CMS or ATLAS experiments at CERN) and I've been accepted into The University of Virginia, University of Wisconsin - Madison and University of Colorado - Boulder. I've heard great things about all of these schools, but I'm wondering what people think is the best for HE experiment.

Thanks so much!

You should go to the one that does physics good.

tady wrote:What about "quality-of-life" issues and cost-of-living considerations?

Quality of life and cost of living considerations play into the personal comfort we were talking about. We're not saying pick Hawaii because it's an awesome place to live, because if you're broke and living in a shanty I'm willing to bet it won't be that great to be there, your personal comfort will be very low.

tady wrote:What about "quality-of-life" issues and cost-of-living considerations?

Cost of living should be fairly similar, but I've done no research into that. If it was me choosing between those programs, I'd either choose Virginia or Boulder. They are both pretty nice schools and nice areas. I'd be partial to Virginia considering I want to get the hell out of the midwest for a few years.

-Riley

midwestphysics wrote:

tady wrote:What about "quality-of-life" issues and cost-of-living considerations?

Quality of life and cost of living considerations play into the personal comfort we were talking about. We're not saying pick Hawaii because it's an awesome place to live, because if you're broke and living in a shanty I'm willing to bet it won't be that great to be there, your personal comfort will be very low.

Yes, I was merely re-iterating the point. Using different language to help elucidate the matter. Being more specific and direct; a better communicator, if you will.

WhoaNonstop wrote:

tady wrote:What about "quality-of-life" issues and cost-of-living considerations?

Cost of living should be fairly similar, but I've done no research into that. If it was me choosing between those programs, I'd either choose Virginia or Boulder. They are both pretty nice schools and nice areas. I'd be partial to Virginia considering I want to get the hell out of the midwest for a few years.

-Riley

If you're in the middle states like NE (no offense Riley),the Dakota's, or basically not on the lakes I'd agree, but Chicago wouldn't be too bad, WI is pushing it. If it were me, I'm more of an eastcoaster so I'd go VA if it were strictly about location.

tady wrote:

midwestphysics wrote:

tady wrote:What about "quality-of-life" issues and cost-of-living considerations?

Quality of life and cost of living considerations play into the personal comfort we were talking about. We're not saying pick Hawaii because it's an awesome place to live, because if you're broke and living in a shanty I'm willing to bet it won't be that great to be there, your personal comfort will be very low.

Yes, I was merely re-iterating the point. Using different language to help elucidate the matter. Being more specific and direct; a better communicator, if you will.

What is this Jeopardy? Why would you answer it in the form of question if you're simply re-iterating the point?

What is the Socratic Method?

tady wrote:What is the Socratic Method?

I like this kid.

tady wrote:What is the Socratic Method?

The Socratic Method, or specifically Socratic questioning, is used to force someone who asked a question to reevaluate their original question in a way that might answer it in the first place. It is not however used to reiterate a statement.

Why would you say it is not a valid method to elucidate or restate an argument?

Elucidate, yes, which is why on that point I did not disagree with you and in fact responded to it to further your points. I only disagree with its use in reiterating a statement. What I mean is that when a question like that is answered, and then someone takes that answer and states it with more depth in the form of a question, it would be used to indicate to that the original answer'er to provide clarity in their statement. I did so, and upon doing it was told that was not the point. That is where it went wrong, in saying that further clarification was not needed when the point of your post was to incite that very thing. If there were no previous posts concerning the topic it would have perfectly fit the original question, as you see I used the technique in my own post, but since it was already answered the direction went from the original question to the answer it followed.

midwestphysics wrote:

tady wrote:What is the Socratic Method?

The Socratic Method, or specifically Socratic questioning, is used to force someone who asked a question to reevaluate their original question in a way that might answer it in the first place. It is not however used to reiterate a statement.

I'm sure Socrates would have liked this explanation. I prefer to say it's the method of feeding a lie in sufficiently small bites, coated with the sugar of peer pressure (all these goons are being swayed by my argument, so should you!)

EDIT: +1 tady. Baller response.

midwestphysics wrote:Elucidate, yes, which is why on that point I did not disagree with you and in fact responded to it to further your points. I only disagree with its use in reiterating a statement. What I mean is that when a question like that is answered, and then someone takes that answer and states it with more depth in the form of a question, it would be used to indicate to that the original answer'er to provide clarity in their statement. I did so, and upon doing it was told that was not the point. That is where it went wrong, in saying that further clarification was not needed when the point of your post was to incite that very thing. If there were no previous posts concerning the topic it would have perfectly fit the original question, as you see I used the technique in my own post, but since it was already answered the direction went from the original question to the answer it followed.

Uh...what?

HowIGaussLaw wrote:Hi all,

I'm planning to get my Ph. D. in particle experiment (hopefully working on the CMS or ATLAS experiments at CERN)

Have you actually done the adequate research into these departments? I was under the impression that all three of these were CMS institutions.