Need help deciding on a PhD astrophysics program

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harrisa
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2017 5:35 pm

Need help deciding on a PhD astrophysics program

Post by harrisa » Wed Mar 29, 2017 5:41 pm

I've narrowed down the list of programs I got accepted to and am trying to decide on which grads school I should attend. It's between a physics PhD at Purdue University or an astronomy PhD at Georgia State University. I visited both of them and like to community and surroundings of GSU, but like the research at Purdue. Does anybody have any input or pros and cons for either of these schools?
Last edited by harrisa on Wed Mar 29, 2017 7:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Ptolemy
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Jan 22, 2017 9:27 am

Re: Need help deciding on a PhD astrophysics program

Post by Ptolemy » Wed Mar 29, 2017 6:12 pm

harrisa wrote:I'm trying to decide on grads schools, a physics PhD at Purdue University or an astronomy PhD at Georgia State University. I visited both of them and like to community and surroundings of GSU, but like the research at Purdue. Does anybody have any input or pros and cons for either of these schools?
From what I have heard (which I don't think is enough to rely on) Purdue is clearly better, especially when it comes to Astronomy. Additionally, its a Physics program which can give you much more flexibility.

harrisa
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2017 5:35 pm

Re: Need help deciding on a PhD astrophysics program

Post by harrisa » Wed Mar 29, 2017 7:47 pm

Thanks for your input! I am trying to base my decision off of lifestyle, academics, and community to get a well rounded sense of what being a grad student there would be like. So thanks for showing me that angle.

ckitc
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2017 4:52 pm

Re: Need help deciding on a PhD astrophysics program

Post by ckitc » Wed Mar 29, 2017 10:45 pm

I have first hand experience at GSU and can comment at length on the astro program there (you're going to find very few people who can, it's actually a very good program but still relatively low profile because most of the rest of the university...well, isn't). Feel free to PM me with more specifics about your background and interests, and any specific questions.



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