Hi, guys, I've been admitted by UChicago, Upenn, UIUC. I am wondering which one is a better choice.
I am a condensed matter person both interested in theory and experiment. The condensed matter ranking from 2011 is that UIUC- 2nd, Chicago-7th, Upenn-outside of top 10. But I don't like urbana-champaign that much. And I know that Upenn has Charles Kane. So I have some trouble choosing from these three. Anybody has any idea? Thanks a lot!!
UChicago vs UPenn vs UIUC
Re: UChicago vs UPenn vs UIUC
Are you visiting? So far, after visiting two schools I've found my decision much easier, at least between those two.godott wrote:Hi, guys, I've been admitted by UChicago, Upenn, UIUC. I am wondering which one is a better choice.
I am a condensed matter person both interested in theory and experiment. The condensed matter ranking from 2011 is that UIUC- 2nd, Chicago-7th, Upenn-outside of top 10. But I don't like urbana-champaign that much. And I know that Upenn has Charles Kane. So I have some trouble choosing from these three. Anybody has any idea? Thanks a lot!!
Re: UChicago vs UPenn vs UIUC
Tom Joad wrote:Are you visiting? So far, after visiting two schools I've found my decision much easier, at least between those two.godott wrote:Hi, guys, I've been admitted by UChicago, Upenn, UIUC. I am wondering which one is a better choice.
I am a condensed matter person both interested in theory and experiment. The condensed matter ranking from 2011 is that UIUC- 2nd, Chicago-7th, Upenn-outside of top 10. But I don't like urbana-champaign that much. And I know that Upenn has Charles Kane. So I have some trouble choosing from these three. Anybody has any idea? Thanks a lot!!
Which two do you mean? Unfortunately, Upenn doesn't cover the travel expense. It will be too much for me to visit on my own. So I think I only have the chance to visit Chicago.
Based on your visit, which one is your preference?
Re: UChicago vs UPenn vs UIUC
UPenn does have Charles Kane, but it's highly unlikely you'll get to work with him or even with Eugene Mele.
I got accepted there also and was initially attracted to the place because of these two people, but on speaking with the graduate students there realized that I would not have much chance of actually having them as my advisors - they're very well known and mostly collaborate with other faculty members. Also, they have graduate students as of now and theorists rarely take on more than 2 at a time anyway.
I ended up declining their offer owing to these factors.
UIUC would be a great choice since there are many faculty there doing both theory and experiment, so you'll have a much higher chance of working with the advisor of your choice.
I got accepted there also and was initially attracted to the place because of these two people, but on speaking with the graduate students there realized that I would not have much chance of actually having them as my advisors - they're very well known and mostly collaborate with other faculty members. Also, they have graduate students as of now and theorists rarely take on more than 2 at a time anyway.
I ended up declining their offer owing to these factors.
UIUC would be a great choice since there are many faculty there doing both theory and experiment, so you'll have a much higher chance of working with the advisor of your choice.
Re: UChicago vs UPenn vs UIUC
Both Charlie Kane and Gene Mele are absolutely wonderful physicists and very nice, humble individuals. Professor Kane currently has one graduate student but I think another student might eventually work for him and Professor Mele has two graduate students, although I think one is graduating after next year. I would try to get in touch with them, they are both very approachable.
Re: UChicago vs UPenn vs UIUC
Absolutely! I've heard only positive things about them, but it was very strongly indicated that I probably wouldn't get to work with them (and I would have loved to!) I may have been misinformed, however, and it is not my intention to mislead anyone - simply convey what I know.tsymmetry wrote:Both Charlie Kane and Gene Mele are absolutely wonderful physicists and very nice, humble individuals. Professor Kane currently has one graduate student but I think another student might eventually work for him and Professor Mele has two graduate students, although I think one is graduating after next year. I would try to get in touch with them, they are both very approachable.
So if they intimate that it's a possibility you may get to work with them, that's fantastic!
Re: UChicago vs UPenn vs UIUC
godott wrote:Tom Joad wrote:Are you visiting? So far, after visiting two schools I've found my decision much easier, at least between those two.godott wrote:Hi, guys, I've been admitted by UChicago, Upenn, UIUC. I am wondering which one is a better choice.
I am a condensed matter person both interested in theory and experiment. The condensed matter ranking from 2011 is that UIUC- 2nd, Chicago-7th, Upenn-outside of top 10. But I don't like urbana-champaign that much. And I know that Upenn has Charles Kane. So I have some trouble choosing from these three. Anybody has any idea? Thanks a lot!!
Which two do you mean? Unfortunately, Upenn doesn't cover the travel expense. It will be too much for me to visit on my own. So I think I only have the chance to visit Chicago.
Based on your visit, which one is your preference?
I was referring to two schools that I was deciding between. In my case it was Caltech>Cornell.