- #1
greenmike
- 3
- 0
I have a 2 year TA offer at UC Irvine for physics (~$18k) where I would focus on Condensed Matter experiment or the chemicals and materials physics program(this program is easier and offers a 10 week summer research program before grad school begins). Degree time is usually 6-7 years.
The MSE offer at UC Riverside is a fellowship for $15k for the first year, no working. One year TA is required for the degree and after the first year funding is provided by TA/RA. The classes at UCR are more applied and sound more useful for a career in research or industry. Degree time 5 years.
Irvine was originally my top choice school, but after meeting a few profs, and not finding a great fit/project I was concerned. Though I admit I liked the Irvine campus a bit more than UCR, the profs at UCR seemed nicer and more interested in my research experience (nanoparticle synthesis and characterization).
I have always been an experimentalist at heart and love both physics and engineering. The classes at riverside seem more interesting to me than the standard physics curriculum, and the fellowship is a nice bonus...but Irvine was my dream school...the only reasons I hesitate going to UCI are a few bad meetings with profs, and the extremely competitive classmates (I was originally waitlisted).
what should i do?
UCI Physics CM/ChamP? (TA 18k)
UCR MSE (fellowship 15k)
The MSE offer at UC Riverside is a fellowship for $15k for the first year, no working. One year TA is required for the degree and after the first year funding is provided by TA/RA. The classes at UCR are more applied and sound more useful for a career in research or industry. Degree time 5 years.
Irvine was originally my top choice school, but after meeting a few profs, and not finding a great fit/project I was concerned. Though I admit I liked the Irvine campus a bit more than UCR, the profs at UCR seemed nicer and more interested in my research experience (nanoparticle synthesis and characterization).
I have always been an experimentalist at heart and love both physics and engineering. The classes at riverside seem more interesting to me than the standard physics curriculum, and the fellowship is a nice bonus...but Irvine was my dream school...the only reasons I hesitate going to UCI are a few bad meetings with profs, and the extremely competitive classmates (I was originally waitlisted).
what should i do?
UCI Physics CM/ChamP? (TA 18k)
UCR MSE (fellowship 15k)