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Rochester v/s Texas A&M

Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:25 am
by xudis149
So here is how I stand. I had given my interest as HEP experiment or computational physics in most of my applications. And I can happily do that once I am in grad school.

But, I have strong interests in hardcore theoretical physics too. And on the other hand, being an engineer I am unsure about my mathematical ability to pursue such a tough field. [this is the reason I never mentioned it strongly in my SOP]

Now I have decided, I will first give a shot at string theory/QG/QFT/supersymmetry/Phenomenology etc in grad school. If things work out then it is great, otherwise I will stick to something in HEP experiment or computational physics.

I have currently 4 offers and I want to decide strictly based on how good these places are in HEP theory only; I do not have any particular preferences in the experimental or computational side of HEP [I will do anything happily].

CHOICES
Rochester
Texas A&M
Brandeis
Pittsburgh

I think it is a tie between Rochester and Texas A&M. Please give your suggestions.

Being an international applicant, I do not have the privelage of attending open houses. If anybody has done undergrad or has visited these places and knows about HEP thory at these places, kindly do suggest.

Thanks
-Sid

Re: Rochester v/s Texas A&M

Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 4:57 pm
by babazula
Texas A&M has one of the strongest String Theory \ Supergravity research group in the world. i believe it is out of question that wheter one should choose Rochester or TAMU to do String Theory. professors in tamu has a strong connection to the leaders of the String Theory, and some of them are the leaders of hep-th ( Ergin Sezgin, Chirstopher Pope, Melanie Becker, Dimitri Nanopoulos ).and if you also check the profiles of the post-docs, you ll see that most of the postdocs in tamu are coming from the leader institutions of the Europe ( Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial,... ) so, if i were you i would choose tamu over rochester without hesitation.

Re: Rochester v/s Texas A&M

Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:18 pm
by xudis149
@babazula

Thanks for the suggestion. I certainly did not see things as black and white as you suggested, especially since I believed Rochester is very much reputed in particles. But definitely TAMU has an edge in string theory.

Re: Rochester v/s Texas A&M

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:13 pm
by blackcat007
Thanks indeed.. can you please name some more of the schools ranked 10-30 where there is a good HEP-th group?

Re: Rochester v/s Texas A&M

Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 2:35 pm
by xudis149
I have been wait listed at both University of Southern California and Florida in last two days. In case if any last minute offer pops up, how are these two places with respect to my current choice of Texas A&M? I mean comparing only HEP theory [strings, QG, Supersymmetry etc..] of these places.

It seems USC has a good group for string theory. But it does look overcrowded. 6 professors and 11 students. Any one has more info?

Re: Rochester v/s Texas A&M

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:06 am
by gnatman
I was faced with the same Rochester vs TAMU decision in high energy experimental, and I have accepted TAMUs offer.

Re: Rochester v/s Texas A&M

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:35 am
by grae313
gnatman wrote:I was faced with the same Rochester vs TAMU decision in high energy experimental, and I have accepted TAMUs offer.
Just a crazy thought here, but it might help the person asking the question if you shared some of your reasons for picking TAMU over Rochester...

Re: Rochester v/s Texas A&M

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:53 am
by gnatman
Yeah, well, I figured he would contact me personally if he wanted to know my reasons, I didn't want to tell the whole world about private conversations I've had with professors and that.

Re: Rochester v/s Texas A&M

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 12:13 pm
by babazula
blackcat007 wrote:Thanks indeed.. can you please name some more of the schools ranked 10-30 where there is a good HEP-th group?
Brown University
Duke University
Penn State
SUNY at Stony Brook
University of Texas at Austin
Texas A&M University
University of Southern California
New York University

Re: Rochester v/s Texas A&M

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:09 pm
by xudis149
@ babazula and blackcat007
Count Rutgers and UNC Chapel Hill too..

@gnatman
Thanks; I have PM'ed you too

Re: Rochester v/s Texas A&M

Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:26 pm
by xudis149
Going to texas A&M!

:)

Thank you everyone!!

Re: Rochester v/s Texas A&M

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:21 am
by blackcat007
sidharthsp wrote:Going to texas A&M!

:)

Thank you everyone!!
I wish to meet you next year :D