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Help! Which Ph.D program should I pick?

sparks

Joined
2/14/13
Messages
2
Points
11
I'm a graduating senior in physics and computer science. And I just got offers in physics from Cornell and Chicago and offers in computer science from University of Washington.

I'm very undecided now. On the one hand, I'd like to do research in either physics or computer science since there are areas in both fields that really interest me. On the other hand, I know that when I graduate with a Ph.D, I'm going to have to get a job, so I'd better keep job prospects in mind.

I think I'd like to become a quant later, so would it really matter if I do a physics Ph.D in Cornell (possibly with a minor in Applied Math) or Chicago (possibly taking a lot of math classes) or if I go to UW for CS (possibly a minor in Statistics?)

Any advice is greatly appreciated!!! Thank you!
 
sparks said:
I'm a graduating senior in physics and computer science. And I just got offers in physics from Cornell and Chicago and offers in computer science from University of Washington.

I'm very undecided now. On the one hand, I'd like to do research in either physics or computer science since there are areas in both fields that really interest me. On the other hand, I know that when I graduate with a Ph.D, I'm going to have to get a job, so I'd better keep job prospects in mind.

I think I'd like to become a quant later, so would it really matter if I do a physics Ph.D in Cornell (possibly with a minor in Applied Math) or Chicago (possibly taking a lot of math classes) or if I go to UW for CS (possibly a minor in Statistics?)

Any advice is greatly appreciated!!! Thank you!
Click to expand...

I have only one advice, make a decision and don't look back. Being undecided about which PhD to do could be a very bad idea. This is something that will stick with you for 4 or 5 years of your life.
 
markhobbus
I actually tried the coin flip in Freakonomics. And it turned out to be physics. I don't know how well I'm gonna stick with that, lol...

alain
Thanks for the advice. Rationally speaking, I know that 5 years down the road, any of those choices would have been a good choice, but right now, it is causing me some headache. But I'll definitely take your advice. I know those worries would probably make the lows of my Ph.D years even harder to get through...
 
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