Grad School Choices: Comp Sci at Concordia or Math at UoT?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the decision-making process for choosing between a master's program in Computer Science at Concordia University and a master's program in Mathematics at the University of Toronto. The scope includes considerations of funding, institutional reputation, personal interests, and future academic goals.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes the importance of funding and suggests that the choice may depend on how much debt the individual is willing to incur.
  • Another participant emphasizes the value of contacting department members to learn about research opportunities, thesis projects, and course offerings, suggesting these factors may outweigh the school's reputation.
  • A different viewpoint proposes that personal preference between math and computer science should guide the decision-making process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on the factors that should influence the choice, indicating that there is no consensus on the best approach to making this decision.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight various considerations such as funding, personal interest, and departmental resources, but do not resolve how these factors weigh against each other in the decision-making process.

Dragonfall
Messages
1,023
Reaction score
5
I've been offered admissions to Concordia University (not very well known) in comp sci with a little funding, and (maybe) admissions to University of Toronto (a lot more renowned) in math with no funding. Both are a master's (which is a pre-requisite for a PhD in almost all Canadian universities).

What's the better choice?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
She sells sea shells by the sea shore.
 
It depends on how much debt you want. I was in the same position you are in last spring and chose to go the the smaller school (where I got my BS) because they offered me support while others did not. I did this because I'm going on to get my PhD and didn't want to start off 4-5 years of school with debt. Are they both doing research in the area that you want to work in?
 
You'll probably get a better answer by contacting people in each department - proffs, grad students, academic advisors, etc. and learning about the opportunities each school has to offer. Consider what you would be doing for your thesis project, what courses are available, and the personalities of potential supervisors. All of these factors are far more important than how well known a school's name is.
 
Maybe the question you should be asking yourself is...which do i like more? math? or computer science? then you might have your answer.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
Replies
15
Views
5K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
4K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
4K
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K