Minnesota or Carnegie Mellon for particle cosmology

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the decision-making process for choosing between Minnesota and Carnegie Mellon University for graduate studies in particle cosmology. Participants explore factors such as faculty, stipends, and personal circumstances affecting their choices.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that Minnesota has a stronger reputation on the particle side, while Carnegie Mellon is better regarded for cosmology, but both are seen as equally risky regarding career prospects.
  • Details about the professors of interest at each institution are shared, with specific names mentioned for both Minnesota (Olive, Peloso) and Carnegie Mellon (Holman, Flauger).
  • Stipend differences are highlighted, with Minnesota offering $24,440/year and Carnegie Mellon offering $28,500/year.
  • Concerns about the advanced standing and course waivers at both schools are discussed, with one participant expressing a preference for Minnesota due to its more favorable policies.
  • Questions are raised about how to evaluate potential advisors based on their research interests, advising philosophy, and the success of their students.
  • One participant expresses a loss of confidence in Carnegie Mellon after not receiving a waitlist decision, leading them to commit to Minnesota.
  • Another participant suggests that Minnesota may be a better fit for those interested in inflation research.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on the merits of each institution and their faculty, with no consensus reached on which school is definitively better for particle cosmology. The discussion reflects a range of personal preferences and circumstances influencing the decision.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various factors such as weather, department size, and proximity to home, which may influence their decisions but are not universally applicable to all students.

Which school would best suit my particle cosmology needs?

  • Minnesota

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Carnegie Mellon

    Votes: 1 100.0%
  • Total voters
    1
  • Poll closed .
Catria
Messages
145
Reaction score
4
Now that I have pretty much given up on Columbia, but still will have somewhere to go, I will try to make the best of what I have. Since Carnegie Mellon actually earmarks spots for waitlistees, rather than using it to fill up the class when too many No's have been recorded (like WUSTL, which I would most likely decline if admitted off the waitlist) I feel like pursuing that waitlist is worth it.

In terms of reputations within particle cosmology, Minnesota is better on the particle side, CMU on the cosmology side, but this is not a difference-maker when both sides are put together, and theory on both sides of particle cosmology is equally risky as far as career prospects are concerned. Both seem to care about students' well-being.

Here is a rundown of the data relevant for each school:

Minnesota:

Professors of interest: Olive, Peloso (originally interested in Vainshtein also but realized that he was close to retiring)
Stipend: $24,440/year (Minneapolis)
Greater ability for advanced standing (no need for placement test)
Farther from home
Large department
Cold weather

Carnegie Mellon:

Professors of interest: Holman, Flauger
Stipend: $28,500/year ($2,375/month; Pittsburgh)
More limited ability for advanced standing
Closer to home
Smaller department
Somewhat warmer (but still with all four seasons nonetheless)

Perhaps I was wrong to pursue the waitlist at CMU (I really hope the waitlistees will get their decisions within 2 weeks from now)...

In the interim, I committed to Minnesota so that I would have for sure somewhere to go to. (Should I feel like CMU really was the right choice, I could ask for a written release from Minnesota)
 
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While I learned quite a bit about both schools during visits, there is still one outstanding question, and a major one at that: which set of potential advisors is the "better" one? Also, what criteria should I use to assess the merits of potential advisors, given their research interests?

Olive, Ghergetta, Peloso

vs.

Holman, Flauger, Rothstein
 
Well you consider your research interests, their advising philosophy (do they want to see you frequently and know what you are doing or are they more hands off?), their academic reputation, and the accomplishments of their students.
 
I still didn't get out of the waitlist at CMU even as others got decisions off it, acceptance or rejection, hence losing confidence in Carnegie Mellon. So I will most definitely attend Minnesota at this point.

My professors claimed that the whole purpose of advanced standing and course waivers is to speed up students' transition into research...
 
Did I read on a previous thread of yours that you are interested in working on inflation? Minnesota seems a great fit for that.
 
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cristo said:
Did I read on a previous thread of yours that you are interested in working on inflation? Minnesota seems a great fit for that.

Hence the professors listed being the reasons why I would attend either school... but this poll was posted with the expectation that I would get in off the waitlist at CMU. A shortlist after a first review of the waitlistees is not looking so good at that point, so I decided to attend Minnesota.
 
Last edited:
Catria said:
Hence the professors listed being the reasons why I would attend either school... but this poll was posted with the expectation that I would get in off the waitlist at CMU. A shortlist after a first review of the waitlistees is not looking so good at that point, so I decided to attend Minnesota.

Right, I'm saying I would sway towards Minnesota if you're interested in inflation, anyway.
 
Now CMU rejected me off the waitlist so I will go to Minnesota...
 

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