What are the best schools to get a Ph. D in Electrical Engineering?

[Special K]

Originally posted by: Acanthus
MIT graduates *DO* make more than other grads, not sure where the person said otherwise is getting their info.

Its not substantial, but its there, 10-15%.

Well where are you getting your info. from? How do you know what the top companies are paying grads from the #2-#10 schools?

Are you saying the recruiters lied to me when they said they don't pay more just because someone went to a school ranked #2 instead of #1?

 

[WildHorse]

I'd think it's less about picking a school and more about going to the school where the top professors are in your specialization.

You know what interests you're focussed on.

Since you already read everything published, and white papers, in that area, you know who's writing the best papers, who's leading, who's building on the previous work of the "right" guys in your area of interest.

So you sort out which of them you want to seek tutelage under.

I'd think you'd have a lot of correspondence and some meetings with your 1st & 2nd choice prof's whom you'd want to study under, long before applying to their universities. Of course, you'll read all their publications first. I know firsthand that those kind of guys usually take appointments for such exploratory meetings.

Good luck, I hope your family can handle it, and that you get a fellowship/scholarship.

 

[engineereeyore]

Originally posted by: oboeguy

Originally posted by: engineereeyore
Current University = Utah State University
Degree seeking = Ph. D in Electrical (or Computer) Engineering

I'm not too worried about working on cool stuff. I'm accepting a job at Sandia National Labs, and that work is all about cool. They have a program there that allows you to leave for 3 years and work on your degree, while still receiving all your benefits and 60-75% of your pay. Just have to work for them for 3 years afterwards. So I'm planning on enrolling in that after my 1st year of work, but until then I'd like to take some courses through distance education and just get things started. That should make finishing a Ph.D in three years a little easier.

Many of you have referenced some nice schools. I plan to do the research myself, but if you know, do any of them have good distance ed setups?

Nice plan but

1) you won't finish in three years
2) if you're asking about which Ph.D. program here or looking at US N&WR you're not ready for a Ph.D.


Seriously, no program lasts only three years. You'll have min two years of classes and there's no way you'll get a dissertation done in one year. No program would let you out that fast even if you somehow pulled it off. You'd probably be finishing the dissertation for a couple of years while working at Sandia on your three year commitment. OTOH if you managed to somehow get an entire year of first-year doctoral program classes done remotely then you'd have a shot at "three" years (really 4+).

Also, you should be asking your current professors about doctoral programs. Asking around here gives me the impression that you really don't know what's involved in a doctoral program. But hey it sounds like you'd be getting a great job so you're probably pretty smart.

I'm asking here and looking at USNews not because I don't know what universities I'm interested in or what area I'm interested in, but because I have a limited amount of time, a family, and will not be looking for employment at the university. These three things make a HUGE difference in what university you choose. For instance, I went to Utah State because they had a good engineering program and a good family environment. As I was married with two children, it worked very well. It was not the only school I was accepted to, nor was it the 'best' academically, but it was the best given my situation.

There are several school that I could get my Ph. D at without any problem. What I want it peoples opinion given my situation. If that makes me unfit in your opinion to get a Ph.D, so be it. Personally, I think a person would be truly stupid to not conduct such research.

 

[engineereeyore]

Originally posted by: darthsidious

Originally posted by: engineereeyore
Yes, I currently go to Utah State. I've been considering U. of Texas, Texas A&M, U. of New Mexico, Stanford, Purdue, and Vanderbilt. I'd love to go to MIT, but the cost of living is awful. They're only paying for my schooling, not my living expenses.

Wait, I though most MIT grants (TAship/RAship) included Tuition and a stipend (about $1500 a month). Most grad students I know can live off that, and almost no grad student at MIT pays out of pocket, atleast in engineering

<--- Currently a senior at MIT.

Sorry, I meant the company I'm working for, not MIT, was paying my tuition. I will still be receiving some of my pay from my company to pay for my cost of living, but it's not an unlimited amount.

 

[engineereeyore]

Originally posted by: scott
I'd think it's less about picking a school and more about going to the school where the top professors are in your specialization.

You know what interests you're focussed on.

Since you already read everything published, and white papers, in that area, you know who's writing the best papers, who's leading, who's building on the previous work of the "right" guys in your area of interest.

So you sort out which of them you want to seek tutelage under.

I'd think you'd have a lot of correspondence and some meetings with your 1st & 2nd choice prof's whom you'd want to study under, long before applying to their universities. Of course, you'll read all their publications first. I know firsthand that those kind of guys usually take appointments for such exploratory meetings.

Good luck, I hope your family can handle it, and that you get a fellowship/scholarship.

Thanks for the advice and the vote of confidence. Always nice to hear.

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: engineereeyore
Yes, I currently go to Utah State. I've been considering U. of Texas, Texas A&M, U. of New Mexico, Stanford, Purdue, and Vanderbilt. I'd love to go to MIT, but the cost of living is awful. They're only paying for my schooling, not my living expenses.

Hehe, you think Palo Alto is cheaper than Cambridge?

 

[oboeguy]

Originally posted by: engineereeyoreI'm asking here and looking at USNews not because I don't know what universities I'm interested in or what area I'm interested in, but because I have a limited amount of time, a family, and will not be looking for employment at the university. These three things make a HUGE difference in what university you choose. For instance, I went to Utah State because they had a good engineering program and a good family environment. As I was married with two children, it worked very well. It was not the only school I was accepted to, nor was it the 'best' academically, but it was the best given my situation.

There are several school that I could get my Ph. D at without any problem. What I want it peoples opinion given my situation. If that makes me unfit in your opinion to get a Ph.D, so be it. Personally, I think a person would be truly stupid to not conduct such research.

Shoulda said so in your first post.

So what do your profs have to say??

 

[engineereeyore]

Originally posted by: mrkun

Originally posted by: engineereeyore
Yes, I currently go to Utah State. I've been considering U. of Texas, Texas A&M, U. of New Mexico, Stanford, Purdue, and Vanderbilt. I'd love to go to MIT, but the cost of living is awful. They're only paying for my schooling, not my living expenses.

Hehe, you think Palo Alto is cheaper than Cambridge?

LOL. No, I don't think going to Stanford would be much cheaper. There are just a lot of people I work with that went there, and they do a lot of work specifically in my field or interest. So that makes it a little more appealing, almost enough to overcome the cost of living. Still not sure though.

 

[engineereeyore]

Originally posted by: oboeguy

Originally posted by: engineereeyoreI'm asking here and looking at USNews not because I don't know what universities I'm interested in or what area I'm interested in, but because I have a limited amount of time, a family, and will not be looking for employment at the university. These three things make a HUGE difference in what university you choose. For instance, I went to Utah State because they had a good engineering program and a good family environment. As I was married with two children, it worked very well. It was not the only school I was accepted to, nor was it the 'best' academically, but it was the best given my situation.

There are several school that I could get my Ph. D at without any problem. What I want it peoples opinion given my situation. If that makes me unfit in your opinion to get a Ph.D, so be it. Personally, I think a person would be truly stupid to not conduct such research.

Shoulda said so in your first post.

So what do your profs have to say??

Yeah, I realized that eventually. I've tried to state it now a time or two so people know, but I'll probably go and add to the original post.

As for my professors, one graduated from Vanderbilt, so he's rather partial to that school and could get me in contact with some people there pretty easily. I've talked with them already about the schools I've listed and they seem to feel any of them would be very good. They also included Berkeley and a couple other California schools. Just a matter of affording California I think.