<p>I had never planned on applying in The Netherlands, but one of my rec is now a senior researcher there and set me up for a PhD at TU Delft.</p>
<p>The PhD project is fantastic, and the stipend is HUGE!</p>
<p>Of course, all parties involved assure me that Delft is a "world class institution", but it seems everywhere I interviewed claimed to be "world leading" or whatever.</p>
<p>I was wondering if CC, in all its knowledge, had any non-brochure info about Delft? Is it really well respected? I would do something in nano/bio/engineering. How is it to study in Holland? Is it hard to integrate? How does it relate to "Big Name Universities"?</p>
<p>I am a bit worried about moving in a country I don't know. All I've ever heard about Holland are the cliches (red-light districts, drugs, parties, tulip and gouda cheese lol!)</p>
<p>Many many thanks!!! I know I should be relieved to have somewhere to go to next year, but at the moment I just cannot get over my worries :(</p>
<p>I know absolutely nothing about the fields you are in, but doesn’t your discipline have any published “ranking” lists in terms of world institutions? I know that is true for political science. Or how about asking professors in the US whom you know? </p>
<p>Secondly, can they give you any information on where recent graduates were placed after finishing their degrees? Also have they had international students before and/or students from the U.S.? It sounds like a great opportunity but I would try to get more information.</p>
<p>Congratulations, Delft sounds like such an amazing opportunity! Delft is supposed to be a pretty big deal in engineering, and it is internationally well-known - we are not Dutch, but my dad is always going on about how great TU Delft is. </p>
<p>Regarding integration, I think you’ll find that very easy. Dutch people are really straight-shooting and have a reputation (stereotype?) of being exceptionally tolerant; the younger generation thinks of Americans as hip; and I’d say it’s the non-Anglophone country with the highest percentage of fluent English speakers. It’s actually pretty amazing how good a lot of them are at English. So I don’t think you’ll have much to worry about in that regard.</p>
<p>Like the other poster said, you may want to try and get information on placement of their recent alumni. My biggest concern would be if you definitely plan to return to the U.S. after to look for a job here - I’m not sure if Delft is really well-known at all here, and employers would likely feel more comfortable hiring someone from a school they’ve heard of. They might feel suspicious as to why you chose to attend a foreign school for your PhD when you could’ve stayed here and attended a school that is relatively more well-known in the U.S. On the other hand, if you do plan to return to the U.S., this may be your last chance to live abroad for a significant amount of time. Coupled with the prestige of Delft, the generous stipend, and the environment of the country, it seems it would be really hard to pass up.</p>
<p>If you plan to stay in Europe or elsewhere in the world afterward, though, I don’t think job placement will be a problem. Best of luck with your choice!</p>
<p>^ i dont think the OP is American. However, TU Delft is very good though if you get into Harvard (seems from your previous posts that you might have) then you should ditch Delft lol.</p>