UCSB v.s. UT Austin?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi Yall,
I just got admitted to UCSB MA in Statistics-Finance and UTexas-Austin MA in operations research and Industrial Engineering.
My ultimate goal is to peruse a doctoral degree in Finance, and I plan to reapply this year, or hopefully continue as a Doctoral student in my Masters university.
From the reactions I observed, ppl are more excited about UT-Austin although UCSB's ranking (43) is higher than UT-Austin (47).
The UCSB's PhD degree in Finance is really attractive to me, and there are lots of professors doing finance related research in the department. The program was formed in 2007 so the ranking is not available. This year, they admitted 7 masters students and lots PhDs I believe. However when I mention it to ppl, their first reactions are :Oh, SB, nice beach...you gotta be party hard.
While UT-Austin has high ranking in Engineering (10th according US News, and 12th for Industrial engineering according to the school website) but its ORIE is under mechanical engineering department, and there are only 6 prof in the department, only one doing research in Finance.</p>

<p>Here is my background:</p>

<p>UC Berkeley</p>

<p>BA in Applied Math-Finance (Major GPA 3.7+)</p>

<p>minor in Industrial Engineering (horrible GPA)</p>

<p>last 2 years GPA 3.5 mostly due to my horrible grades in IEOR (Don't mean I cannot do IEOR. I am kind of good at it but ruined that semester for a medical reason)
Letters: </p>

<p>1 Chinese literature prof (loved me, and i think it will makeup my low AW score hopefully)</p>

<p>1 Berkeley Prof</p>

<p>2 Post doc at Berkeley</p>

<p>GRE V440 Q800 AW 3.5</p>

<p>Will retake this year</p>

<p>What do you think? Which school should I go? Does UT-Austin has really good ranking in Engineering? How is UCSB? DO you think there are too many good schools in California so UCSB is under ranked?</p>

2

<p>First of all, congratulations on getting accepted! I’m in the social sciences, so I cannot comment on your major, but I did investigate both of those schools during my application process. In my field (history), UT Austin beats UCSB hands down in prestige and research, though I don’t think their rankings are too far apart. Here’s the advice my advisor gave me: first, consider which school has the best program and name recognition; then, consider which is offering you money. Right now I’m deciding between an MSc program at a top school in England with no funding vs. an all expense paid PhD program at an upper-mid ranking UC school. I know it’s a very hard decision. Good luck!</p>