<p>I have been offered full funding to attend both schools and perform graduate research. Texas offers better weather and more exciting research topics, while Illinois offers a cheaper cost of living and therefore more money. </p>
<p>Any thoughts?</p>
<p>What is your stipend at each school?</p>
<p>Are you sure that it’s cheaper to live at UIUC? </p>
<p>Do they both have grad housing? If so, how much?</p>
<p>I will get about 200 more per month at UIUC. </p>
<p>I was basing the cost of living statement on Champaign being a small midwestern town and Austin’s campus being downtown in a major city</p>
<p>I would most likely get an apartment at either campus because grad housing is usually a sad,depressing place</p>
<p>A friend’s child with very strong undergrad prep went to the UT Austin grad program, and it didn’t go well. The parents (who are in the biz) say that the department was unsupportive: low pass rates on comprehensives, at least one advisor who didn’t go to bat for advisees, not a lot of wriggle room. This was within the last few years. Perhaps deparment culture has changed, but I would inquire pretty closely within the department–faculty and current grad students both–about what percentage of entering students finish the program, why people leave the program, etc.</p>
<p>Wow. that sounds terrible. I have already with the priest woo would advise me and have stayed in contact since my visit abs he has been very available and helpful so far.</p>
<p>I will make sure to check in with current students on this</p>
<p>Sorry, I tried to type that on my phone. It was supposed to read “professor who would advise me”</p>
<p>Both are great choices. Also, I am not sure if Urbana-Champaign is THAT much cheaper than Austin. It really depends what you are looking for but it sounds like you prefer UT and at a similar cost you should go there.</p>