General questions on higher education.
4
votes
3answers
210 views
Math Major and Grad School — Necessary?
I decided fairly late in life (21) that I feel like studying mathematics. I've always been interested in higher maths, I've just been daunted by some of the esoteric notations and theorems. But, no ...
11
votes
1answer
255 views
What is a “diploma mill”?
I recently deleted a response on Academia.SE because many people thought my response was supporting the idea of a 'diploma mill'. My understanding of the matter was that a diploma mill is simply a ...
2
votes
1answer
82 views
Is ABET accreditation important for a bachelors degree in software engineering?
Would getting a non ABET accredited degree in Software Engineering put a person at a considerable disadvantage when it comes to employment, or applying for graduate school? I ask because I was ...
17
votes
2answers
259 views
Is physics taught using phrases that are too easily misinterpreted, and can this be improved?
To explain, let me pick a particular statement: "the electrostatic force is mediated by the exchange of photons".
When a physicist (or a lecturer) says this, they mean one thing: the process ...
6
votes
2answers
164 views
Supervised self-study
Imagine an education model in which teacher/supervisor/mentor does not teach the syllabus to students. Instead, just pushing them towards key topics, and students must study by themselves. The teacher ...
15
votes
6answers
694 views
I was rejected from my dream graduate school…what should I do?
I applied to a prestigious university in the States for my PhD but was unfortunately rejected. I had a great undergraduate track record... but still didn't quite make it. The faculty I really, really ...
7
votes
2answers
251 views
Is it possible to be a paid RA in a math or computer science lab in order to be immersed in the academic research context?
I'm currently a research assistant in a neuroscience lab at MIT and I'm considering pursuing a PhD in math or theoretical computer science. The RAs in my lab who want to eventually become ...
7
votes
1answer
169 views
Math majors into Physics
I am a mathematics major without any undergraduate level courses in physics. I am lately interested in physics. Is there any chance for me to go into good theoretical physics graduate program without ...
6
votes
3answers
295 views
What are the main factors driving popularity of US higher education among international students?
Observation: According to OECD stats, the number of international students at US higher education institutions is the highest in the world and still rising (see also Wikipedia here and a report here).
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4
votes
2answers
162 views
How to search for institutions/universities that have good contributions on a certain physics research topic?
For example, I am interested in the research related with "Quantum Hall Effects", and want to have a list of institutions/universities that have good contributions in this topic, with number of ...
5
votes
1answer
165 views
Do other countries have a oral exam system similar to French “colles”?
The French classes prépas system includes, during the first two years of undergraduate (post-baccalaureate) education, a series of regular oral exams, known as colles. Basically: every week during ...
3
votes
1answer
122 views
Certificate in data mining
I am interested about getting a certificate in data mining. I found three so far, and these are the following:
MIT - Data and Models in Engineering, Science, and Business
Stanford - Data Mining ...
4
votes
2answers
118 views
Second undergraduate versus masters with qualifying year
I was a bit unsure whether this question belonged here, but after finding many questions requesting advice with respect to mathematics studies I decided to go ahead.
Over the last year I have ...
5
votes
1answer
199 views
Advice on postgraduate study in experimental/theoretical physics for a 3rd year Mathematics student
Firstly I hope this question is appropriate to ask here. I am a third year studying Mathematics at the University of Oxford, with plans to continue to 4th year to complete the masters course.
I have ...
5
votes
3answers
362 views
Advantages and Disadvantages of learning a subject through lecture videos
I have been contemplating studying some subjects by watching video lectures, more specifically Topology and Quantum Mechanics. I was wondering, if anyone has tried studying a subject on his own by ...
2
votes
2answers
98 views
How to keep track of current physics after graduating?
This summer I graduated from college, majoring in physics, but for reasons outside my academic career, I won't be able to attend graduate school for at least a couple of years. Despite that, I'd ...
18
votes
6answers
296 views
Coordination of a class taught by different professors: how to be fair to the students?
A typical freshman course on calculus has about 100 students every semester. If the course is divided into 4 sections, each has 25 students and a different instructor.
Because the instructors are ...
3
votes
1answer
204 views
Do Physics grad schools accept non-physics students with good Physics GRE score?
These two questions http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/110303/is-a-good-gre-score-enough-for-a-non-math-graduate-to-be-accepted-in-a-decent-pu?rq=1&fb_source=message and ...
7
votes
2answers
221 views
Is there any disadvantage to having PhD from a non-main campus?
What if one pursues a PhD from a university campus which is not the main campus, rather in a different city hundred miles away. The certificate is given by the main campus authority. Is there any ...
4
votes
3answers
119 views
What's the meaning of “program”?
I was reading this.
Now here's some advice that isn't silly: don't go to graduate school
unless you get into a strong program.
What's the meaning of "program" in this case? What would be a ...
0
votes
1answer
160 views
Distance Learning vs Free Online Education
I'm currently enrolled as a first year student doing a computing related degree (my first) at the University of London (distance learning). Since I started, there has been a massive shifts in online ...
1
vote
1answer
182 views
What excellent university DSP programs exist and what makes them excellent?
In the same vein as this question, but making sure to abide by Good Subjective/Bad Subjective, what DSP programs are out there that are excellent and why?
Please give concrete examples or at least a ...
5
votes
1answer
82 views
Factors leading to rising tuition costs
Is there any published work that quantifies the roles of different factors on rising tuition in the U.S. over the past half-century?
I've heard a number of explanations bandied about, such as:
...
10
votes
1answer
1k views
How will this departmental restructuring plan affect students and faculty?
I am an undergraduate Computer Engineering student at the University of Florida. In response to recent budget cuts to higher education in Florida, my department (Computer and Information Sciences and ...
6
votes
1answer
216 views
Master Degree or Job?
I am recent graduate from a UK university in computer science. As I am not sure what to study for my master degree, I went for a Web-Developer graduate job, and got accepted. As I will probably go for ...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
Any chance for an oversea student to purse online courses and get a degree?
I am planning to take courses in Mathematics, Computer Science from a US University. I am not in the USA.
How should I generally go about it? Is it an online degree that I am looking for?
And I ...
16
votes
2answers
319 views
Publishing amateur research
I'm about to embark on a research project in complex systems on my own spare time. It seems like the idea I have is a good one. However, it would be better, for obvious reasons, to have an experienced ...
22
votes
9answers
780 views
Should I stay in school?
I am most of the way through my freshman year at Washington State University, pursuing a BS in Computer Science. Going away to school has been rough, and I have been pretty depressed for most of the ...
4
votes
2answers
531 views
Is a self-taught person allowed to compete with other in a prize like Nobel Prize, Field Medal, etc?
If a person studies and/or does experiments at his/her own home or laboratory because of some reasons, is he/she still allowed to compete with others to get a prize like Nobel Prize, Field Medal, etc?
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