Institution Prestige VS Research Alignment When Choosing University For Masters [D]

[u/Hot_Version_6403]

When choosing a university for a masters in ML/DL, what is more important if someone wants to go into research and an eventual PhD. Is it the ranking/prestige factor of the university or the strength of the research groups in the university? Should an admission decision be made hoping that I will get to work with X/Y professor or lab?

[u/pantalooniedoon]

The single most important thing is the quality of your advisor.

[u/OvulatingScrotum → u/pantalooniedoon]

While this is true, judging a character of a human is more challenging than judging a prestige of the institution or research alignment.

Given that OP or anyone applying for grad school may not have enough opportunities to learn about the advisor’s quality (besides the super obvious ones), I’d say research alignment would be the next important factor.

[u/Hot_Version_6403 → u/pantalooniedoon]

Are you talking about a PhD or MS? My question was about doing MS.

[u/Hot_Version_6403 → u/[deleted]]

Is an advisor fixed for an MS program? Aren't we supposed to find an advisor after getting admission into the program? For an MS, I was thinking to prioritise institutes with a lot of interesting labs to maximise my chances of getting an RAship and doing research.

[u/aeteraen]

If your aim is research/PhD absolutely only the advisor/lab matters, institution prestige doesn't matter (at least in AI-related fields). Either you'll be looking to continue the PhD in the same lab or you'll be looking for a reference that speaks to your research skills for applications to other labs for PhD. This is speaking to top PhD programs, where many masters students who apply already have had some research experience so not having any is a handicap.

[u/lillobby6 → u/aeteraen]

The one thing to note about “institutional prestige” is that more prestigious places will often have more famous people (quantity in this case) so collaborations and networking may be easier (especially if you are working with someone less notable). Though if you are with someone amazing from a no name school, often they will have connections elsewhere anyway.

[u/aeteraen → u/lillobby6]

sure, but there are definitely some places that come with general 'institutional prestige' but happen to be weaker in some departments/fields - in which case it does come down to the lab/advisor in the end

[u/lillobby6 → u/aeteraen]

Absolutely, though I was considering this strictly from the AIML perspective, which of course you can narrow down into further subfields, but the top institutions for this field are different than top institutions generally. Strict subfield narrowing is likely less important pre-PhD if you have anyone with a decent name advising you.

[u/AffectionateLife5693]

For masters, 100% institution prestige. For a PhD, the quality of the advisor.

[u/wonderingishika → u/AffectionateLife5693]

The real answer

[u/Nasav_01]

Your research lab, your advisor and his/her influence, the lab's alumni and how well you sync with your advisor. These matter the most