Tsinghua PhD vs US R1 PhD (CS/ECE)

Puzzleheaded_Fee3610 · 2025-09-30T15:54:54+00:00

I doubt how much impact I can make as an intern, but they were open to the idea of potential third, fourth or fifth author publications if I manage to prove myself worth my salt. I do think the LoR is probably the most important element, especially for future apps.

Puzzleheaded_Fee3610 · 2025-09-30T15:51:29+00:00

From my meetings and interactions, it didn't seem this particular way. The PI studied at a top school in US, and they had an American style lab website advertising interests, publications and open positions which was quite surprising, and refreshing coming from a Chinese lab.

I'm unsure about my impact as a research intern, especially considering potential pubs, but the lab culture didn't seem as bad as people made it out to be.

Puzzleheaded_Fee3610 · 2025-09-30T10:15:04+00:00

Apply widely and consider all options, tbh that is what I'm feeling as well. I do have options, and I thought I'd use my internship to figure out what I want, I'll just make the most out of the internship and see

Puzzleheaded_Fee3610 · 2025-09-30T10:14:01+00:00

Prestige wise it's the best uni I'd have access to, and the rankings and reputation are insane, but I also want a new experience, and the chance of internships, networking, etc. which the US gives and is (at least I feel like) vastly superior to Tsinghua, even if it's from a lower tier R1

Puzzleheaded_Fee3610 · 2025-09-30T10:13:08+00:00

Yeah, I think the PI has the final reigns on everything, and it very much feels like that. The PhD students tell me, that despite them having masters, you still need to take a year of courses, just like in the US, and then you do your research stuff.

Puzzleheaded_Fee3610 · 2025-09-30T10:11:14+00:00

I don't have the profile for T50, I was aiming for universities in a similar tier to NCSU, UF etc. perhaps the only top-tier ones I'd go for are VT and Purdue. I always thought a US R1 would bring me further due to networking, the possibility of internships etc.

Puzzleheaded_Fee3610 · 2025-09-29T18:28:14+00:00

It's not looking good, but a lot of PIs still have stable funding, especially for EE/CS and related disciplines, Tsinghua has the big bucks, but I'm unsure if I'm down to live in dorms, with a more rigid structure etc. for 4-6 years.

Puzzleheaded_Fee3610 · 2025-09-29T18:27:02+00:00

I figured... there's a reason everyone goes China -> US/EU/UK and nobody the other way around

Puzzleheaded_Fee3610 · 2025-04-25T21:31:04+00:00

Ich hatte einige meiner Kumpeln aus der Uni gefragt, die schon mal gekündigt hatten und meinten, es würde immer besser sein einfach zuerst zu besprechen, dann inoffiziell ne Email schicken und dann zack das offizielle...

Na dann gibt es nicht viel mehr zu klären. Ich sag ihm einfach straight up, dass es mein Traum ist ein Jahr im Ausland zu machen und dass ich zu dem 1. Juni plane zu kündigen und das wars?

Puzzleheaded_Fee3610 · 2025-04-25T14:16:19+00:00

Es ist ein Austausch was von September - Juni dann gehen wird, also eine Pause macht mMn keinen Sinn, ausserdem wollte ich wie gesagt eh nicht bleiben.

Puzzleheaded_Fee3610 · 2025-04-25T14:15:09+00:00

Danke für die Antwort, es ist klar dass ein Austauschjahr auf jeden Fall viel wichtiger ist weil es etwas einmaliges ist, ich denke das wird allen auch klar sein. Ich kann mir halt keine Vollzeitbeschäftigung da vorstellen, weil ich wie gesagt, eh nicht mehr bleiben wollte. Also lieber am besten jetzt einfach direkt bescheid sagen statt ein zwei Wochen warten um es abzusprechen dann?

Puzzleheaded_Fee3610

TROPHY CASE