I am currently deciding between two programs. For the sake of this post is I will call them Program A and Program B.
Program A is in San Francisco, and I do not know anyone inside that city except for some of the Professors in the program. The program is short (only fourteen semesters) and thus quite cost effective. It is a new program (I will be a part of its third wave of students if I accept). However, it is quite cutting edge with how they constructed the program (basically asking people in the field I desired to work in and asked them what they wish they learned during grad school). It is a small program which boasts direct student-professor relationships which is very similar to my current undergraduate institution. The program also has a strong commitment to Social Justice, which strongly interests me. While it would be quite a move for me to go there, since I am 22 it is an adventure I can easily accomplish now instead of later.
Program B is a prestigious institution in Washington DC, and I live 20 minutes away from the campus. It is an older program and well known in the field with a great relationship with DC area museums. It is a two year program, making it longer and more expensive than Program A. There also seems to be a lot more bureaucracy I would have to navigate and I would not have as close of a relationship with the faculty. It also requires more academically (program A has a project instead of a thesis, while program B wants you to pass an exam as well as write a thesis).
So, does anyone have any advice on how to pick between these two schools? Would it be better to play it safe, or be more adventurous?