SweetConley

yeah, I chose school A! Which is where I was leaning anyway. Thanks all!

Right, and that is what is making it hard for me. There is 1 professor that is outstanding vs. 3 others that are great but don't do exactly what I want to do. My prob is that I want to combine 2 fields that aren't usually put together so there are few schools where faculty have both anyway.

I think my post was written confusing, but the butthole guy I met with was not my potential advisor. He was someone there that would have been good to work with on one part of my subfield. My potential advisor is the perfect one who is doing everything i want to do, but he is out of the country. I only spoke w/him over email but he was very nice and eager to work with me plus he is big in his field. the arrogant guy was the only guy i met in person that day, but he wouldn't not be my main advisor. There are also 2 lecturers and 4 other people in outside depts that would be great to work w/. The faculty at school A are 4 that are good for the part of the subfield, but no one there specializes in the other part that I need. Thanks for you votes though.

Hi, Please help! Its April 15th and I am indecisive about these 2 schools: University A: Is in a place with high cost of living but low stipend. State school. Higher ranking in top 30 but only by three slots above school B. Excellent faculty that specialize in one of the two subfields I seek to specialize in. I will be doing both equally. but I feel that there has been little contact from the program, and that I am not wanted that much here but everyone was super nice during visit. There are 4 faculty in the dept I want to work with and 2-3 faculty outside in another dept. No one in my research area in the second subfield, but I've been told I could pave the way and they are looking to hire someone. Good placement rate but not as good as school B. University B: Stipend is 2k higher and guaranteed for an extra yr and in a much lower cost of living. Private school. Lower ranking in my major, but very prestigious and strong weight to schools name and repuation. High placement rate of 85%, prob because of name but this was prob 10 yrs ago. Professor there worked really hard to get me in and they all generally tried to contacty more. 1 faculty that is perfect for what i wnat to study, and only 1 other that would be good for 1 of my fields. I met with him and he was quite off-putting, arrogant and just strangely condesending manner. Couldn't meet w/ my perfect advisor cause he is out of the country. A few other people I might be able to pull from but I'd be taking a risk if the 1 professor left. Absolutely Beautiful campus. Also have smaller cohort and class sizes than school A. Which one should I go to and why.

Hi, Please help! Its April 15th and I am indecisive about these 2 schools: University A: Is in a place with high cost of living but low stipend. State school. Higher ranking in top 30 but only by three slots above school B. Excellent faculty that specialize in one of the two subfields I seek to specialize in. I will be doing both equally. but I feel that there has been little contact from the program, and that I am not wanted that much here but everyone was super nice during visit. There are 4 faculty in the dept I want to work with and 2-3 faculty outside in another dept. No one in my research area in the second subfield, but I've been told I could pave the way and they are looking to hire someone. Good placement rate but not as good as school B. University B: Stipend is 2k higher and guaranteed for an extra yr and in a much lower cost of living. Private school. Lower ranking in my major, but very prestigious and strong weight to schools name and repuation. High placement rate of 85%, prob because of name but this was prob 10 yrs ago. Professor there worked really hard to get me in and they all generally tried to contacty more. 1 faculty that is perfect for what i wnat to study, and only 1 other that would be good for 1 of my fields. I met with him and he was quite off-putting, arrogant and just strangely condesending manner. Couldn't meet w/ my perfect advisor cause he is out of the country. A few other people I might be able to pull from but I'd be taking a risk if the 1 professor left. Absolutely Beautiful campus. Also have smaller cohort and class sizes than school A. Which one should I go to and why.