Kramhsiri

I've been puzzling over my admissions predicament for a while, and was curious to get the opinions of other Anthropology admits. After getting shutout last year, this year I have two very solid offers from programs that I would both love attending. I'm just not sure which one would be best to attend, or which one would be best for my future as an academic. I'm applying for archaeology programs and my two choices are: Program 1: $33,000/year stipend for 5 years TA-ing for 5 years Well respected and well-known institution, not a powerhouse in my field but strong regional focus that meshes with my own Three faculty members that all sort-of do work related to my interests. Would-be advisor uses same methodological approaches I am interested in, but different theoretical questions My would-be advisor doesn't have tenure, hasn't graduated a student, has 1 current student Other two faculty members are well known in the field, but might not be willing to work with me Nice campus and facilities The city is less interesting, but cheaper, would be a fine place to live. Program 2: $20,000/year stipend for 5 years TA-ing for 2 years, possibility for teaching summer courses as professor of record Institution is relatively newer, a powerhouse in biology research but not SUPER well known for Anthropology or my regional focus One faculty member who does work exactly related to my interests Would-be advisor uses different methodological approaches, but same theoretical questions Would-be advisor has tenure, has graduated 4 students, has 4 current students, and is a publishing powerhouse, willing to publish heavily with his students, is easy to get along with Nice campus and facilities City is interesting, but more expensive, would be a fun place to live I honestly flip back and forth by the hour, and April 15th is fast approaching. Do I go with the well-established school with more money, or the well-established advisor with more publishing potential?

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I posted this in the archaeology waiting thread, but I thought I would cross-post here in case people were wondering about any of these programs: I'll join in here and stop lurking and post some results. I am a Mesoamerican archaeologist with a strong focus on the Maya, got my BA in May 2012 and was rejected at all schools for Fall 2013. So I did a little CRM and have a publication under review, and it seems to have lifted my acceptability in the eyes of admissions comittees. So far my season has been: Vanderbilt (PhD): Accepted, 33k/year funding UC-San Diego (PhD): Accepted, 20k/year funding SUNY-Albany (PhD): Accepted, no funding SIU-C (MA): Accepted, 11k/year funding Tulane (PhD): Withdrew Application CU-Boulder: Waitlisted Boston University: Rejected Brown University: Rejected University of Arizona: Waiting UT-Austin: Waiting I'm really excited about both the Vanderbilt and UCSD offers and will definitely go to one of those schools. If anyone has any opinions on these programs, feel free to share them!

I'll join in here and stop lurking and post some results. I am a Mesoamerican archaeologist with a strong focus on the Maya, got my BA in May 2012 and was rejected at all schools for Fall 2013. So I did a little CRM and have a publication under review, and it seems to have lifted my acceptability in the eyes of admissions comittees. So far my season has been: Vanderbilt (PhD): Accepted, 33k/year funding UC-San Diego (PhD): Accepted, 20k/year funding SUNY-Albany (PhD): Accepted, no funding SIU-C (MA): Accepted, 11k/year funding Tulane (PhD): Withdrew Application CU-Boulder: Waitlisted Boston University: Rejected Brown University: Rejected University of Arizona: Waiting UT-Austin: Waiting I'm really excited about both the Vanderbilt and UCSD offers and will definitely go to one of those schools. If anyone has any opinions on these programs, feel free to share them!