ScreamingHairyArmadillo

You already accepted an offer? Don't bother completing the third one.

If the above poster is correct about there not being much of an ego problem, I'd go for Stanford. Since you know you'll need supplementary work on professional growth such as grant writing, I'd bet you could find it for yourself there, even if it isn't built into the curriculum. Also, a competitive atmosphere can be good; those will be the people you're up against in the future!

I think you need some more info first. How often do Cornell MS students continue to the PhD? Do they want to stay there, or is it hard to even get in at that stage? If you can, you should visit to find out more about their atmosphere and people. Also important is job placement, though if they're both your top choices, I'd bet both programs are well respected. However, if Cornell isn't going to give you any money for 2 years, I'd go with Northwestern. They obviously want you, and you wouldn't have to deal with a possibly messy MS to PhD transition.

I vote dream school! However, what's the potential word on UNC?

Choice 1 - OSU Pros: Program is excellent and well known. Potential advisor is up-and-coming, and my master's work would be part of a group trying to set up a Long Term Ecological Research station in Cleveland (amazing!). PI and I also definitely get along. Department has many outreach and extension opportunities (I really plan on making my work relevant to the public). My first two years would be paid by fellowships (so no TAing until later and after I'm established) and total $24,500 both years; later years will be similar amounts, and funding is provided for 5 years. I loved the department when I visited Wooster and clicked with most everyone there. Also, Columbus is an awesome city, and is where I would be the first 2 years. Cons: While close to family, I would like to experience life outside of Ohio at some point. Also, department is split between Columbus and Wooster, so I'm not sure how tight knit the entire group is, though I think they are within their own towns. My PI is great, but is fairly new and I think only has 1 student currently. Choice 2 - University of Maryland Pros: Program is also excellent and well known. Potential advisor is established in her field and has an excellent track record of successful students; we also really clicked when we met. Department has many outreach opportunities, and has great connections with USDA and EPA. Funding is provided for 5 years and I've received an additional fellowship on top of the regular stipend: $27,700 to 28,700 total, depending on the year. The department has some amazing people and the community is very tight knit. The students were great and friendly. Cons: I might TA my first year, which could take some precious time away from planning my work because I would be doing a straight PhD track. College Park itself is a dump and for some reason crazy expensive. So I'd be getting more money, but the cost of living is much, much more expensive than Ohio. I'm being heavily recruited by both schools (which is awesome!), and am finding it really hard to choose. To throw into the mix, my boyfriend is also deciding between both schools, but has yet to hear about funding. Both will give him 4-5 year funding, but he is holding out for a first year fellowship so he doesn't have to TA immediately (history TAing is very time consuming). OSU has a better reputation in his field, but UMD has a few superstar faculty he could work with. He wants to stay close to home in the best of all worlds, but if we went to UMD he would at least be living with me the whole time (barring any unforeseen circumstances). OSU would require us to live apart after 2 years; not the end of the world, but still. This has been the only thing on my mind! I honestly don't think I can make a wrong decision, but I would like some outside insight.

Apartment! Your parents are close enough to watch your dog if you need to go out of town.

Yup, ask specifically. However, at least with my programs, the first year fellowship is in lieu of an assistantship. Basically, they want you enough and want you to not have to TA/RA that first year. After the first year of getting settled, you can become a TA/RA. But if the second offer is even more than the fellowship anyway and if cost of living is comparable, that's something to consider, too.

I just visited College Park this last week and got a little info on the living situation. One word: expensive. Apartments can easily be at least $1000 a month. If you can split that cost with your SO you should be able to manage (you probably could alone, too). I was really surprised at how expensive the area was; also, the town itself is a bit of a dump. The campus is beautiful though, and obviously has a lot of opportunities in the surrounding area. Here's an old thread which deals with the DC area:

Have you visited both places in person? That might sway you one way or another. If you have and it's still equal, go with whichever place is in a nicer city. It really doesn't seem like you can make a wrong decision.

As I stated in another thread: no. There is no fine print that says if you drop a class that doesn't matter they will take back their offer. No worries!

If the class isn't a graduation requirement or tied to your program (basically, is it an art history class?), it probably won't matter. I just dropped an elective that I didn't even need for credits (I just figured it'd be helpful), but it ended up taking more of my time than I thought it would. Sure, there will be an ugly W on my final transcript (which you do send once you graduate), but at this point it completely doesn't matter.

I'm not sure which credit cards to specifically recommend, but don't stress! My main advice is use your credit card as if it were a debit card. NEVER exceed what you could pay with cash, unless it is truly an emergency. Pay it off every month! Also, see if you can do online banking. It is so much more convenient than finding a bank when you need one (but make sure you know where one is just in case). I would also recommend only going for money back rewards, if you want to even bother with those. Also, I have the same bank for my checkings/savings and credit cards. All of my info is accessible online, which makes payments easy. Also, savings accounts are low stress. If you can, set up direct deposit and ta da! your money goes into your account every pay day. But probably more importantly, now seems to be the time to separate your finances from your mom's. Even if she can claim you as a dependent on taxes, you can fill out your own form. Try to find a free service that helps students/low income people figure out their taxes. Also, now that you're going to grad school you do NOT need to enter your parents information in the FAFSA. Good luck! Disentangling yourself from your parents financially is a bit difficult, but very possible. If you can, try to find an apartment where your mom does not need to be a cosigner. If that can't happen, build your credit over the next year (meaning really just use your credit card and then always paying it off), and then renew your lease or find a new place under your name only. Unfortunately, your mom probably can't be very helpful in this situation (not because she doesn't want to, but apparently can't figure out her own money), and you should really work on setting yourself up independently.

I'm going to bump this one with a quick question. I see there are a ton of places to rent, but what about buying a condo? If I go to OSU, my bf's dad wants to buy a place for us for the long haul. I would pay rent as if it were an apartment. What are some good areas to look for, or are they similar to the areas previously mentioned? I would prefer to be able to walk/bus to campus, though I will be buying a car (field-work intensive program plus I will be commuting to the Wooster campus occasionally).

I think my acceptance depression is forming quickly into impostor syndrome. Why are these schools giving me so much money?! It's difficult to complain about, but it's mixed in with really weird feelings of: I'm finally on my way to becoming a scientist, I'm being told I'm a fantastic student not by my advisors or family, and I'll be making money instead of going further into debt. These are all awesome and extremely overbearing.

My boyfriend is coming with me next week to a conference/campus visit. The department said they might be able to pay for a room, I said he would be with me so no hard feelings if they decide against it, and they said whatever, we'll pay (in so many words). I think it's different if the visit is a required part of the application process; if it's an interview/recruitment weekend they may have you roomed with other people. Otherwise, my visit is more impromptu, and they don't seem to care if there's another person staying in one room if it doesn't change the price. Otherwise, my SO will need to find something to do to occupy his time, but I'll look forward to coming back to him after a full day of meeting faculty and presenting my research.

http://www.phdcomics.com/book.htm

If you do decide on OSU, I highly suggest investing in good boots, a winter coat, and gloves. They will keep you very happy.

I cannot agree more. I look put together, and even at times dressy, but that's only when necessary. I keep myself in between frills and wrinkles.

Reminds me of a This American Life episode on prisoners rehearsing Hamlet. http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=218

That's my plan. However, the job prospects in my hometown are especially bad. I may not be able to find temp work in a shit job - at least funding will roll around come fall.

That's a tough one. I know prestige means a lot in humanities, but overall enjoyment of your program might help you produce more and better work, which is (hopefully) ultimately more important when you're eventually looking for jobs. Would you be crazy to choose school B? No, especially if you don't get good funding from Berkeley. But have you visited Berkeley? You might feel different if you do. I also hate this decision stage.

No, it was not directed at you. I just sense a general tip toeing in this thread.

Another here! Sort of - I applied to just two (supplementary) ecology/evolutionary biology program, but it is really my overarching focus for entomology. I also have a friend not on the gradcafe applying to ecology programs. We are a wee subset of the bio people.

People! This is PhD area versus another PhD, not just jobs in general. The OP specified this. As I've mentioned previously, I really think this should change the dialog.

University of Dayton is probably closer to an hour away from OSU. Also, Dayton is a horribly boring place (I'm allowed to say that as it's my hometown), but if you're just looking for driving distance, UD would be a good idea, as would Wright State. And both have engineering programs.