MrLister_The_Sister_Fister

I can't help but feel this is somewhat of a wishy-washy, cop-out answer (not that I blame you, your name is attached to the account and it might seem bad to be on the record as giving a definitive answer either way). I've seen it said (on PSR and here), that it's not even worth it to go to a sub top 25-30 program. Some might even say it's not worth it to go to a sub top 10 program. Rumors also abound that search commitees at highly ranked programs will throw out applications without looking at them if the degree isn't from a top 25-30 program. I'd be curious to know if you've ever seen this happen yourself.

Regardless, while a good advisor is a huge factor, faculty at lower ranked programs (probably) aren't as well connected as faculty at higher ranked ones, so they can't market their students nearly as well. Sure, a rreally good student at a lower ranked program might score a pub in a top 3 journal, which might save his/her application from getting immediately discarded at top schools, but a CHYMPS grad would get the same treatment without such a high ranking pub. Or so I hear, at least.

So, in your opinion, is it really worth it to go to a sub top 30 program, even if you fit in well and have a good advisor? Or will lack of prestige lock you out of TT jobs at highly ranked programs (assuming you have a CV comparable to a CHYMPS grad's)?

I can't help but feel this is somewhat of a wishy-washy, cop-out answer (not that I blame you, your name is attached to the account and it might seem bad to be on the record as giving a definitive answer either way). I've seen it said (on PSR and here), that it's not even worth it to go to a sub top 25-30 program. Some might even say it's not worth it to go to a sub top 10 program. Rumors also abound that search commitees at highly ranked programs will throw out applications without looking at them if the degree isn't from a top 25-30 program. I'd be curious to know if you've ever seen this happen yourself.

Regardless, while a good advisor is a huge factor, faculty at lower ranked programs (probably) aren't as well connected as faculty at higher ranked ones, so they can't market their students nearly as well. Sure, a rreally good student at a lower ranked program might score a pub in a top 3 journal, which might save his/her application from getting immediately discarded at top schools, but a CHYMPS grad would get the same treatment without such a high ranking pub. Or so I hear, at least.

So, in your opinion, is it really worth it to go to a sub top 30 program, even if you fit in well and have a good advisor? Or will lack of prestige lock you out of TT jobs at highly ranked programs (assuming you have a CV comparable to a CHYMPS grad's)?

I've never understood why people are always concerned about what to wear to admit visits... it's not like the department/uni has a dress code, and the profs are more interested in your abilities and research than in your sartorial choices. I'd just wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. Personally, I would wear jeans and a tee shirt, because idgaf.

I've never understood why people are always concerned about what to wear to admit visits... it's not like the department/uni has a dress code, and the profs are more interested in your abilities and research than in your sartorial choices. I'd just wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. Personally, I would wear jeans and a tee shirt, because idgaf.

I can't help but feel this is somewhat of a wishy-washy, cop-out answer (not that I blame you, your name is attached to the account and it might seem bad to be on the record as giving a definitive answer either way). I've seen it said (on PSR and here), that it's not even worth it to go to a sub top 25-30 program. Some might even say it's not worth it to go to a sub top 10 program. Rumors also abound that search commitees at highly ranked programs will throw out applications without looking at them if the degree isn't from a top 25-30 program. I'd be curious to know if you've ever seen this happen yourself.

Regardless, while a good advisor is a huge factor, faculty at lower ranked programs (probably) aren't as well connected as faculty at higher ranked ones, so they can't market their students nearly as well. Sure, a rreally good student at a lower ranked program might score a pub in a top 3 journal, which might save his/her application from getting immediately discarded at top schools, but a CHYMPS grad would get the same treatment without such a high ranking pub. Or so I hear, at least.

So, in your opinion, is it really worth it to go to a sub top 30 program, even if you fit in well and have a good advisor? Or will lack of prestige lock you out of TT jobs at highly ranked programs (assuming you have a CV comparable to a CHYMPS grad's)?

I can't help but feel this is somewhat of a wishy-washy, cop-out answer (not that I blame you, your name is attached to the account and it might seem bad to be on the record as giving a definitive answer either way). I've seen it said (on PSR and here), that it's not even worth it to go to a sub top 25-30 program. Some might even say it's not worth it to go to a sub top 10 program. Rumors also abound that search commitees at highly ranked programs will throw out applications without looking at them if the degree isn't from a top 25-30 program. I'd be curious to know if you've ever seen this happen yourself.

Regardless, while a good advisor is a huge factor, faculty at lower ranked programs (probably) aren't as well connected as faculty at higher ranked ones, so they can't market their students nearly as well. Sure, a rreally good student at a lower ranked program might score a pub in a top 3 journal, which might save his/her application from getting immediately discarded at top schools, but a CHYMPS grad would get the same treatment without such a high ranking pub. Or so I hear, at least.

So, in your opinion, is it really worth it to go to a sub top 30 program, even if you fit in well and have a good advisor? Or will lack of prestige lock you out of TT jobs at highly ranked programs (assuming you have a CV comparable to a CHYMPS grad's)?