warprin

Wow, do I feel your pain. I don't want this to sound hackneyed, but it's true that every situation is unique. Let me share what I've seen and been through in the four years I've been at a small top-rated engineering college, coming from a very small Geoscience department as an undergraduate (4.0 with research experience). I just defended my MS thesis yesterday and am working on a PhD as I type. Advisors... I've met two 8th-year PhD students (that's EIGHT, I did not mis-type that) that warned me about older advisors who are less invested in the success of their PhD students because the tenure-track chase was no longer an issue for them. My current MS advisor is similar to what they explained and I have to agree with this. I was also advised not to go to a certain Geology program in Iceland because of someone's direct interaction/work with the faculty there. They simply do not go out of their way to make time for you. Again, this is a general observation. Now, my PhD advisor is new faculty, tenure-track, and plugged into new research and constantly keeps updated and goes out of his way to help his grad students. If it weren't for him and would have gone elsewhere for a PhD. Is your advisor hands-off? Micromanager? That can make a HUGE difference, and you'll have to asses that against your own personality and needs. Department resources in terms of faculty and instrumentation... It did not hit me until 1 full year into my MS that research costs can be expensive. What are you researching and what instruments are available to you and what funding do you have? I have three years of RA funding but will pick up a year of TAing, that is typical for PhD students. I know funding is "King" (as they say) but good advisors who write successful grants often have more for students that need it. You have to show your advisor over time that you're making progress and drawing some potentially significant results/conclusions. Where? Some people can't picture themselves in Arkansas for five years. This is entirely personal. Are you someone easily affected by your surroundings? By the moods of others? Remember, this is for the long haul. It may take you 3-7 years to complete a PhD degree, for various reasons. Funding and choice of advisor! A solid department is important, one that has faculty that share your interests. I have heard both good and bad things about, say, Oxford from a grad student and an undergrad student. But knowing the reputation it has and knowing that my personality can put up with a lot of nonsense and hassle, I would go there. I know I would have regrets if I didn't. Plus a lot of professors I've spoken with really do think that high-prestige schools can bring you much needed connections. That is, again, a generalization. But at my small undergrad department, I was a stand-out. And *that* helped me get into the school I'm in now. You're not going to be able to anticipate every consequence of your choice. You can play the odds and make a choice based on what you'd tell someone else in your situation to do. Also, your perspective about your experience will evolve over time. Some PhD experiences are relatively straight-forward with little drama and others (and I'm watching this happen now to fellow grad students) have to deal with moody advisors and broken equipment. Good luck!

Did UCLA recently have professors leave because of salary issues? Or was it just one professor who wasn't happy? I wouldn't let that bother me. If the grad students there are happy with the program, that's what matters. Do you have funding?

So I study Geochemistry and what I've found out is that something like 90% of the teaching faculty with PhDs come from only a small percentage of universities that grant those PhDs. This means that a small group of schools produce the most people in academia. You should check to see which has a better reputation and starting salary for PhD graduates. Granted, this would be just a quick statistical analysis, but it might help you a little. This is why I chose Colorado School of Mines over U of New Hampshire. It mattered to me where my terminal degree and experience came from.

Okay, got it. So... if you were to go to school #1 and have a problem getting an internship the first year, I assume you would be completely ticked off. Sounds like school #2 really wants you and is willing to promise *in writing* that you'll be guaranteed two internships. That's tough. If getting an internship year one is a major concern, and you like your undergrad school, I'd say go with #2, especially if they're offering internships that's really fit. I guess you can always go South later!

It really does depend on your future plans (if you know what they are now). Are you considering a PhD? Teaching? Interested in working in the Washington, DC area (there are a ton of jobs there)? Which would make you more competitive? Depends on what your ambitions are. Which program has a better job placement record, where do the student work or what do they do now, etc. Are you staying in the US or would you like to go elsewhere? Every program is different with different strengths and weaknesses. Have you talked to anyone in the department yet? Ranking systems all have biases but you should have an idea what kind of reputation your program has when you accept.

I believe Columbia U's History program is a top 10 program. It would be hard for me to pass that up! Did you check the courses to see which program offers more of what you'll be interested in? Also check who teaches there, there may be someone who specializes in *exactly* what excites you about Latin American studies. But, I do like being in the DC area and being near the center of national politics, being able to see Supreme Court arguments... a lot of the local talk is about politics, it's the only place I've ever lived in the US that was like this. It's unique in this way. I would prefer living in the DC area versus the area near Columbia, but that's just me.

I agree with ahlatsiawa. I've seen some students get into science and engineering programs with mediocre grades, exam scores, and experience. There is a holistic approach, but it varies from school to school. And yes, offers are made past the April 15th deadline as students begin to notify schools as to whether they're attending or not, and they're usually unfunded. Wait it out, you never know!

It's a Teaching Assistantship position, the funds will always be there for someone who wants to teach, so I don't have to feel bad about the program losing any money. As it turns out, the initial email was to solicit my interest which had a mid-March deadline, and the school wanted to know if I would accept a GTA for a funded Geology MS. I replied yes, and *then* the official do-not-have-to-respond-until-April 15th offer followed. What they did was misleading. I'm still annoyed but maybe it's a tactic I just don't get. I did accept. Great school and very few TA opportunites.

I'm not familiar with internships as mandatory for the two years you'll be in grad for for an Ed Masters (I'm in the sciences). For school #1, do most students end up in some type of internship the first year? And where? Is it mandatory or just incredibly helpful in terms of a CV and getting a job later? So you want to work in the area of school #1 eventually? I sounds like family and boyfriend may be a distraction. Will you be more pumped and motivated at school #1? Sounds like it's about the guaranteed internship at #2 that will pull you from what you seem to be pretty sure will be an amazing experience at school #1. Will going to school #1 make you more competitve for a internship vs. school #2, pretending that neither will give you one the first year? Are these internships out-of-state, summer only? Not sure how they're structured. I feel your pain. Here's one thing I know - being away from family, I get more work done and I'm more involved in department things in general. I love going to new places, it keeps me motivated. That's me. I've always managed to find internships in the sciences because I'm one of the better students from my undergrad, and it sounds like this is the case for you. Just my two cents, but one mistake I keep making is that I always did the safe thing, the practical thing, and it's not always a guarantee for things working out. Will you regret not having gone to school #1 if you choose #2? Sounds like you have the perfect problem Either will work out in the end, I'm just learning not to make decisions that leave me feeling unsettled. Whatever you choose, be happy with your choice. No regrets!

This is just *my* opinion, what I would do for myself if I were in your shoes. First, it's good to get all of your options. Schools have to juggle acceptances and rejections of offers, just like you do. It's hectic for everyone, but I would put myself first, the inconvenience for the programs second. This is just a sad consequence of the way the system is set up - do what's best for you, no school wants you if you don't really want to be there. Ok, so I'll assume none of your offers were funded. If that's the case, any unfunded offer can be revoked at any time, so if you ask for an extension past 4/15, take into consideration that you *may* be pushing your luck with Wisconsin. I don't know what you're studying or if an advisor has spent substantial time with you. Just keep in mind you might be burning a bridge, but again, it's your future, go where you're happy and do what's right for you. What you can do is accept the offer and wait until you hear back (from any program). If you get a better offer, contact Wisconsin and let them know you'd like to be released from the agreement. Again, they don't want anyone who doesn't want to be there. There's no perfect answer here, especially since students are still getting acceptances and funding this late in April since it seems that very few students will make a final decision until very close to April 15th. From what I understand, schools can request a response from you due before April 15th if the offer is unfunded. I contacted the Council of Graduate Schools to get clarification - in general they didn't seem to like any school on their list requesting student responses before April 15th.

If it's your first choice (did you tell them that?) then why not say yes? Some programs won't make an offer until they see if you really want to be a part of their program. If not, they can also rescind the offer (I know it would be unofficial since you didn't get an official offer in the first place). Don't know why they're pestering you unless they're trying to figure out what to do with other students based on your response. If you need a little more time, I would let them know, don't blow them off.

I've recently gotten an offer from a graduate program for a funded GTA position, and the offer is good until the 22nd of March. They are on the list of schools (Council of Graduate Schools, CGS) that agree to abide by the April 15th deadline. I emailed CGS. Someone got back to me and I understand that I can accept the offer and then actually decline the offer in writing anytime before April 15th - I am officially released from the contract. Another point is that in this case there is no good to come of letting the program know they're in violation of the agreement - that may cause tension between me and the department and my potential advisor (who likely set the deadline in the first place, but who knows for certain). At that point, nothing can stop them from withdrawing the offer all together or withdrawing just the funding portion (in which case I wouldn't go). So the best thing seems to be to accept the offer, not make a fuss, and then if I get a better offer, decline that first one and accept another. Too bad schools put students in the middle of this. Three other programs I've applied to made disparaging remarks about this department that wants an early response, as I've had to ask these other departments if they could provide a status update on my application within the week. They're busy as well and can't always comply. I hate playing hardball or being dishonest or playing games, it's not my style. I can't joyfully accept an offer when I feel like I'm being strongarmed. Kinda leaves me feeling pretty lousy about the program. Anyone ever else deal with this and what did you do/not do? Thanks!