stwtseng

Thanks all! This came very late comparatively, so waitlisted people please keep hope.

An interesting turn of events: I received a pretty late offer from University of Akron for their Ph.D. program. Funding guaranteed for first year, "most likely" for all five years. Haven't heard much about them recently, here or elsewhere, but I do hear they were often ranked well among I/O programs. Anyone have anything to share about them? Most likely going to opt for their program over the two Master's, although leaving the Bay Area is a frightening thought.

Duly noted. Thank you!

@Bren2014: Thank you for your input! SJSU actually requires an internship and thesis to graduate while Columbia requires neither. This alone has me favoring SJSU currently. Hopefully I hear back from both program coordinators with some more info soon. @Elanti: I currently am leaning toward SJSU at the moment, given the negative things I've been hearing about TC's program. From just the courses, it appears that TC's program is geared more toward human resources and not so much research. I will let you know when I do make a decision!

Cost is not a deciding factor, though TC will be much more expensive than SJSU so I would prefer the latter. I guess it boils down to: which degree will be most rewarding immediately (work after MS/MA) and most flexible for the future (pursue Ph.D.)? I've already contacted both program directors for that info (thank you for the tip though!) and am waiting for their reply. I was hoping to get more perspectives (on reputation of the programs, hearsay, experience, etc) from this forum.

I'm deciding between two Master's programs and would greatly appreciate any insight from everyone: San Jose State University M.S. in I/O Psychology Teacher's College, Columbia University M.A. in Psychology - Organizational I don't hear much about these two programs on the net, making the decision difficult. SJSU is near Silicon Valley and boasts connections with companies like Apple and Google, but the school itself is not very well known. TC is near New York and gives a degree from a famous school, but the program itself is "not I/O". I'm unsure whether the fame of a school or the available connections is more important in the long run. I am interested in obtaining a degree that will allow me to work in an applied setting, but also prepare me with the option of further education in Ph.D. Thanks in advance for your time and input!