morneel
-
Posts
5 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by morneel
-
-
I'm actually very interested in this topic and to find out how OP decides...
I think I am in a similar position. One school, more highly ranked, is likely not going to have research in the subfield I applied for, but I still have this indescribable urge pulling me towards it (some irrational feeling that I will be happy there). The other school has a good research fit, but for other external factors I just have this aversion to going there. I also wonder how much of an effect having visited my first school and not my second has had.
Keep us updated.
-
Thank you. Yes, all schools but A are for PhD.
You may ask the profs who work on your subfield to be co-supervisors if you are willing to continue in the same subfield.
I feel awkward about it given that I have already talked to both and both have said they are not taking new students. I guess I should try to get over that but it just feels like I would be repeating the same question. Maybe I don't understand what you mean.
I have talked to the department head, and he has told me that I should expect to work in another subfield if I went there. I'm not sure the extent I'd be willing to switch; on the one hand, I have been working toward this area in my SOP this whole time, but on the other, maybe I would be able to find a cross interest in other areas. I'm not sure how to tell. It feels like going there would be setting me up for failure, given that I would not have applied if you disappeared those two professors beforehand, but I am still compelled.
-
Maybe somebody can help me a little here for my schools. I'm stressing out a ton, because schools have come back to me with information very late and I also have very little time in which to finalize a decision.
School A- ranked ~15
- master's admit only (applied to PhD)
- no visit
- presumably unfunded (don't expect to find any)
- very good program for my subfield
- cold climate
- large school, large program
School B
- ranked ~20
- really loved it during the visit
- smaller school
- found out April 14 that both professors in my subfield will not take students (though one could maybe be convinced, the other is basically leaving)
- minimal teaching requirements
- very warm climate (a big positive for me)
- average/high average stipend (comparatively, with estimated cost of living)
- very nice campus
School C
- ranked ~30
- just received funding information today, average stipend. summer funding situation unknown
- no visit
- recommended as a good program for my subfield by an old adviser
- 20 hrs/wk teaching requirement for currently unknown amount of time (no info on whether get switched to RA)
- very cold climate
- very large school, large program
- basically no contact with students or professors yet (have not yet heard who will advise me or who I can contact)
- unaesthetic campus
School D
- ranked ~40
- no visit
- 20 hrs/wk teaching requirement, probably get on RA quickly
- low stipend
- cold climate
- large school, medium size program, small subfield
- I HAVE ACCEPTED THIS OFFER given the turmoil of the past week (but I have no moral qualms with withdrawing if that is necessary)
- have been able to talk to students and future adviser, it seems nice but I'm not sure
- adviser seems to do good work
- average campus
School E
- ranked ~55
- visited, was not in love, but it was decent
- high stipend
- minimal-mild teaching requirement, probably RA soon
- moderate climate
- medium size school, small size program, very small subfield
- adviser seems to do good work
- average campus
I really don't know how to decide at this point. I don't feel like I have enough information to decide anything (before, I made grids to weight various characteristics and give a score for them to each school, but that was when I had fewer offers and more info)
I had pretty much decided to go to school B, but that was before I found out about the advisers. I'm sort of in minor panic mode here, because I feel like I need to make the right decision very quickly with very little information, and this is a very big decision.
I don't know what to do now and I hope someone can help me figure this out.
Want to decline previously accepted offer. Can they demand tuition?
in Decisions, Decisions
Posted
At a certain point I doubt a bit more time will make a difference.
I've found myself in a position of needing to unaccept a couple offers, so I hope it's not too bad....