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Hey Everyone, I'm feeling like I'm getting close to deciding on a program, but can't quite make that official commitment. Basically, I've been fortunate enough to find myself in a difficult decision of deciding between three of my top-choices (Duke, Northwestern, U-Chicago). I've really liked all of my visits and the programs ; stipends are good (I get additional $ at 2 of them), a few profs at each I could see myself working with, research overlap, good facilities, collaboration, a nice 'feel' to the department etc. I've been going back and forth a lot recently, but right now I am leaning Duke, not only because there is a wider range of profs (in terms of research and established vs new) I could rotate/work with, but also because of some uncertainty I have with the other schools : bigger department, a lot of students on visit weekends interested in my top 1-2 professors / no rotations makes me worried I might not get in my lab of choice. I'd also be much closer to my SO and family there. However, I know Duke wouldn't be considered a 'low ranking' school, but these other two are not only top-10 in general but also in my specialty. I know ranking isn't everything, but is this too big of a difference to pass up ? There are established profs at Duke recruited form elsewhere, and I know if I do good work and I can continue on to a good post-doc. I just want to hear if this logic makes sense to you guys, especially anyone already in a program. Thanks for all your insight. I'm ready to commit !

I have a similar issue. One of my schools is higher ranked in general and in my sub-field and has a lot of great research going on. But the ~2 professors that I essentially applied there hoping to work with had tons or people interested during the visitation weekends. However, at my other favorite choice, it is still a great school, just not "top ranked," there are still well known professors doing great things. Although the thought of going to the other 'bigger' schools sounds great, I'm beginning to lean toward a smaller department where I could have more of a choice (the bigger schools don't do rotations, this one does), and maybe be able to stand out more / have a closer relationship with my advisor or other professors instead of being 1 out of all of the great new incoming students in my sub-specialty. If I do great work, I can go to a top-notch post-doc. Think about where you can do the best work, not just what looks best on paper. Prestige is good, but you have to do the work to back it up. Good luck !

Bump !!

What do you think if they are ranked high (top 5) in the particular subfield of your science ? I'm trying to defend the choice to turn down top 10 overall / top 5 subfield for a "lower ranked school" in the 30s. Good names and great research (I think) at both with multiple PI options, supplemental fellowship etc -- but for location/fit/PI openings or concerns etc I am leaning (very) slightly to the lower one but I've been told I shouldn't turn down the big name ones. My old PI even said his pick would be the higher one, but that was without discussing any of my experiences with him ... I'm (physical )Chemistry by the way. I think I would be happy at all of them and I'm grateful to have had such success in applying. They all gave me good impressions. With the higher ranked ones, there is just some uncertainty about my favorite PIs having space (a lot of recruits interested in the same labs) and they are farther away from family/S.O.

Hi I have two financial award questions I'd like to get some feedback on : When schools initially present their offer in the acceptance letter, I've noticed language like "your first year stipend" or specifying the 2016-2017 year with followed up vague details about continuing support for 4-5 years (tuition remission, stipend etc) but this amount is never specified. In one case that I did some research on, the initial stipend was 1-2k higher than what information on the website said is the 'base stipend' for all students. Should I be legitimately worried this initial offer is made to look better and may drop in the following years after acceptance ? I'm not necessarily implying they are being sneaky ; I've been awarded supplemental fellowships at some schools as well which do specify amount/duration but I just wanted to take in the whole (true) financial package into consideration. And, how common is it for schools to not pay/reimburse the 1-2k/year University fees and health insurance. Some schools totally waive the fee and also offer insurance valued ~4k in addition to the stipend. When comparing schools, suddenly some seem much less attractive because of the ~4-5k out of pocket costs other schools seem to cover. Side Note : This question is purely to understand more the financial aspects. Certainly $$$ is not my main decision, but I'm just curious if having students pay fees etc is indicative of the department's funding status etc etc. Thanks !

You should definitely feel that you can reach out to any schools you've been accepted to, especially since you aren't able to make the visitation weekends -- which is unfortunate because that would really help you resolve your "fit" issue of younger advisors vs more productive / higher ranked ones. But still, email multiple ones you would like to talk to and ask not just about their lab, but also the department environment in general. You could probably also shoot a few emails to some grad students to get some insider info on those profs. Maybe the older productive ones still do maintain a lab environment that is suitable to you! Also, all the schools know you have decisions to make and are looking at other places. PIs I'm talking to now always address in the emails "As you continue your search, " etc. They understand you have to make a choice that fits best for you, so most profs / departments should be receptive in making any information available to you that helps make this decision easier for you. Send some emails! There's threads on here that point out some great PI-lab-specific questions and school/department-specific questions you might not think to ask. Good luck !!

I think you certainly could and should reach of to some POIs. I wouldn't make a decision without the visitation weekends/at least talking with some profs because you can learn so much more / really get some insights. Plus, why go to the school if your main choices of interest aren't taking on students? I say email them, and explain that you're very interested in the school but unfortunately won't be able to attend any visits, and ask to learn more about the program/their lab. You can even ask right here if they are taking on students. I wouldn't be surprised if they responded asking for a chance to speak over the phone. I already attended one visit weekend and the profs still emailed after reminding us that they are available over phone/email if we have any more questions during our decisions. If any of the profs aren't receptive to a potential student attempting to learn more about the Deptartment & their lab, then that's probably a sign you wouldn't want to go there anyway.

Hi everyone. I'm admitted as a PhD student in the physical sciences. I have a question about stipend etc. Even though $ certainly isn't everything, I noticed that while UW's stipend seems to be lower than other schools, it is also required to pay for health insure + University fee (1-2k/year). Every other school (I believe) waives these things or gives a reimbursement in addition to the base stipend. I was just wondering if this makes UW's financial offer less than ideal, or if this is the norm and the other schools I'm looking at are just above average in their funding. I've heard UW system has suffered some financial cuts and I was wondering if maybe there is a lack of funding in some cases. Thanks for the input !

Exactly. Can't overstate the importance of taking advantage of visitation weekends to really get a feel for everything.

Wow, that's crazy. I've heard stories about PIs like that before and that's exactly the type of thing I'm looking out for on visitation weekends.. I just had a visit at a lower/smaller school but with a very open and collaborative department where the students all seemed very happy. A lot of the students warned some schools can really be competitive (as previously mentioned) so that your own lab members might not be much of help if you run into problems. I have some visits to some top schools next month and one thing I've been weary about with some of the groups of interest is those with 20+ members/not getting much individual time from PI/a sink-or-swim cut-throat mentality in some departments. I guess we'll have to see! I think it is definitely very PI based overall. Lab culture and advisor methods are one of the most important things to consider.

Thank you for these answers! I was going to post a similar question for my visitation weekends coming up, but these all seem like great ideas.

I heard via phone call from POI maybe 2 weeks ago that I was accepted but only just received the official email(s) today. I'm sure there is still more to come! Congrats on UT!!

Official email from UNC Chapel Hill this evening. I've got news from all 5 I've applied to now : UChicago, Duke, UWMadison, Northwestern, & UNC Chapel HIll for Physical Chem. Now to wait for some visits !

Thanks! Actually my tracking page still says 'admission not yet rendered' so I wasn't really expecting a call. It was mentioned that official letters would come in the next few weeks (if I heard it right) so I wouldn't worry yet!

Heard back from POI I was in contact with from Northwestern just now. Now just waiting on one more!

Thank you for the info. And is the stipend generally enough? Certainly money isn't the biggest factor at all, but their stipend seems to be lower than others + apparently having to pay health insurance premiums and the fee which other schools tend to reimburse. But overall there seems to be a lot of good research, so I'll try to plan for the visitation dates.

Found mine in the spam too this morning :). In the acceptance letter, it mentioned students will have to pay University Fees ($1,300) ? Isn't that waived usually with programs or am I not remembering correctly. I don't remember seeing that with other schools.

Nice! Was it via phone/email/or the update on the MyUW page that you saw it? I'm awaiting some news as well...

I'd also like to hear people's suggestions about good topics -- is it expected to talk to profs with whom you'd like to work that you have interest in rotating/joining their lab so to get the best idea how much room/$ they will have? I made contact ahead of applying with at least 1 at each school, but want to get an idea of the probability I would have of joining one of the 2-3 target prof's labs.

UW Madison? For Chemistry?

That's awesome, congratulations! I also heard back from Duke today via email for an update on the online account.

Great! Can people update if they know anything about UNC, Duke, UW-Madison, and Northwestern?

Thanks! Late November while on Thanksgiving break. He claimed on the phone they do a semi-rolling admissions and sometimes will admit people if it is an obvious choice early on. (I was still surprised because I only have 2/3 LORs submitted!)

I received a call from a prof at UChicago saying I've been accepted + additional fellowship. I was surprised considering the deadline hasn't even passed yet!

I see, thank you. So, for mid-Dec deadlines for which I should have my scores in time, should I wait and submit close to the deadline or is it favorable to submit early? (Is there a rolling admission or priority given the earlier received? I'm applying to a variety of Chem PhD schools. Thanks!