Zedonger

Both seem like great options for you - Congratulations! My understanding has always been that for positions in academia, the reputation of your Ph.D. granting institute is really important. This is coming from the perspective of another prospective Ph.D. student, with knowledge just based on conjecture, for what it's worth. With that in mind, I would say try to figure out where you would fit the best and have the most success. Personally, as an introvert, I would prefer a smaller program to be able to maximize my interaction with the faculty and other students instead of feeling lost or overwhelmed in a large program. It also sort of comes down to who specifically is doing research that interests you most and again maximizes your chances at success. Maybe find a couple of people you are interested in working with and reach out to them to gauge general interest? I am not sure if these programs have lab rotations, but that will be a great time to test out what it is like to be in a lab with a potential advisor after you choose which school you're going for. If anyone has any corrections or expansions on this short (hopefully helpful) advice, feel free to add!

I'm right there with you +thinking. I inquired about my application to a program that informed me I was waitlisted, then two days later offered an interview slot. Since the interview (about a week), it has been relatively quiet though and no indication as when decisions will be made. As others have said, this is a little problematic because I have a less desirable program's acceptance that needs a response by April 15th.

I am a full-time employee as well, and coming from my perspective, I would go for: 1) Try to do 10 straight days of interviews and essentially say "whatever" to your loyal employer and 4) Take a stress nap Seriously though, I feel like your employer must know the weight of the situation, and I think if you are really torn between the schools, going to the interviews will be the perfect way to differentiate between the programs. I don't think any employer would feel slighted by this, because you are going to leave for graduate school soon anyways.

Hello fellow grad cafe friends, Long-time lurker, first time poster. Thanks for all of the information you have let me mooch off your questions for so long. I was recently invited to two on-campus Ph.D. interviews/recruitment weekends being held next month. On the RSVP paper there are spaces to request specific interviewers. I have requested a couple of POI's, but I am not sure how to proceed from here. Is it acceptable, or crossing some line to send these professors an email and check their schedule to see if they are making themselves available for this event - specifically meeting with me? I have not spoken with these professors previously, maybe I am behind the 8-ball already in that regard. Any advice about this particular point of the interviewing process would be appreciated!