simmel-ite

This is a tough decision and I think it depends on your goals. I'm also just applying this season to PhD programs, so who knows if this advice is helpful. I'm applying for the first time this season, and I graduated with a masters last spring. I really enjoyed my program and I don't think I'd be getting into programs now (a top 50, 2 top tens, 1 top 5, waiting on others) without it. Coming out of undergrad I had no RA experience, and only one research paper from a semester long project (thesis length, but not a thesis). After working for a few years I decided to get an MA because it would help me out professionally (access to more ops, and higher pay), I missed researching, and I really wanted to learn more. I also knew that I needed real research experience if I determined I did want to get into a doctoral program and believed the program would help me figure that out. It was such a good experience, though it wasn't perfect. I was able to do a thesis, become an RA, and leverage being at the midpoint in my degree to get a job as a researcher in my field full-time with a firm (which I think really helped me out). The experience, for me, confirmed that I wanted to do more research and tackle my own problems, and I waited to apply until my professors saw my thesis, which meant working for a year (and paying off my degree/just living/applying). I'll note that my GRE scores also went up when I took it after my masters program significantly, and I think the program really improved my writing and my understanding of research. I think it's a tough choice, but it was really clarifying for me, helped me confirm that I wanted to get a Soc PhD. It was hard - professors care a lot about doc students so I had to be sure I showed up and really got to know them (e.g., office hours, taking independent study courses, taking multiple classes with them) to ensure that I got good recs. However, that really paid off and I also felt they were just caring and great advisers. It was expensive though (I worked full time while doing it, which was a tradeoff), but that was okay because I knew the program I was in could lead me to better job opportunities in my field OR set me up for a doctoral program.

First time poster, but I'm in the same boat as you when it comes to offers/visits. Also excited to learn more from others here. For me, I've found it helpful when talking to professors to ask about their personal philosophy to advising grad students and their department's philosophy. It's been really helpful to understand if they have an apprenticeship model or not, and Professors have been pretty forthcoming (e.g., Assistants and Associates are great and supportive, etc). I've also asked about their research and methods, which has helped me think through intellectual fit. I've also been doing research on placement, and the types of projects students are working on. I plan to learn more about this on visits as well. I'm also interested to learn more about publishing and getting into research right away, so excited to learn more there. When I applied to masters programs (which I know is totally different) that helped me choose between programs that I thought I loved, and my own goals. So I'm thinking through those at this stage. Also, this is about interviews, but I found the questions to ask page helpful: https://www.training.nih.gov/_assets/Slides-12_13_2010