kristine22

Congrats on your decision! I'm currently deciding between 3 schools (one only gave me a week to decide!) so the pressure is on. I think the part I hate most about deciding is having to email my prospective supervisors and tell them I'm declining their offer. They all seem wonderful with great projects. One is a very prestigious school with great career prospects, but I just can't see myself involved in this project long term. The other is slightly less prestigious but still a solid school with research interests fitting mine exactly, so I think I know what to do. good luck to all!

Accepted to Western University (last week) and McMaster University for a MSc in Geography! Congrats fellow geographer.

Also agree with this. I'm starting to realize that your favourite research and advisor are so important to grad school. I know people that go to prestigious schools that hate it there because they don't like their work. They tolerate it, but they aren't passionate about it- this is something you are going to be working on for years. Not just for a semester. You need to be able to handle it and even enjoy it for a long time.

Good advice above on the rabies vaccine. Definitely something to look into and probably should be your first point of research. The vaccine and titer test is absolutely preferable to a quarantine, which would cause a lot of stress on you and your cat. I need regards to the actual trip, I am moving across the country (not abroad, but it's a long way) with my cat (7 years old). To me, she is my family and I would rather subject her to a day and a half of stress than have her be without me for two years. Assuming you feel the same way, I feel is worth it to move the cat unless they are very old. Decide if you want them in the cabin or in the cargo, and keep in mind that during peak summer and winter months most airlines require they be in the cabin with you due to it being very hot or very cold in cargo. I plan to purchase a soft sided, airline approved carrier (a small sized SHERPA carrier is a safe bet) and have a chat with the vet about sedation as my cat is high strung- if you don't feel comfortable with sedation, which I'm not sure if I do, there are calming sprays you can use in the kennel. As I understand it you will need to remove your cat from the carrier during security so have them in a harness and leash. Your vet will have information on feeding and watering during the trip, but generally cats under stress won't eat or use the litter box anyways so even for 8-12 hours they should be ok. More money for more direct flights is always worth it with a pet. Make sure they are used to the carrier before the trip by placing them in it and NOT going to the vet. Another thing to think about is finding a place that allows pets. Make sure if you're sharing a house or apartment your roommate(s) are ok with your pet and the responsibilities (I.e. Not leaving doors and windows open) with it. I personally will splurge for a bachelor apartment so we can have our own space. It may be a little more expensive or difficult to find a pet friendly place but in my mind, it will all be worth it when I'm settled into a new place with a familiar friend. good luck!

Thanks for the insight. I definitely get the PhD vs workforce decision and how it might change my choices. I don't have a lot of interest in doing a PhD but that could always change, but I'd like to be working on something I'm interested in. I noticed you're in Canada as well so you're obviously familiar with McGill and Western- I believe both are very good quality schools but the ranking are do differ.

Hi all, I was hoping everybody could give me a little insight on what is going into their decision making process between schools, and what factors you weigh most heavily when selecting between more than one offer of admission. My situation right now (I am a MSc applicant) is one acceptance and one follow up interview, with moderately good chances of admission. The follow up interview is with a prestigious school (2-3 in the country, I am not in the US so it isn't Ivy League) in an incredible city to live in. The project is a little out of my desired field and the professor seems nice, and I could definitely make do with this project and do well here. The acceptance I have is for a second-tier school (8-9 ranked in the country) in an OK but not raved about city. However, this professor is extremely excited to work with me and the project is exactly in my field of interests. I can see myself becoming very passionate about this project and have a lot of experience in the field. Both project would give me good career prospects and both professors have great connections. I suppose my question is, are you guys making your choices based on school prestige or on the potential research you will be doing?