compassion83

Hi all, I've gotten into both SUNY ESF and University of Bristol for MSc in ecology. I applied to several programs in the UK through the Across the Pond program. I'm torn as to which program is best for me. University of Bristol is only 12 months full time but its only research based. I haven't had much contact with the professor about the program and have really had a hard time getting in touch with him at all. But its in the UK which I think would be an amazing experience and University of Bristol is very well rated. But i'm worried because I know the importance of the relationship between the professor and student and frankly I don't even know if this guy will ever return my emails Also, Since I'm applying to school in the UK for ecology will this make it harder for me to get a job back in the USA. I want to work in the Eastern USA. SUNY ESF is a good school in Syracuse, which I've heard is pretty depressed economically. I've had contact with the professor who seems extremely nice and easy to work with but the program is unfunded and 2.5 years long. The program itself looks good and I know is respected in the USA. I dont know what to do! SUNY ESF or the UK? Are taught masters programs in the UK as respected as USA programs? Has anyone had experience with an MSc by research ....because it seems like that has no guidelines and could blow up in my face. Lastly, I just found my perfect program at VT...posted June 20th! I've been looking for this program and have finally found it ...too late Its funded and on my favorite subject Salamanders..But they require a competitive GRE and mine is only average...but aside from that I have a competitive GPA, good references, and a lot of experience. Any advice on this mess i've gotten myself into!

Hi all! I'm new to the grad cafe and can hope you all can shed some light on a big grad school decision I have to make. I've applied to several programs in the UK through the Across the Pond program for several reasons: the programs were only 12 months full time and I'd get to experience life in another country providing new experiences etc. From this I've gained acceptance to : University of Bristol , University of Aberdeen, University of Swansea, and University of York. In the US I applied to SUNY ESF, Michigan State and Trent University ( in Ontario). Both Trent and MSU fell through because of lack of funding. So at this point i'm trying to decide between SUNY ESF and the British programs. The program at the University of Bristol is a MSc by research so from what i can tell its 100 percent research w/o classes. This sounds cool but i've had very little contact with the professor i'd be working under and have had a hard time getting him to answer my questions. The University of Aberdeen and Swansea are taught programs so their primarily classroom based with a research program at the end. SUNY ESF wouldn't provide me with any funding ( so it would be out of pocket funding) and it would be the normal 2.5 years. Also, the prof was pretty full with students so I'm worried about the amount of field work i'll be able to do. To make things more complicated I found the perfect program with funding posted on a job board for VT. I quickly submitted an application and am hoping for the best. The program is for conservation of salamanders, which was my undergraduate research subject. I have the competitive GPA the program was looking for, great references, but my GRE scores are average at 1020. So i'm afraid I wont get my perfect program and will have to decide between SUNY and the UK. My question is , Is it better for me to stay in the US at SUNY ESF ( or ideally VT) since I plan on moving back after school or is it better for me to go one of the universities in the UK for an ecology program. I want to live and work in North America after I graduate so would going for a degree in ecology at a foreign school hurt my chances of getting a job afterwords? I'm 50/50 with my decision right now and dont think my perfect Virginia Tech program will work out ( i'm sure they've recieved 100's of applicants with higher GPA scores). Please any advice is needed.