FIT vs PRESTIGE/RANK

[one coffee per day]

Hi all,

I've narrowed down my list to 2, but having a hard time deciding where to go.

School A: Higher rank (10~20), prestigious name, well funded and well rounded program. I'm sure I'll find an interesting research during my rotation. However, I hate the "family" atmosphere of the dept, no diversity of the community, and the location. 

School B: Lower rank state school (50~60). mediocre funding (but cheaper cost of living), tiny dept and faculty size. However, I was offered admission through personal contact with a recently tenured professor, whose lab is very well funded, wants me in his lab, and does interesting research. I like him especially because he is not just a good research professor, but a great mentor. Early graduation is also a major plus, since there will be no rotation and his students graduated 3~4 years (He encourages it to all his students). I visited his lab to make sure its a good fit for me. Also love the location.

I'm attracted to school B solely because of this lab, and confident that I'll learn a lot from this professor and professionally ready for the job market when I graduate. However, I hear some say that I'll get a disadvantage later down the road because of the school's and the dept's reputation.. Should I just go with my gut feeling?

[FishNerd]

From what I read, it really seems like your heart and head is for School B so I think you should go for it despite it being somewhat lower ranked.

As long as you think your mentor is going to get you places and advance your career then I think thats what matters more. If your mentor is big in their field (which it sounds like) then they likely can really help you network with a wide array of people for positions after your PhD. Also overall it sounds like the environment is more conducive to you being productive and happy at School B and if you're going to being doing something for ~5 years you need to be happy in your environment. 

So I say go with your gut!

Edited March 9, 2018 by FishNerd

[rising_star]

Go with your gut. If you don't like the atmosphere of School A, you won't thrive there.

[AllieKat]

It would concern me, personally, not to have rotations at school B. I'd just be cautious as to how you know the mentor would be a great fit without actually working in their lab. But, in general, it seems like school B is a place you'd thrive--both in productivity and in learning new skills! And that will be just as important as the name of the school when it's time to find a stellar post doc/job.