School X vs. School Y

[antediluvian]

I'm a regular over at PSJR, and I stumbled over here yesterday. I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU ARE STILL DEBATING THIS CHOICE.

Look, I know where you go to undergrad (FYI you should be more careful about what personal info you put on the internet. You WILL come to regret it later). The kids at your school are prestige whores who are all bitter at not having got into an Ivy. I think you are letting this ethos inform your choice about grad school, and it is swaying you towards the Yale MA offer. To those of us who've done grad school and know what we're talking about, the solution is obvious: you should take the Wisconsin PhD offer. But because you are posting to a board full of ignorant undergrads, you're going to get poor advice.

GO TO WISCONSIN AND STFU.

[someoneoutthere]

I'm a regular over at PSJR, and I stumbled over here yesterday. I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU ARE STILL DEBATING THIS CHOICE.

Look, I know where you go to undergrad (FYI you should be more careful about what personal info you put on the internet. You WILL come to regret it later). The kids at your school are prestige whores who are all bitter at not having got into an Ivy. I think you are letting this ethos inform your choice about grad school, and it is swaying you towards the Yale MA offer. To those of us who've done grad school and know what we're talking about, the solution is obvious: you should take the Wisconsin PhD offer. But because you are posting to a board full of ignorant undergrads, you're going to get poor advice.

GO TO WISCONSIN AND STFU.

1. You can't know that much about me because I'm no longer in undergrad.

2. I didn't apply to any Ivy league schools for undergrad. I applied to two schools I really wanted to go to early decision and that's it. How's that for being a "prestige whore"?

3. I have my reasons for wanting to do the MA. They have nothing to do with trying to get into a better Political Science PhD program later on. They are my own personal reasons that I don't care to share with random people on the internet.

4. I don't believe that I will come to regret having accidentally--and indirectly--divulged where i went to undergrad to people bored enough to try to figure out who some random person on the internet is. If it ever comes up (and I doubt it even will), I think I can accurately say that I stupidly asked people on an internet discussion forum for advice and my motives, character, and intentions were completely misconstrued by several people who decided to start hating me.

[tomorrows verse]

In an effort to divert (negative) attention from someoneoutthere (sorry about all the hate here, it's really quite repulsive), I have offers from UMass-Amherst and Brandeis. I'm an Americanist, my interests are American political development, the presidency, and campaigns/elections. Brandeis is giving more money for more years, but the cost of living between Waltham/Boston and Amherst sort of negates that (and the folks at UMass said students generally receive funding for additional years, unless you're a total screw-up). I know Brandeis usually ranks far better placement wise, but I was pretty impressed with the folks at UMass. Hopefully I'll have a chance to visit Brandeis (DGS said they are trying to schedule a visit for next Friday, which I may or may not be able to attend) and figure it out. Just thought I'd hear some of your thoughts.

[gsams]

somewhereoutthere,

If you want the vultures to leave, stop posting. Seriously. Make your decision in peace.

And yes, you have to admit that you wanted advice which is why you posted here and on the other board.

Just stay calm, don't reply, and let it go. There is no need to respond.

[blankets]

OMG April 15 is nigh. I'm officially going with NSSR (with 1/2 tuition) MA over McGill MA. I'm on the waitlist at Toronto MA, and if that comes through, I'll go there. Otherwise this would go in the 100% post.

Edited April 13, 2010 by blankets

[Scalia]

Somewhere up on this thread, a poster mentioned going to the best quality program instead of making a decision based upon a subfield preference. This is something I've wrestled with myself when it comes to applying to schools. I know that some schools would obviously be a poor fit, but how important is it that you go to a school known for your particular interest whether it be institutions, political psychology, or theory?