Great school/fully funded vs great mentor/ideal research

[JenanH]

I have offers from two schools:

The first is where I got my undergrad degree. I know the faculty there and have a mentor whom I've been working with for the past two years. I have a great PhD project lined up that is precisely in my area of interest and I would be performing this research at a facility where I would love to work someday. This school has a LOT of course requirements for the PhD, many of which will likely not apply to my research and also doesn't have much funding. I would have to teach three labs/semester and in return I would get 6 credits/semester of tuition covered plus $12,000/yr. It would take me 4 years (8 semesters) to finish the course requirements for the PhD if I didn't take more than 6 credits/semester (and I would have to pay for credits in excess of 6).

The second school has funding: teach one semester and get 9 credits of tuition covered/semester + $21000/year. The course requirements are basically whatever courses you need for your research. This is a bit of a commute from home but it's doable - I can always move out there when my lease is up in a year. Unfortunately, all of the professors in my area of interest are not accepting students and I have been picked up by an immunology professor. I don't know a thing about immunology but apparently that's okay. This funding is difficult to pass up... but do I really want to switch from repro. bio to immunology? Getting a Masters in immunology is always an option... but I was ideally hoping to go straight for my PhD. Hmmmm.... advice?? (I also wouldn't be doing my research at the place where I imagined myself working 10 years down the line.)

[Sassytune]

I have offers from two schools:

The first is where I got my undergrad degree. I know the faculty there and have a mentor whom I've been working with for the past two years. I have a great PhD project lined up that is precisely in my area of interest and I would be performing this research at a facility where I would love to work someday. This school has a LOT of course requirements for the PhD, many of which will likely not apply to my research and also doesn't have much funding. I would have to teach three labs/semester and in return I would get 6 credits/semester of tuition covered plus $12,000/yr. It would take me 4 years (8 semesters) to finish the course requirements for the PhD if I didn't take more than 6 credits/semester (and I would have to pay for credits in excess of 6).

The second school has funding: teach one semester and get 9 credits of tuition covered/semester + $21000/year. The course requirements are basically whatever courses you need for your research. This is a bit of a commute from home but it's doable - I can always move out there when my lease is up in a year. Unfortunately, all of the professors in my area of interest are not accepting students and I have been picked up by an immunology professor. I don't know a thing about immunology but apparently that's okay. This funding is difficult to pass up... but do I really want to switch from repro. bio to immunology? Getting a Masters in immunology is always an option... but I was ideally hoping to go straight for my PhD. Hmmmm.... advice?? (I also wouldn't be doing my research at the place where I imagined myself working 10 years down the line.)

When there is a choice to move AWAY from your U/G - I would take it. Just because you envision yourself working there "10 years down the line" does not mean they would want you there - especially since you have not been tested in a different environment. Not to say, they won't - but it is probably better to move to another Uni. Immunology is great (granted, I am biased) but it can pretty much be applied to any area of life sciences. School 2 has more funding, better choice of course work, in that you can be selective, less course load, less TAship. What's not to like? You can go back to repro. bio for your postdoc, or re-design your project to have an immunology slant - there appear to be more options at school 2, IMO.

[waldorf1975]

I can't speak for the sciences, but I can speak for the humanities, and it is often considered good to do your grad work at a different school from your undergrad precisely because you'll be working with different people and demonstrating flexibility. You'll expand your network, and it will serve you well when you are on the job market.

In the end, funding is everything, and the funding package from school 2 looks too tempting. If the school is nearby, and it sounds like it is, just make it a point to stay in touch with your undergrad mentor.

[so47]

When there is a choice to move AWAY from your U/G - I would take it. Just because you envision yourself working there "10 years down the line" does not mean they would want you there - especially since you have not been tested in a different environment. Not to say, they won't - but it is probably better to move to another Uni. Immunology is great (granted, I am biased) but it can pretty much be applied to any area of life sciences. School 2 has more funding, better choice of course work, in that you can be selective, less course load, less TAship. What's not to like?

I agree with all of this. I was STRONGLY advised against doing your grad degree where you did you undergrad, especially in a research centered field like biology. People want to see educational diversity, it makes you much more well rounded and thus a better scientist overall. Plus, only doing research with one professor on one project limits networking, and you can become TOO specialized and it makes it harder to get a job. Plus going into debt for a degree that could hurt you career just sounds crazy!

I also agree strongly with

You can go back to repro. bio for your postdoc, or re-design your project to have an immunology slant - there appear to be more options at school 2, IMO.

You can design your PhD project to incorporate some of the aspects that you want. Your potential advisor knows your background and interests, and I'm sure they would be supportive of combining the 2. It makes their research portfolio more diverse as well!

[shakespearebro]

Definitely go with the funding, but I am confused. Is the second option a Masters program and the first a PhD?