Last-minute help! Going back to my undergrad uni? (PhD in Classics)

[citharadraconis]

I'm abroad studying for a one-year master's right now, and have applied to come back to the US for a Ph.D. My options are as follows:

Option A: Excellent reputation, top professors in field, excellent resources, good location; it's a place I can see myself buckling down and actually doing hard work. The problem is that I'm not sure whom specifically I'd end up working with if I go there, although I know my interests could change significantly in the next years of coursework. I know I'd come out of the program a very well-trained classicist, but I don't know if I'd be going with the interests I have now (in particular, I've been doing a lot of papyrology, although I've been getting the really nuts-and-bolts training I need here so am not dependent on them having the facilities and faculty to train me). They don't have a good papyrus collection of their own but do have especially strong connections with the place I'm at now, which does, so I'd be able to work with papyri if that's what I want. There is a papyrologist here, but she may be leaving in the next few years; and the department as a whole seems to have significantly more Latinists than Hellenists. Have the reputation for being a bit traditional, not to say hidebound, but I do enjoy hardcore traditional text crit. I would also be a little nearer family, and have a long-distance relationship that would be slightly easier to manage from here.

Option B: Slightly less well-regarded than A (I believe), but still a top program. The big caveat is that this is where I did my undergrad. I loved the place when I was there, have a great relationship with many of the professors and grads already, and there have been several new hires in the past few years whom I didn't work with as an undergrad, including one professor who might end up supervising me if my interests continue as they are. But I do get the impression that it's frowned upon to go back to the same place--the department itself wouldn't have taken me straight out of undergrad without this year abroad, although now they've given me a named fellowship and they've made it very clear that they would be beyond excited to have me back. Plus they're strong in Egyptology, which A isn't and which I might want to end up incorporating into my research (although A would have the resources to send me elsewhere to get that knowledge should my interest in that direction continue). They have more papyri, but their papyrologist is officially retired, although I did work with her as an undergrad and I know she'll be sticking around in an unofficial capacity. Funding here is a little better but quite livable in both places, so I don't think it's a concern; and the location is definitely not as good here, both living- and convenience-wise. I've also already done a significant amount of graduate courses here, which both places assure me would allow me to get around some of the coursework requirements, but which B would probably be more open to considering.

What do you think? Does staying at the same place for undergrad and grad carry enough of a stigma to worry about--would it make me too intellectually inbred? I could see myself happy at either and I know I can't really make a wrong choice; I've visited both and met the other prospectives, whom I almost uniformly like.

Edited April 13, 2010 by citharadraconis

[shakespearebro]

I don't think you can go wrong either way here. You've already done the right thing by heading out to do your year-abroad masters so you've satisfied the basic requirement to add to your network and expand your exposure by studying in other departments. If all other things are exactly equal, yes you should go someplace new, but for your situation it sounds as though they are equal, but you've already satisfied the diversity requirement. To my mind the choice is really up to you. Either one is perfectly okay.

[so47]

Personally, I would still go with A. While you did go abroad for one year, you will still have 8-9 years at one institution, which still seems a bit "inbred" to me. PLus, it gives you more networking opportunities, which are increasingly important for jobs and grants after grad school.

School A sounds like a more well-rounded choice, and you have the option to continue your work with papyrology or to try something new, which doesn't sound like there would be much of an option at B. I have also been advised to avoid getting TOO specialized...it makes it harder to get a job later on.

Plus having the support system of your family closer and it being advantageous for your relationship are pluses too.

[citharadraconis]

Thank you for your help! I did end up going with Option A, and although I left some grumpy professors at B, they do seem to think it's ultimately the best decision for me. Looking forward to this fall!