Choosing Between 2 GREAT But Different Programs

[jlaser]

School 1 is widely considered to be "the cutting edge" and one of the leaders of my field. An impressive array of scholars. The fit (culturally, intellectually, interpersonally) is *really* good. Great funding package. Great networks and connections.

-Only downside is that it is in a location I really don't like and is not too conducive to my mental health (I've lived here the past 17 years - so it's not a prejudice haha). Will I become depressed? Probably not, but it'll definitely eat away at me. I could move far - but it would make my commute upwards of 1.5 hours and prevent me from being around the school, my cohort, etc. 

 

School 2 is considered also a top 5 program but def not the cutting edge or leader. It's seen as more conservative and still "finding itself." You can see this in the student and faculty research demographic. You have a weird mix of "cutting edge" and hip scholars and then some who do very "conservative and outdated work" (in the words of a mentor, not mine). Whereas School 1 there is more of a synergy within the department, in this one it seems as if there is an odd mix between keeping things as they are and keeping up with the cutting edge. So there are faculty considered cutting edge who I could work with, but its not like school 1 where the department as a totality has that reputation. Might be more risky coming here for that reason? (in terms of fitting in) 

-I know department rank matters more than school rank, but another factor is that this school is the or one of the most well known ivy leagues in the world. Only mentioning that pedigree power would work in my favor if it decide to pursue work outside academia. 

-Also very great funding package (slightly more than school 1). Area would be very nice for mental health. Big campus, wide open area, very relaxed energy all around. 

Both seem to place their candidates in tenure track positions well. I'd dare say that because of reputation, school 1 is slightly better. 

 

Please make my life decision for me (kidding) but would very much like to hear opinions, past experiences, thoughts. 

 

 

[urbanfarmer]

What I hear you saying is: school A is a better fit for me, but I'd really rather live where school B is (and going there won't tank my academic life).

A lot of conventional wisdom points to school A. However, I don't think I can stress enough how emotionally and mentally hard being in a PhD program is. I'm happy with my school, program, advisors, cohort, work, etc etc. I have (very close) friends outside of school that I see regularly, I eat well and work out, my physical health is solid, and I have no chronic mental health issues. I like where I live, for the most part. Even with all that-- keeping abreast of burnout, exhaustion, stress, and bouts of anxiety is tough. And, I'm sure you've read all the statistics, and heard all the stories: what I'm saying is more the norm than not, in terms of grad students having serious struggles with mental health, at a rate far above the population at large. 

It's hard to give advice to a complete stranger over the internet, because you know nothing about them as a person. But I guess my piece of wisdom is simply: don't underestimate the power of your happiness outside of school, whatever that means to you (of course, choosing a program where you feel like you might not fit well could also have negative effects on your mental health). Being happy with (or at least not actively disliking) your day-to-day life will make your work better, and there's no reason to become miserable just to get a degree, if you don't have to. Remember, this is essentially just a job. Hopefully one you like, and find some fulfillment in, but it's a job all the same. 

[disidentifications]

Without knowing much about your situation, it sounds like there's something about the location of School 1 that's really putting you off what would otherwise be an ideal choice on paper. It also sounds like you're trying to justify your inclination towards school 2, despite its looser fit with your work. Given how much it takes to make one second-guess such a logical fit between one's research interests and a program, I'd say that it might be worth listening to your instincts this time. After all, if you're already convinced that you'll be miserable if you have to continue residing where the first school is located, I don't see how much happier or more fulfilled you'll be in time to come. 

Regarding your concerns about school 2's academic profile and reputation, it would definitely be riskier to enter a program where your research focus and approaches aren't dominant. However, as plenty of people have already pointed out on these forums, your interests will likely change over time, and so will the direction and composition of departments. It is perhaps true that the English departments some Ivies are known for being a tad more conservative, but I think (based on what I've been noticing on GC and in recent hiring patterns) that they're generally moving towards more "cutting edge", multi- and trans-disciplinary research anyway. In this sense, I don't think that you'll find yourself being so out of place in such departments, considering that they've already extended an offer to you based on the work you propose to do -- it means that they like your research enough, and know that they have the capacity to support it. Other things that you might also want to look into are opportunities for you to take classes in consortiums or in neighbouring schools, or the possibility to invite professors from outside your university to sit on your dissertation committee. These are all avenues for you to draw on resources in other institutions (including, if possible, school 1), while being based in an area that you might prefer to live.

Ultimately, like @urbanfarmer said, there's no reason to become miserable just to get a degree, especially when the job market is so dire and the name and reputation of your school is no longer a guarantee of a job. I don't believe that I'm in any position to tell you what to do, but, from my own perspective, I'd say that it's probably more important for you to weigh your well-being in the next six or so years over your longer-term plans, seeing as no one can tell what will become of academia in the future anyway.