What is more important: Program or Research?

[laurend]

So here is my dilemma. I have been going back and forth between 2 schools for a few weeks and am trying to make my decision.

I currently do alcohol research and am very interested in the relationship between alcohol and anxiety/stress.

School 1 is a good program and has several people that seem interested in me and if I go there I can continue to work with alcohol. Problem is, I didn't get to interact as much with the students, but I got an ok vibe from them. I like the area, but it is a smaller town. Also, some of the labs I am interested in are smaller with a non-tenure prof (still new so their tenure won't be an issue for me before I defend and they still do great work).

When I went to school two the research is not directly with alcohol, but more with stress and indirectly related to alcohol. I REALLY like this program. The area will be better for my SO to find a job and I really felt a good vibe from the students.

What do you all think? Is it more important to stay with the school that is more in line with the research I have pictured myself doing, or should I venture to the program that is a little better with research that is a little off track?

[Eigen]

Personally, I'm a big fan of following the "vibes" in graduate school decisions.

I think the exact areas of research can change a lot, and as long as there is still research you would be interested in working on at School 2, I wouldn't think not going there would be such a big deal.

Keep in mind that you probably won't continue the same research topic into your post-docs or professional career as you have in graduate school anyway- graduate school is the time to develop your abilities as an independent researcher and learn techniques, so an environment that you feel will be the most supportive can be a huge benefit in those areas.

Also, the SO factor can be quite a big deal.

[jmacnomad]

Personally, I'm a big fan of following the "vibes" in graduate school decisions.

I think the exact areas of research can change a lot, and as long as there is still research you would be interested in working on at School 2, I wouldn't think not going there would be such a big deal.

Keep in mind that you probably won't continue the same research topic into your post-docs or professional career as you have in graduate school anyway- graduate school is the time to develop your abilities as an independent researcher and learn techniques, so an environment that you feel will be the most supportive can be a huge benefit in those areas.

Also, the SO factor can be quite a big deal.

I agree with this poster. "Vibe" is incredibly important because these are the people you will be spending the next few years of your life with. Plus, your SO's happiness and ability to find work will be key to both of your abilities to cope with the life change that is grad school.

[Eigen]

I tell this to all of the prospective grad students that visit us:

Remember, when you're picking an advisor and group... These are the people that you will be working with, closely, for the next 5-7 years of your life. Think hard about whether you'd prefer a group/boss you like doing research that may be a bit further from your interests versus research that fits you spot on with a boss/group that you don't like as much.

You spend 50-60 hours a week interacting with these people- interpersonal connections are important. The research can be great, but if you don't "click" with your PI, or the two of you are different enough that writing styles, personalities, etc. don't mesh, it will be a really long 5-7 years- not to mention slowing your research progress due to miscommunications, the 30th re-write of a paper, etc.

Most of the "horror" stories you'll hear about grad school relate to interactions with advisors and groups moreso than the research.

Edited February 25, 2011 by Eigen

[qbtacoma]

Yes, I would say go with the group that you connect with on a personal level, even if the research may be not as spot-on to what you are doing. If they are supportive anyway they will give you opportunities to pursue your own flavor of research even if it is a little off of what they do as a whole.

[Bukharan]

I think School 2 sounds like a better choice for you. You like it, you feel more comfortable there - this is what matters. When you settle in that department and they assess your interests and strengths, you are likely to get access to what you want to do (besides, this can always change slightly, right?).