Advice Needed: Fit and Funding vs. Reputation

[nervousapplicant]

Hoping I can get some advice on this. I've put the questions out to old professors, friends who are current grad students and basically everyone I know, but I would appreciate feedback here too!

I've been accepted with funding and a TAship at School A, and waitlisted (but apparently high on the list) at School B. School A is small and less prestigious than School B, which is essentially the best-known school in my country (not the US). However, School A is an excellent research fit, with multiple faculty members working in areas similar to mine. The money is good, but what I really want is the TAship. Meanwhile, at School B, there is a large faculty and two or three potential research advisors who are good but not great fits for me. This school offers more course selection and, of course, the brand name reputation, but it's unlikely I'll get funding or a TAship (generally reserved for PhD students).

I'm also still waiting to hear back from two other schools.

How important is reputation, especially if this is only my MA? I want to continue on to a PhD but my worries are that I'll be unprepared after going to School A, or less likely to get in because of the reputation. But School B seems so impersonal, and School A has been absolutely lovely to deal with so far and very inviting and accommodating. To complicate matters, School A's decision deadline is March 14. School B has said they will inform me on April 1 or earlier (if possible) about my admission status, and that "the odds are very good" that I'll be admitted. So, what do I do? I see this as a case of fit/funding/teaching experience (all excellent) vs. reputation (not as important to me, but important to everyone else?).

[joenobody0]

Hoping I can get some advice on this. I've put the questions out to old professors, friends who are current grad students and basically everyone I know, but I would appreciate feedback here too!

I've been accepted with funding and a TAship at School A, and waitlisted (but apparently high on the list) at School B. School A is small and less prestigious than School B, which is essentially the best-known school in my country (not the US). However, School A is an excellent research fit, with multiple faculty members working in areas similar to mine. The money is good, but what I really want is the TAship. Meanwhile, at School B, there is a large faculty and two or three potential research advisors who are good but not great fits for me. This school offers more course selection and, of course, the brand name reputation, but it's unlikely I'll get funding or a TAship (generally reserved for PhD students).

I'm also still waiting to hear back from two other schools.

How important is reputation, especially if this is only my MA? I want to continue on to a PhD but my worries are that I'll be unprepared after going to School A, or less likely to get in because of the reputation. But School B seems so impersonal, and School A has been absolutely lovely to deal with so far and very inviting and accommodating. To complicate matters, School A's decision deadline is March 14. School B has said they will inform me on April 1 or earlier (if possible) about my admission status, and that "the odds are very good" that I'll be admitted. So, what do I do? I see this as a case of fit/funding/teaching experience (all excellent) vs. reputation (not as important to me, but important to everyone else?).

I'd take the offer with funding 100% of the time. Do well at the "lesser" school, get great LORs, do well on the GMAT/GRE, and you can go to a "better" school for your PhD.

[a fragrant plant]

School A. From what you told us you're also leaning towards School A. If school A is among the top 50-70 universities in the U.S, you should go for it. I don't know where school B is so I can't comment, but I'd say a school ranked at the 50-70 tier is still pretty strong.