Another Dilemma

[hopelessornot]

Another lurker here. I hope GradCafe members will have some advice for me.

So... I got accepted to School A and School B cca. 10 days ago. School A has a rockstar professor (Professor A) in my subfield (i.e. in my subfield of a subfield). He/she would be my adviser. I talked to him/her at a conference last year and he/she encouraged me to apply.

School B has two or three faculty members who are pretty good in the broader subfield in which my particular subfield is situated. I had extensive email correspondence with one professor (Professor there, who would probably be my adviser. I visited school B and I liked it very much, especially the atmosphere in the department.

Now I don't know whose offer to accept. Before you suggest I visit School A, I have to tell you that's impossible. I won't go into details, but that's definitely impossible.

Now, the thing is that Professor A tells me School B is a good school, but can't give me the training I need to get a job in the field. Professor A also thinks School A is much better than School B. Professor A emphasized several times that going to School A would help me establish important contacts in the field, and School B not so much. Professor A also emphasized the importance of the right choice of grad school more than once. He/she believes this decision is crucial for my professional success.

Professor B didn't put any pressure on me. (Maybe because even Professor B thinks that School A is better?) Professor B said he would certainly like me to come to School B, but Professor B understands I have to decide what's best for me. Professor B also told me no decision is irrevocable.

To tell the truth, it seems to me that Professor B is more easy-going, easier to work with. (Especially since Professor A told me, "I see you really like School B, so maybe going there is a good idea. But you'll be sorry in a year or two and then it'll be too late.") Also, because it's so difficult to get a job in my subfield, I was thinking of doing some more interdisciplinary

work. School B (and Professor does that kind of work, School A not so much. But I still don't know what to do. School A was like a childhood dream... or something. I know that I have to make the decision, but I'd appreciate your thoughts on this.

P.S. The money is the same (unless I get another fellowship at School A). School B has a much better location (i.e. it isn't in a rural area).

[eklavya]

Hi there! I don't know enough of your field to say what's good for your and what's bad, but my one question to you is: have you YOURSELF done any/some research about the job market and potential career landings if you were to graduate from school A vs B? All professors can (and will) tell you is that their program is better than others out in the market. But it is up to you to pick one, and pick carefully, as it is going to represent you for the rest of your career. My advice is that you talk to current grad students ın both schools and see how it has panned out for them and their predecessors.

Regarding the mood and coolness of the professors, it's hard to tell right away who is the better guy to work with. But you don't want to be stuck with a snobby, perfectionist. Or with someone who communicates poorly with his students, and such. We can't say choose A or go with B, because it's up to you to make the final decision. Whatever you choose, just be careful. Good luck!