microbiogirlem Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 I have been offered acceptance to two schools - and my heart is literally torn between the two of them. School A is ranked in the top ten for my field and there are two professors there I would enjoy working with. I love the school and its location. What I love most about the school is how collaborative everyone is - when interviewing, all the professors were quick to point out how they are helping other labs and how other labs are helping them. All the grad students I met were happy and bragged about how much they love living in City A. School B is a lesser known school for my field. I didn't think I was going to like School B, but after visiting it I fell in love with it, but I really dislike the location. I don't know if I will be happy in the weather - I know that is silly, but it is hard for me to imagine my day to day life there. Plus, there is literally nothing to do in City B. School B really, really wants me - they increased my stipend (still less than School A) and guaranteed me full funding, although if my lab loses funding I will have to TA. School A guarantees funding, no matter what (even if my lab loses funding). School B has four professors I would enjoy working with. What should I do? Any advice? Should location and a life outside of lab matter that much?
wtncffts Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 Going from your descriptions, I would choose School A. To be honest, it doesn't seem like there's that much of a dilemma here. A is guaranteeing you full funding, seems to have a great departmental atmosphere, is highly ranked in the field, has a great location... There doesn't seem to be anything in B's favour, other than two more professors you want to work with, which I guess is a benefit but not a major one. Even without the location factor, A seems a better choice; with the location, A definitely does. It's not silly to think about such factors: if it's actually hard for you to imagine living there, that's not a good sign. Yes, location, quality of life, etc. do matter. If you're not happy, or at least comfortable, with where and how you live, it's almost always going to be detrimental to your work as a student and scholar. psycholinguist 1
microbiogirlem Posted March 15, 2011 Author Posted March 15, 2011 Yes, location, quality of life, etc. do matter. If you're not happy, or at least comfortable, with where and how you live, it's almost always going to be detrimental to your work as a student and scholar. I think you are right. I am just torn b/c School B really wants me - I guess I liked the feeling of being a "superstar". Thank you for your insight...I completely agree that one should be comfortable and happy, as it will result in a happier person!
neuropsych76 Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 I think you are right. I am just torn b/c School B really wants me - I guess I liked the feeling of being a "superstar". Thank you for your insight...I completely agree that one should be comfortable and happy, as it will result in a happier person! i would chose school A from what you described as well. feeling like a "superstar" might feel nice but i'd rather go to a better school and not be the best there then go to a more average school and be the standout grad student. you don't want to standout from your cohort too much, that means you're probably at the wrong place. plus, the feelings of "superstarness" will quickly vanish once you're competing against other super stars for professor jobs. neuropsych76, lil kiwi, hello! :) and 3 others 6
flotsam Posted March 15, 2011 Posted March 15, 2011 Neuropsych is one smart dude. Dudette? Anyway, yeah. Go with School A. They want you. You want them. Don't feel bad for School B. Maybe you can teach there someday and make the town more interesting! i would chose school A from what you described as well. feeling like a "superstar" might feel nice but i'd rather go to a better school and not be the best there then go to a more average school and be the standout grad student. you don't want to standout from your cohort too much, that means you're probably at the wrong place. plus, the feelings of "superstarness" will quickly vanish once you're competing against other super stars for professor jobs.
arkel Posted March 16, 2011 Posted March 16, 2011 (edited) I think you are right. I am just torn b/c School B really wants me - I guess I liked the feeling of being a "superstar". Thank you for your insight...I completely agree that one should be comfortable and happy, as it will result in a happier person! Hmmm.... well you sound pretty excited about School A! And I think that although it is difficult to disappoint your prospective schools, your decision should be based on how much you want them, and not the other way around. Also, something to keep in mind... Different people/departments might express themselves differently. Just because School A isn't being as obvious about it, it doesn't necessarily mean that they don't want you just as badly as School B! Good luck with your decision! Edited March 16, 2011 by arkel
lacultpop Posted March 20, 2011 Posted March 20, 2011 Sigh, if my choices were so easy. School A seems like a given. I am having the same dilemma and I can't decide. One is my top choice, awesome program but in a shitty location, the other is in an awesome location, great program (not my top) but I know because of the location I have lots of opportunities. Both programs are very different, both provided funding, although my top choice gave me less than the other, and the other thing is time. Top choice's program is 1 year, the other is two. Top choice is inaugural year, choice 2 is established. Top choice has interviewed me, been in constant touch and really wants me. Choice 2 just sent me a package. Although it looks like I'm leaning towards choice 1 because it is my top choice, I can't help but think of the city I'd be turning down with choice 2. I'm going to go visit the campuses and attempt to decide. I'm also eagerly waiting for packages from other schools.
qbtacoma Posted March 21, 2011 Posted March 21, 2011 I am curious, OP - do you feel conflicted about the choice because you have some undefinable uneasiness about school A, or because it is difficult to once and for all make a choice and close off all other possible futures? If the latter problem is holding you up, rest assured that you will feel better when it is all over - it sounds like you've got a great choice here. Keep in mind your long term goals as well. If you want to stay in academia then being forced to take a TAship may actually help you in the long term at school B; if not, then school A is the best option.
microbiogirlem Posted March 29, 2011 Author Posted March 29, 2011 I am curious, OP - do you feel conflicted about the choice because you have some undefinable uneasiness about school A, or because it is difficult to once and for all make a choice and close off all other possible futures? If the latter problem is holding you up, rest assured that you will feel better when it is all over - it sounds like you've got a great choice here. Keep in mind your long term goals as well. If you want to stay in academia then being forced to take a TAship may actually help you in the long term at school B; if not, then school A is the best option. I am not quite sure why I have the uneasiness - I just don't want to miss out on opportunities at either school. As I stated before, School B has many more labs in the research I would love to do, whereas School A only has three. I am pretty much decided on School A - the city is nicer, and I think I will overall be more happy there. I want to teach when I finish grad school and a post-doc. I have been a professional Teaching Associate (a TA) at UCLA for the undergraduate microbiology labs for three years (plus I have TAed a variety of other courses), so I have a lot of teaching experience. In fact, being a TA is what made me love teaching so much.
Sevi Posted April 12, 2011 Posted April 12, 2011 I am in the saaaaame predicament... Ugh. Good luck to you making a decision! I think I'll just have to cry and flip a coin.
TheCantervilleGhost Posted April 12, 2011 Posted April 12, 2011 (edited) School A. Seems like a no brainer to me: - better reputation - better funding - better weather - better city to live in Yes, there are four professors in school B vs two in school A - but I think the other advantages clearly outweigh this. I know that it's always hard to turn down one of two good offers, and there's always that underlying feeling that you might just make the wrong decision. But really, the case seems to be clear, practically everything you said was in favor of A. Edited April 12, 2011 by TheCantervilleGhost
Jcantrone Posted April 12, 2011 Posted April 12, 2011 Interestingly, although perhaps not helpfully, I have noted a tendency for people to label as "School A" the school that they really, truly, deep prefer; and "School B" as the school they are somewhat more ambivalent about. My take? Always go with your "School A"-- that's where you really want to go to begin with. I have been offered acceptance to two schools - and my heart is literally torn between the two of them. School A is ranked in the top ten for my field and there are two professors there I would enjoy working with. I love the school and its location. What I love most about the school is how collaborative everyone is - when interviewing, all the professors were quick to point out how they are helping other labs and how other labs are helping them. All the grad students I met were happy and bragged about how much they love living in City A. School B is a lesser known school for my field. I didn't think I was going to like School B, but after visiting it I fell in love with it, but I really dislike the location. I don't know if I will be happy in the weather - I know that is silly, but it is hard for me to imagine my day to day life there. Plus, there is literally nothing to do in City B. School B really, really wants me - they increased my stipend (still less than School A) and guaranteed me full funding, although if my lab loses funding I will have to TA. School A guarantees funding, no matter what (even if my lab loses funding). School B has four professors I would enjoy working with. What should I do? Any advice? Should location and a life outside of lab matter that much?
Bukharan Posted April 12, 2011 Posted April 12, 2011 From the way you described the situation, why are you even considering it a dilemma and worrying much? School A all the way! Good luck with your final decision and grad school!!!
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