Stanford or Berkeley Psychology?

[metaphorical]

Hi Everyone,

I was recently very, very fortunate to be accepted to both Stanford and Berkeley for a Ph.D. in Psychology, but I am now having some trouble deciding which school to choose. I would really appreciate some advice!

I am currently an undergrad at Stanford (but majoring in something other than Psychology), and I have worked a bit (but not closely) with my Stanford POI. Our research interests match very well, but I have heard some less positive things about his/her advising style from several people. On the plus side, Stanford is ranked number one in my subfield, and the resources and stipend are awesome. On the down side, I've been here for four years already, and I've often heard that it's not the best idea to stay in one's undergrad university for many reasons (going somewhere else gives you broader horizons, more connections, new experiences, looks better on CV, etc).

Berkeley is ranked a little lower (ranging from 1~8 depending on where you look), and the funding is not as great (although livable, and surprisingly good for UC standards). On the plus side, there are 3 professors there that I would love to work with, and I've really enjoyed talking to all three of them. Their grad students are also very happy with them as advisors. Although any one of the Berkeley POIs alone would not be as great of a fit in terms of research interests as the Stanford POI, the idea that I would be able to collaborate with all three of them is very attractive. The POIs also share a lot of students and seem to get along extremely well. Berkeley is also a much more exciting (and affordable) place to live and play in than Palo Alto. Plus, it's a different environment, and I AM a little worried about staying in the same school for 9+ years.

So I just wanted to ask--is it silly to turn down Stanford simply because I've been here for four years already? Or is it sillier to turn down Berkeley simply because Stanford is a little more highly ranked?

Thank you very much guys! I really appreciate your help.

Edited April 1, 2011 by metaphorical

[LJK]

Congrats on having such awesome choices! My thoughts: Rankings only count if there is a huge difference - like you are deciding between the number one ranked department and the 100th - in that case the number one ranked department would offer you extra 'foot in the door' opportunities that the one hundredth ranked department would not. In the case of Stanford vs. Berkeley - both are very well respected in psychology and both would equally get you 'foot in the door' opportunities. I wouldn't take the rankings into account here - the difference is very unlikely to have a significant effect on outcome.

Were I you, I would go to Berkeley. You will be able to carve out a space for yourself in between these 3 professors that is unique and perhaps more independent than if you straightforwardly worked in a single lab. I chose something similar where I have at least 3, possibly 4 or 5 faculty that have interests that intersect with mine - if I end up having a personality or work style clash with the one who is my initial primary advisor, I have options. I also don't think that the 'been here 4 years' issue is insignificant. I have been at my current institution for close to 6 years now - I want out. I had a complete change over socially and switched departments when I became an MS student, so my life hasn't been the same old, same old for 6 years, but I want a change of location too - new places to explore, new restaurants to discover, etc. There is one phd student at my current university that did undergrad here - I think the 9 years here are wearing on her psychologically, slowing down her progress towards her degree.

From the way you wrote your post, it seems like you want to say yes to Berkeley but are hesitating. That's totally understandable, its a big decision! But look back over your post, reading if as if this wasn't written by you - I think its pretty clear what you want to do, you don't even list downsides to Berkeley. Just do it!

Edited April 1, 2011 by LJK

[jynx]

I agree with the previous poster. Prestige is a non-issue when choosing between such highly respected programs as Stanford and Berkeley, and I think you're right that it's better not to stay at your undergrad institution for grad school. Plus, like the previous poster said, it does sound like you are feeling inclined towards Berkeley but are getting a little hung up on the rankings. I'd definitely go with Berkeley if I were you.

[Arcadian]

I would recommend Berkeley. Let's face the fact that is is extremely rare to find anyone who got their BA and PhD from the same school. Besides, wouldn't you like a little variety in your life?

[looking!]

Thats a very high quality problem you have there.

I would say all things remaining equal, choose a place where you can find more than one person to work with. If thats Berkeley then so be it. In the end, you dont want to be stuck in the program should your POI decide to move, or should your research interests change a little. Plus, honestly you would WANT to work with more than one person in ur PhD right?

Hi Everyone,

I was recently very, very fortunate to be accepted to both Stanford and Berkeley for a Ph.D. in Psychology, but I am now having some trouble deciding which school to choose. I would really appreciate some advice!

I am currently an undergrad at Stanford (but majoring in something other than Psychology), and I have worked a bit (but not closely) with my Stanford POI. Our research interests match very well, but I have heard some less positive things about his/her advising style from several people. On the plus side, Stanford is ranked number one in my subfield, and the resources and stipend are awesome. On the down side, I've been here for four years already, and I've often heard that it's not the best idea to stay in one's undergrad university for many reasons (going somewhere else gives you broader horizons, more connections, new experiences, looks better on CV, etc).

Berkeley is ranked a little lower (ranging from 1~8 depending on where you look), and the funding is not as great (although livable, and surprisingly good for UC standards). On the plus side, there are 3 professors there that I would love to work with, and I've really enjoyed talking to all three of them. Their grad students are also very happy with them as advisors. Although any one of the Berkeley POIs alone would not be as great of a fit in terms of research interests as the Stanford POI, the idea that I would be able to collaborate with all three of them is very attractive. The POIs also share a lot of students and seem to get along extremely well. Berkeley is also a much more exciting (and affordable) place to live and play in than Palo Alto. Plus, it's a different environment, and I AM a little worried about staying in the same school for 9+ years.

So I just wanted to ask--is it silly to turn down Stanford simply because I've been here for four years already? Or is it sillier to turn down Berkeley simply because Stanford is a little more highly ranked?

Thank you very much guys! I really appreciate your help.