PhD in the Midwest now or wait for California?

[displacedmidwesterner]

So... I was admitted to a Curriculum and Instruction program at a university in the Midwest. I deferred to get more work experience first. Now, I am ready to do it! I'm in my early 30's and I'm anxious to get started. However, now I'm wondering if it might be better to wait a year and apply to universities in California, if that would mean better networking opportunities, etc. Plus, I like the weather! : ) On the other hand, I don't want to have to go through the application process again. The program I was admitted to is ranked well (top 5ish), although the school overall is not ranked as highly (top 20ish) That's from USNews, so I'm not even sure if those rankings are relevant.

Let me make this question much shorter: Do phds from universities in California have advantages over a phd from the Midwest when it comes to getting a job? I'm thinking networking opportunities (there are so many companies and Universities and people in California, compared to the Midwest). Has anyone in a phd program in the midwest found this to be a disadvantage? Particularly in the education field?

Curious... Thanks!

[tt503]

I don't know about this specific field, but a top 5 program in any field is going to be regarded well by whoever is hiring you. Some schools in California would fare better overall (Stanford), but some schools in the Midwest are impressive as well (U Chicago). Ultimately though, if you aren't happy in the midwest, you won't be as successful as where you are happy. I suggest you visit (if you haven't already) to see what it is like.

I've lived in the midwest for almost all my life and it's not that bad, particularly if you're near a bigger city.

[bikefarm]

I don't think that there are more networking opportunities in California vs. an entire region, the midwest. Most of your networking is going to occur at conferences, through professors at your school, and through your adviser. If this graduate program in the midwest is the best fit with your interests -- it would be in your best interest to go to that program and you can always get a job in California when you're done. I went to a graduate program in the midwest and everything has worked out for me. I think fit is more important for your graduate career than location. And if the graduate program is ranked in the top 5, that's really great and will be well known by everyone in the education field, meaning when you apply to jobs, people will see where you went to grad school and know that it's a top program. (If the school overall is ranked in the top 20, that's referring to the undergraduate program, not the graduate program.) Anyway, good luck!

[displacedmidwesterner]

Thanks for the replies. What I meant to say is, the specific division (Curriculum and Instruction) is ranked highly, but the college of education is ranked low-mid 20s. Does that mean anything? Why would it have such a high ranking in that area if the overall college of education is not ranked well? I don't understand how USNews generates these reports.