ND vs ISU chemistry phd

[juliasky]

Hi, everyone! I'm now admitted to ISU and NDU, both chemistry phd. I want some suggestions on these two schools. My concerns are as follows:

1. Iowa has a higher ranking in chemistry (30+) than ND (60+) but ND has a much higher ranking considering all the aspects. Many people said graduate students should focus on the school's academic reputation but doesn't the overall ranking also mean something?

2. ND offers a little better TA scholarship than ISU. I don't know about the living expenses of both yet. I'm Asian. I find that both schools are in small towns. Will the life be a little boring in small towns? Any information about the graduate life would be welcome ^ _ ^

3. I didn't contact any professors yet. How do I decide my advisor then? How is the chance that my ideal professor also pick me?

Anyway, I want to make the best decision, academic, life, wether... And I also have a great chance to have offer from State University of New York, Stony Brook(SUNY).How is this school compared with the above two?

Still wait for more, good luck to me and everyone else!!

[xchen57]

it really depends on your future plan, (not the bullshit you said in you SOP, lol). To be honest, as an international student, you have barely no chance to get a faculty position after graduating from either school. So my suggestion is, go to be fancy one.