Torn: US or Germany

[feathers]

Hi!

I have to make a decision soon regarding which program to attend and I am torn with my options!

Maybe you can help?

Here is the situation:

I have always wanted to go to grad school in the US because of the structure of programs, course offerings, TA experience, everything. I applied for two rounds and was accepted without funding because they had budget cuts, etc. Finally, I have been accepted with funding (15K per year in an expensive state, so I will be very very poor) for 4 years to school X. The courses are the best, I love them all. My advisor is awesome. He/she is at the top of her field, has many connections, many projects. But, I have heard from other professors that the advisor at X is quite detached, very busy, and I probably would be on my own. Advisor can write superb recommendation letters and get me more funds for my research, but he/she may not have time to mentor me, read thoroughly my applications, papers, etc. I will be done in 6 years... with luck? There is the thing that I have plenty of friends and family in this city, so it won't be such a shock to move out of my country and be at a new place. And advisor could really help me to land a job in something I like because of advisor's connections.

Then, I applied to scholarship from DAAD to go to Germany to school Y and got it. School Y is on the top 10 in Europe and in associated with an institute which is renowned in my field. Advisor at Y is amazing. Not as famous and with that many projects, but I think that is his zen way of living, since he is very prolific and excellent at what he does. He/she has been like a mentor since the beginning of my career, I have a close and great relationship with him/her and I am more than sure he/she will have all the time to advice me, read my things, give suggestions, etc, etc. Also, the funding package is very good, I will not have to worry for money at all and I don't have to TA. Since I actually am not required to take courses, the course offering is very general, nothing exciting. I just have to focus on my reseach, which will be an improved version of what I am doing now (instead of a reloaded version in the US, where I will learn stuff I don't know and include it in my research). I will be done in 3 years. I don't know anybody here, but the advisor, and I don't speak any german (the PhD is in english). DAAD offers to teach me 6 months of german, but I may feel alienated and alone since I won't be able to comunicate properly.

I have the feeling that Germany is the safe choice, if I go there, my worst regret could be to not have a strong foundation and lack the knowledge I want in some topics I am not good at. Not a tragedy, but a personal thing that could be solved with some discipline on my part (to selflearn).

I feel the US as the complicated choice. Everything could work out and I would feel fulfilled and happy with my research and studies. But it may be too much the first years, being very poor, teaching and taking courses. Also, I am worried about the situation in the US. Many colleague have mentioned the shortage of funds for science is increasing and since I will be an international students, fellowships and etc. for me would be very limited. What if in 4 years, I can't find more money to finish my PhD which is stimated to last 6 years? What if my advisor really does not have time for me? But I have always wanted this.

Any comments are greatly appreciated!

[rising_star]

At the end of the day, where do you want to work? What do you want to be doing? Figure that out and then you can figure out which supervisor and university will best prepare you for what you want to do.