Ivy League Far Away or Undergrad Institution Close to Home?

[echolikebells]

If you answered my last decisions, decisions, thank you! I have realized Vanderbilt is unattainable for me, so that would have meant I was going to Ohio State for sure... if I hadn't found out that I got into Brown University's MAT program and was offered some funding. Now my decision seems even harder.

Ohio State: My undergrad institution. In my home state, less than two hours from my small family. Would not have to pay to move all of my belongings or sell and buy new belongings because I'd be moving across town. Would get to remain close to friends. Cost of living is much lower. Nationally ranked in my program (education). No funding or aid. I've lived in Ohio my whole life, other than the two years I spent right over the border in Indiana.

Brown: Ivy League. Not particularly highly ranked for my specific program, but highly ranked as a whole university. Would give me two different institutions for degrees. Would have to pay to move 15 hours away (super expensive!) or sell belongings and buy new. Renting with strangers without being able to see the apartment in person. Cost of living is more. New living experience in a city that I've always been interested in. 50% of tuition is funded. Out of pocket is $7,000 more than OSU, but only $7,000.

I don't know what to do here. The thought of moving to a new city and having a new experience with new people is both one of the most exciting aspects of Brown and one of the scariest. Cost/logistics of moving that far is also intimidating. $7,000 doesn't seem like too much in the grand scheme of things so I'm thinking of these two as being on pretty even ground cost-wise, for me. Brown would double my networking capabilities and mean my degrees are from two different institutions.

Help, if you can! Please?

[blankslate]

Take the leap and go to Brown IMO. Moving is scary, but go into it with the right attitude and I guarantee you'll have an amazing experience. More importantly, you'll learn more than if you stay where you are.

[leahallegra]

I agree. Take the jump. So long as its not going to crush you financially, moving is part of the academic experience imo. Its scary and complicated sometimes but moving (especially to the better ranked university which will give you the better looking degree) will teach you important life skills you would never get by staying home. One of my good friends had a reputation for acting incredibly immaturely but he upped and moved to a new state to start this really awesome prestigious post bach thing and he has become a whole new person. Its pretty amazing.

[Chipembere]

I can't comment on the quality of either program, but the following two quotes sum up my take on your situation.

"The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty 'yes' to your adventure"

“A bit of advice

Given to a young Native American

At the time of his initiation:

As you go the way of life,

You will see a great chasm. Jump.

It is not as wide as you think.”

--joseph campbell

[GreenePony]

Maybe this is just different budgets speaking- but my husband and I are looking at moving either 23 (or so) hours away, or across the Atlantic and I would not necessarily classify it as "super expensive" for the domestic move. To rent a Uhaul and drive it (assuming gas will be $4-5) from Texas to DC is less than a month of rent (~1000) for a full - and fully furnished- two bedroom apartment (~900 ft). I'm assuming you would be moving less stuff if you were planning on sharing space with a roommate so that would also cut down on the cost.

I would say Brown- I moved half way across the country from my close family for ug and it was probably the best decision possible growth-wise. The flights back for holidays haven't been that bad so I can still see them on a somewhat regular basis.

[guitarist]

Don't stay at your undergrad institution. Sure it probably feels safe and comfortable, but your network (both personal and professional connections) will expand immensely by going to another school. This can be invaluable in the future.

[echolikebells]

One big question for me in making this decision though: OSU is far better ranked in my specific program. Like Top 10. Brown, on the other hand, is not even highly ranked enough for them to show up on the list. So does the benefit of having a degree from another university/the expansion of my network outweigh the fact that my undergrad institution has the much better ranked program, specific to my field?

[GreenePony]

One big question for me in making this decision though: OSU is far better ranked in my specific program. Like Top 10. Brown, on the other hand, is not even highly ranked enough for them to show up on the list. So does the benefit of having a degree from another university/the expansion of my network outweigh the fact that my undergrad institution has the much better ranked program, specific to my field?

What are you planning on doing with it?

Education is not anywhere close to what I want to do (worked at too many camps, bitten by too many children) but when my mom got her M.Ed. (or at least MA in something related to reading/literacy) it mattered more that she *had* a masters than from where, this is when she was transitioning from being remedial reading (intermediary/secondary) to full time reading specialist (which she had experience in before hand). However, this could be because this was a smaller school district (town of 12000 with a few small villages surrounding.)

[echolikebells]

What are you planning on doing with it?

I'm planning on being a full-time, fully-licensed high school English teacher.

[emma1frost]

Hey echolikebells,

I just got back from the open house admit day at Brown. Thought I would fill you in on how it went, if you are still making up your mind about which program to attend to.

I had so many questions about the program that I couldn't find answers to. Not a lot has been written up about the program and I was also a bit skeptical about it. I had gotten in at Columbia TC, NYU Steinhardt, and Boston College Lynch School as well. But Brown has the shorter program and the funding that caught my attention. Also Providence is a great city and much more affordable to live in than Boston or Manhattan.

I am so glad I went to the Admit day. It was really wonderful. The program is small. There were only 8 people in the secondary english program and the director, Laura Snyder is great. People were very genuine and were committed to practical hands on training. This is very different from other places that work theory more. I don't want a theory heavy education. I want experience in the classroom. And Brown Summer high school and the student teaching program is much more than even a 2 year program. Everything is very individualized. Your school placement is done on a one-on-one basis so that you will feel supported every step of the way. And with the small cohort group size, they can actually do this.

We also visited a high school where some of the current MAT students were student teaching at and met also 2 mentor teachers. It was a great visit. The school is a high needs school and we got to observe a 9th grade writing class and an AP Rhetoric Language class. Both very different, but both very promising. The mentor teachers spoke with us at length and it was really encouraging to hear them speak about their own experiences and their work with student teachers.

I went in thinking, oh god, what am I doing? And after that day, I was really excited to start the program and knew I was making the right decision for me. It was really amazing.

I also found an amazing loft apartment and fell in love with the city. It's got so many great things. I posted all about it in the Meet and Greet section. Check it out!

Hope that helps!