Rankings: within subfield, across field, or high overall but different field

[brooklyn713]

Without giving too details regarding PIs or universities, I'm in need of some advice as I wrap up my decision-making process. I've been accepted into 3 (maybe 4) good PhD programs, with different degrees of funding, across 1-2 fields within interdisciplinary interest X, and different degrees of academic prestige depending on what you're looking at.

Program A is in the field I'd like to be broadly trained in, has given me two years of funding, and my PI and I see eye-to-eye and is willing to give me freedom in study systems. For my sub-field of choice, the program here is ranked in the top 2-3 (from conversations with professors in this area). My visit to this school was great. However, in terms of overall rankings in the field, it floats somewhere between 9/10 and the teens/20s, depending where you look.

Program B is in the field I'd like to be broadly trained in, has given me some funding but would require I TA or take out loans for part of my first two years, I got along well with my PI but the study systems he/she's willing to work on are limited. Students in the program were great. Overall in the field, it's ranked top 3-4. So the only downsides are funding and lack of flexibility within thesis topic.

Program C is, in the sense of department, outside the field I'd like to be broadly trained in, but the PI works some on what I'd like to do and the coursework is somewhat flexible. Funding is for 5 years and the school has an Ivy-caliber name. My visit experienced was mixed, but my PI and I got along fine and students were friendly. My hesitation is being in a department where I would, outside of my lab group, feel fairly isolated in terms of what other faculty and students were doing. I am also skeptical of how said disciplinary base will look when applying for post-docs in my field of choice.

Program D is much akin to program C: not as outside the field I'd like to be broadly trained in as C, but still not quite what I'd like, but the PI works on what I'd like to do and the coursework is flexible. I am currently waitlisted, but the school is an Ivy and funding would be full. My PI and I got along very well, but again, my hesitation here (if I get in) is the same as for program C.

I'm fairly lost here. In many ways my heart/gut tell me program A, but from recent talks with friends/family/etc I've been thinking more about rankings, more in the sense of opening doors down the road, etc and less about the "shock value" of a given school's name. There's really no bad choice here, so it comes down to what's going to be best in my development/long-term career.

Thanks!

[ghanada]

I think you are getting way too caught up in rankings. It isn't like you are comparing top 5 schools to top 100. The difference between top 20 and top 10 is a VERY small margin and at that point it doesn't make sense to base a decision off of rankings. In fact, it might be best to start blocking rankings out of your mind and now start to focus on PI fit, program fit, and funding. It sounds like the only drawback to Program A is that you are only guaranteed funding for 2 years. Have you talked to your PI or other grad students there and found out how likely it is that you will find funding for the rest of your time there? if you got assurance that funding would be there, it sounds like Program A is your best bet.

If you are going to stay in academia, your PI and the research you training you do should be your biggest concern. Post-doc positions will be heavily based on who your PI knows and the specialized skills you have in the area you are trying to get into. People care less about what name school you came from and what courses you took.

Honestly, it sounds like the quality of each school is the same and the slight differences can change depending on who you talk to or what rankings you look at. So obviously they must all be comparable in terms of name quality. Factor that out, and really think about what will fit you best for the next 5+ years of your life.

[brooklyn713]

thanks: regarding rankings, that's the answer i was hoping to hear. unless program D pulls through (loved the Pi there are much as at program A), program A seems to be great. all in that lab have gotten funding for the rest of the program, so that really isn't a huge concern of mine. i'm more concerned about program fit and PI fit, and that one has both. thanks for the reassurance about name/rank; i've been hearing mixed opinions on both sides. personal happiness is very important too, which comes into play a lot once i block thinking about name. all are good programs, so i think you are correct in that funding and fit should be the priorities. thanks!

[peachynestea12345]

C all the way. what matters is what you do for research, and then less so where you got your degree. the classes are in all honesty not important, presuming you know what is necessary (and can demonstrate that in an interview)