Fit vs. Lifestyle?

[littlestranger]

I was accepted to multiple PhD programs and have whittled my decision down to 2 schools. Since my field is small, I don't want to give names.

School A is slightly better regarded in the field. There is only one faculty member in the program whose research interests match mine, and while she does work I find interesting, it's not a completely perfect match. The school is located in a small city, but the area is large enough that there is entertainment, nightlife outside of campus, etc. I would consider it to be my ideal location. The student body is less stressed than students I've met at other schools and are closer to my age. They are funding me on a teaching assistantship that is only 33% time, so the stipend is very low.

School B has three or four faculty members who I would love to work with. I would consider the program to really be ideal in terms of research fit, as I could change mentors if my interests evolve. They are funding me on a research assistantship that is 50% time with a considerably larger stipend. But, the school is located in a very small town with little entertainment and not a large population outside of the university. The students are also a lot older than me and several of them have children, so they are probably not very social.

Basically, I think my personal happiness would be better at School A, but my academic happiness would be better at School B. Is it worth it to give up the perfect fit to live in a better area??

[ANDS!]

I would remove the program from your profile and list the cities; it may be that the locale of the campus is small, but there are cultural activities within a reasonable distance. Many great schools are like that (Iowa, UConn, UGA. . etc).

Also I make the same comment I usually make on stipend worry: you can't really compare them across cities due to cost-of-living; so one stipend may be absolutely smaller, but doesn't mean its relatively smaller.

[yzhou8168]

Totally having the same issue, so *bump*!

Even though small college towns often offer a number cultural activities, my concern - and maybe the original poster's - concern is that bigger cities just necessarily have more diversity and more diverse activities, and that goes a long way if that's an important part of your lifestyle.

[rockandroll]

I'm having literally the exact same problem as you.

My first school has two professors with the same general interests as me, but not at all the same specific interests; they've been very sweet to me and are giving me the maximum funding, but it only covers half of my tuition. Additionally, the program is only two semesters long, so I worry that I'll be rushed into choosing a thesis because of its feasibility rather than my interests. However, it's in the city where I currently live, and this is giving this particular program so much weight in my mind, because I don't want to have to move away from my boyfriend and close friends. Additionally, they have a Ph.D. program that would give me a lot of flexibility, and it's fully funded for 5 years.

My second school is in NYC, which is super intimidating to me as well as expensive. However, the professors who I would be working with are big names in the exact field that I want to go into. I got half funding, which will practically be nullified by how expensive rent will be in NYC. The good news is that my boyfriend could probably move with me, and I would be fairly close to my friends and family. This is my favorite program as far as classes and philosophy... however, their Ph.D. program isn't fully funded, so there's a good chance that I would accrue a good deal of debt, between tuition and living expenses.

My third school is thirteen hours south of where I currently live. No professor shares my exact interests, but I fit into the department super well. I received full funding as well as an assistantship that would more than cover all of my living expenses for the two years that I would be there. Also, the head of the committee has been so sweet to me. However, it would be a huge move; my boyfriend wouldn't be able to come with me because there aren't any jobs there, so I would be leaving everyone I know; and there isn't a Ph.D. program, so I would be going to all of that trouble just to move back again.

I literally burst into tears every time I think about turning any of these schools down. There are huge caveats to every choice, and I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't have any answers for you, but I sympathize so much, and let me know what you're thinking so maybe we can help each other through it?!

[wheatGrass]

I'm in a similar spot--I'm not going to go into it here, but I just wanted to share some great advice I got from one of my MA committee members.

It only applies if you are looking at an academic career after your program, though. Presumably, one of your prinicipal goals is employability. The advice is that the name of the school/supervisor are likely less important than your academic record by the end of your program... i.e.; how successful have you been in publishing in reputable journals and how successful have you been at winning grants and fellowships, etc... See if you can rate the schools in terms of how much support you will get in this area (competitiveness within your cohort also goes here), and weigh that heavily.

[Centurion]

I think there are a few things which need to be taken into consideration when trying to weigh between personal factors and academic ones. Academically, you should try to avoid schools where there is only one person you are interested in. Their interests could change, your interests could change, they could be jerk, they could change schools, they could be awarded a 2 million euro grant to do research in Italy for the next five years, these things happen. While I think it's bad form to make plans assuming you are going to change your mind, it is important to have the flexibility if you do. Additionally, as wheatGrass pointed out, your career goals are important here, you have to live in this decision for the next 5-8 years, depending on the field; however, you have to live with this decision for the rest of your career. The way I look at is that as soon as the personal circumstances start negatively affecting the academic ones, then it is a problem. If you will be so unhappy that you will do worse work because of it, go where you will be happier.