Lazcano Posted March 8, 2009 Posted March 8, 2009 Well known, superstar in her field advisor with networking connections out the ying-yang at a weaker school -OR - Good, but unknown advisor at a great school? It is for a 16-20 month MA, both are offering full funding. Which do you pick?
whateverneveram3n Posted March 8, 2009 Posted March 8, 2009 Well known, superstar in her field advisor with networking connections out the ying-yang at a weaker school -OR - Good, but unknown advisor at a great school? It is for a 16-20 month MA, both are offering full funding. Which do you pick? Which town/city would you rather live in for several years?
whateverneveram3n Posted March 8, 2009 Posted March 8, 2009 Well connected adviser, hands down. That's not necessarily true. It depends what Lazcano's planning on doing w/ the degree. The well-connected advisor may be able to help land a sweet job, but academic types will probably be more impressed if you went to a whole department that's held in higher regard.
ElusiveMuse Posted March 8, 2009 Posted March 8, 2009 Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but the way this adviser's connections were described, it sounded to me as though academics were duly impressed with this adviser. Being a super-star in your field, to me, means that you have some clout with your academic peers. I could be wrong, things do vary by field, no doubt.
miratrix Posted March 8, 2009 Posted March 8, 2009 It also depends on whether she's the kind of advisor who really uses her reputation and connection to help students, especially if there is also a PhD program at the same school so MA students would be competing for her attention. If you are sure she will be helpful to you, that matters a lot, but if not, maybe an overall well-regarded department is the more sure choice.
Lazcano Posted March 8, 2009 Author Posted March 8, 2009 The advisors connections are indeed academic and she is the type to help her students. She will have a lot of time for me and her reputation will help me get into a good PhD program. She already has networking conferences / projects lined up with other experts in our field which I would be a part of. I actually decided to accept the offer and work with her last week, however the second school came back and matched the offer (which was very generous) complicating everything. The second program is far superior and much more challenging. I should almost flip a coin, been mulling this for weeks and just when I thought I decided I'm back to square one.
slowbro Posted March 8, 2009 Posted March 8, 2009 You might want to ask how this adviser's recent students -- all of them, not just the very strongest ones -- have fared when they applied to PhD programs. Her reputation and support may not be enough to compensate for whatever weaknesses the program may have. Likewise, I'd find out how students in the stronger MA program have done.
whateverneveram3n Posted March 8, 2009 Posted March 8, 2009 The advisors connections are indeed academic and she is the type to help her students. She will have a lot of time for me and her reputation will help me get into a good PhD program. She already has networking conferences / projects lined up with other experts in our field which I would be a part of. I actually decided to accept the offer and work with her last week, however the second school came back and matched the offer (which was very generous) complicating everything. The second program is far superior and much more challenging. I should almost flip a coin, been mulling this for weeks and just when I thought I decided I'm back to square one. If it's really a toss-up, I'd like to reiterate my earlier suggestion of just choosing the cooler town to live in. At least it's one step up from flipping a coin. Plus, as far as the funding offers go, you have to read them in the context of the cost of living in each town/city. The same amount of money will support you very differently in different places.
mo7aisen Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 it depends on what you want to do next. if you want to assume career away from school (industrial for instance), big name is better choice. if you want to go for a ph.d. at a bigger place (than the big place you are considering), excellent professor can lead you well.
mo7aisen Posted March 9, 2009 Posted March 9, 2009 i forgot to say that in most cases you have to consider that, unless you are exceptional and can do things will with that excellent professor, a school with a great name is always good ++
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