Help! Doctoral Fellowship at top 120 school or admit at top 20?

[damequixote]

I was recently accepted at one of my top choices (and a top 20 school for my program) --funding is very low, but the program is very strong. I assumed, then, that I'd just be going there! Until.... I got offered a doctoral fellowship at a school that ranks maybe 110 for my program. I know rankings aren't the be all and end all, but what's the smarter choice here? Any suggestions?

[uromastyx]

There's nothing we can say here. This is a hard decision. Many are dealing with the same issue.

It's up to you to determine what's important to you. Is it the name? Is it your dream school? Will it truly help you later? To what extent is money an issue? etc etc

Best of luck with your decision.

[misskira]

Can you look up what the grads from each school end up doing?

[damequixote]

There's nothing we can say here. This is a hard decision. Many are dealing with the same issue.

It's up to you to determine what's important to you. Is it the name? Is it your dream school? Will it truly help you later? To what extent is money an issue? etc etc

Best of luck with your decision.

 

I suppose you're right. At least I appreciate that you too think this is a hard decision and not a clearly defined one that I'm totally mucking up. 

 

Thanks  

[scofield24]

110 is pretty far from 20, it really depends on your financial situation. I think you should lean towards to 20 though. Just my opinion.

[cstheory13]

If there are no serious problems with top 20 program, I would personally go for it. This way it is likely that you will end up doing PhD from top 20 or even top 10 institute. For PhD, I would like to join a institute which has 2-4 potential advisors and strong group/association in my area of interest. This is unlikely to be in a institute ranked 110 (assuming ranking is sensible).