Known school w/ TA-ship vs. Unkown w/ Fellowship

[Grev]

Okay, so I've been accepted to my top choice school A with a TA-ship.  I've also been accepted to school B with a TA-ship, and I found out today that I've been nomination for a fellowship that would cover my first and fourth years of study.

 

Both schools have POI who specialize in my (slightly obscure) area of interest.  School A is a more prestigious department, but School B is a smaller pond (if that makes sense).  I also know less about School B's department and program in general.

 

I want to have all of the info before I make a final decision, but I probably won't know about School B's fellowship until next month and I don't want to "lead them on" if I wait for that and then chose to go with School A in the end.

 

Anyone else in a similar dilemma, and/or have advice on how to handle things? 

[Andean Pat]

I don't understand, is it a matter of funding or academics?

[rising_star]

You need to learn more about School B. Can you visit? Or have Skype/phone conversations with current grad students there?

[MadScience]

Okay, so I've been accepted to my top choice school A with a TA-ship.  I've also been accepted to school B with a TA-ship, and I found out today that I've been nomination for a fellowship that would cover my first and fourth years of study.

 

Both schools have POI who specialize in my (slightly obscure) area of interest.  School A is a more prestigious department, but School B is a smaller pond (if that makes sense).  I also know less about School B's department and program in general.

 

I want to have all of the info before I make a final decision, but I probably won't know about School B's fellowship until next month and I don't want to "lead them on" if I wait for that and then chose to go with School A in the end.

 

Anyone else in a similar dilemma, and/or have advice on how to handle things? 

 

What is the difference in prestige of the schools for your program? For instance, if one is ranked #5 and the other is #15, it's not so significant IMO but if one is ranked #5 and the other is #50 then I think choosing the higher ranked program is necessary.

 

As much as many of us (myself included) don't like to admit it, prestige plays a very important role at the end of the day in getting a job. One of my top choices isn't ranked nearly as high as some of the others I've been accepted to but I'm in this dilemma of finding the best option in the long run. While it may seem exciting to have a few extra thousand dollars a year at the lesser known school, if you can't get a job (or can only land a lower paying job) than those few extra thousand didn't really mean much. But, like I said, this depends too on how severe the difference in rank is between the two programs.

[whatshername]

Does the TA-ship mean tuition waiver plus monthly TA salary?

[Grev]

Andean:  It's a combination of the two, which is why I'm not sure how to proceed.

 

Rising_Star: That's a very good point. I don't know if I can afford to visit B, but I'll try to get in touch with the POI and some grad students via email at least.

 

MadScience: I'm not sure what the number rankings are for the departments, but my area of interest is pretty narrow so there's not tons of specialists in the field.  I think I might be perceiving School B as much less prestigious because it's an east coast school, but not Ivy league, so from the west coast I hadn't heard of it before I found out they have some one working in my area of interest.

 

whatshername: Yes, the TA-ships at both schools include a tuition waiver and just enough of a stipend to live on humbly.  The advantages of the fellowship would be a) CV bonus for having a fellowship, and not having to teach for two years while still getting the tuition waiver/stipend.

 

 

Thanks for the advice so far!

[Deadmeat]

In your sig it says you were accepted to Temple and UC Boulder? Go to UC Boulder, living in Philadelphia in the Temple area totally sucks... and I'm from Philadelphia. Never been to Boulder, but I'd imagine it's a much nicer area.

 

That being said, getting a TA isn't that bad of a thing. I don't know about your field, but most graduate students and faculty at my recent recruiting event said how amazing the experience of being a TA was for preparing for qualifying exams and getting to know faculty before jumping into research. Though obviously a fellowship is much more prestigious and flexible, but I'd go with the department and university that is the better fit. You are funded either way!

 

Also, it doesn't hurt to *hint* subtle that you got a offer fellowship from another school. I did that and they extended my offer multiple years and adding some bonus 1st year funding for kicks.

Edited February 28, 2013 by Deadmeat

[Grev]

In your sig it says you were accepted to Temple and UC Boulder? Go to UC Boulder, living in Philadelphia in the Temple area totally sucks... and I'm from Philadelphia. Never been to Boulder, but I'd imagine it's a much nicer area.

 

That being said, getting a TA isn't that bad of a thing. I don't know about your field, but most graduate students and faculty at my recent recruiting event said how amazing the experience of being a TA was for preparing for qualifying exams and getting to know faculty before jumping into research. Though obviously a fellowship is much more prestigious and flexible, but I'd go with the department and university that is the better fit. You are funded either way!

 

Also, it doesn't hurt to *hint* subtle that you got a offer fellowship from another school. I did that and they extended my offer multiple years and adding some bonus 1st year funding for kicks.

 

 

The feedback on Boulder vs. Philadelphia is definitely helpful, and will definitely be taken in to account.

 

I actually had a TA-ship form my MA and liked it a lot, but then I like teaching.  In my field it's not that helpful for preparing for qualifying exams since I'd likely be teaching 1st or 2nd year Spanish (like teaching College Algebra and Calc as a math PhD).  I'll definitely inquire about the fellowship offers though, who knows? XD