Funding/ranking

[OctaviaButlerfan]

Ok.. here's my dilemma.

 

I have been accepted to a school in which I'm sure I could be happy and productive. The graduate faculty doesn't necessarily specialize in my slightly obscure areas of interest, but I think I could make it work. I have read some of the work of their faculty. 

 

However, funding is yet to be determined, and is by no means guaranteed. I may or may not get a multi-year funding package, including assistantships.

 

Beyond that, the school is ranked at about #63 in the field. The two other schools to which I applied, and was not accepted, are in the top 20-30. Currently I am in an unranked graduate program.

 

If there is no funding, I don't have a choice to make. I will have to stay in my current program.

 

If there is funding.. I can get my M.A. at this program and continue to their Ph.D. program, or apply to other Ph.D. programs. The question is, what are my prospects either 1) as an M.A. graduate from this program applying to Ph.D. programs elsewhere or 2) with a Ph.D. from this program?

Edited February 28, 2013 by OctaviaButlerfan

[EastCoasting]

I don't have the answer, but I do love Octavia Butler...

[fuzzylogician]

There is no way to answer your questions. You really need to wait and see what the funding situation is before you can make a decision. But assuming you get no funding, whether or not a Masters from that program helps students get into good PhD programs is something that the program should be able to tell you about. The success of PhD students from that program is also something they should know about, but it's a bit trickier - success on the job market depends on a list of factors, the school's ranking being quite low on that list. Either way, though, you can do some of your own legwork to learn what recent graduates from this program are doing now (both MA and PhD graduates) and you can also ask the program itself about placement. They'll have at least some information for you, perhaps only anecdotal but probably still helpful.

[OctaviaButlerfan]

Any thoughts on not moving out of state to do an M.A./Ph.D.? I know a lot of people do.. is there a general sense that it shows more willingness to take risks or make changes?