Not sure what to do - advice please

[charliebear]

I've been accepted into two PhD programs.

 

One of the programs is a well established mid-ranked program, but after further thought, I do not feel that it is a good fit for me.

The other program both has people I want to work with and a program in which I fit. But it is relatively new, I worry that it doesn't have the courses I will need to prepare me for grant writing and teaching,the funding isn't great (it would be hard to live off of). I am worried about stalling and about being able to get a teaching position afterwards. Other than those worries, it seems like the perfect place, and the people there seem to really want me.

 

I'm having second thoughts about whether I want to go to either of these programs. There are a few programs I did not apply to this year and I regret not applying to, even if some of them were reach schools. I part of me just wants to decline both offers and try again next year after spending a long time researching schools. I have an MA and went straight from undergrad to my MA program  now I am feeling a bit burned out. I think that some time off wouldn't do me harm. But then I worry that I won't get in anywhere. My parents and adviser are really pushing me to go to the second school and I am afraid of disappointing people. Anyone have any advice on what to do?

Edited March 6, 2013 by charliebear

[Seeking]

If you have a strong application profile and do a related job or project this year, then there is a fair chance that you'll get in the next season to some other school. In this case, you can take the risk of taking a year off.

 

On the other hand, see the profiles of the faculty at the new program - especially your POI's. If they have good contacts and have good number of publications, they may be able to help you with job prospects after PhD - especially because it's a new program and they have to build a good reputation of it.

 

But if you can't afford the second school and feel that your profile is not strong enough, then go to the first school.

Edited March 7, 2013 by Seeking

[charliebear]

Thank you so much. I feel like I do have a strong profile, and may have underestimated how strong it was. If I could do it again, I would definitely apply to more highly ranked schools that I never considered before. The faculty at the new program do have good contacts, I am just worrying about living off of the stipend they are providing. I just feel like I am letting everyone down if I don't go somewhere - my parents, my advisers, the other people who wrote letters of recommendation for me. I'm so torn up and stressed out that I everything is becoming so hard to handle. If I could do it over again, there are so many things I would do differently. I just don't want to burn any bridges between now and next year.

[Velasquezmora]

Hi, sorry for the question, but I just need to know some point of comparison to evaluate what a good funding is..?

 

For a PhD program (in my case, in petroleum engineering at UT Austin) what should be considered as a good monthly stipend?

 

Thanks for any advice!

 

Hope you charliebear can deal with your decision! Wish you my best.

[abeilles]

. I have an MA and went straight from undergrad to my MA program  now I am feeling a bit burned out. I think that some time off wouldn't do me harm. But then I worry that I won't get in anywhere. My parents and adviser are really pushing me to go to the second school and I am afraid of disappointing people. Anyone have any advice on what to do?

 

It is absolutely understandable to take some time between undergrad/MA studies and a doctoral program, and in fact some programs prefer it!

[charliebear]

I think I have decided to take time off after I graduate. This application season has been extremely stressful and everything seemed to be go wrong. On top of that I feel like my interests have evolved from the time I originally applied and I missed a lot of schools that would have been better fits for my interests. I think I will apply again to different schools next season and work on figuring out what I really want to research and which schools would be my best fit. At the same time I want to use the year off to increase my current skill levels to possibly make myself a better candidate. The time off will be good for me. It will allow to destress, calm my mind, and figure things out. I need to make sure I do not enter a PhD program simply because I want to avoid the real world. I think having a job and a back-up plan would make the next application less stressful than this one.