UConn vs UPenn

[RockheartPopovJr.]

Hi there!

I'm an international student who has been accepted both at UConn and UPenn to get a Ph.D. This decision is really freaking me out!!

The fact is that my MA advisor teaches at UConn, and that would be easier, but I am afraid of not being able to get accustomed to such a isolated campus (even though extremely beautiful and resourceful). Living in Philly would allow me to live in a city, have a more social life and avoid to get a car (thing extremely needed at UConn instead).

Secondly, UPenn offers me more money than UConn...but there I would start completely from the top! I'm so confused, and don't know where to turn to!!!

 

Please can you give me some hints?

 

Thank you in advance.

[Omnium]

I can already sense that you favor UPenn.

[aucinema]

Honestly, it does sound like you are leaning towards UPenn both due to money and geographic location. Is your MA advisor your only real draw to UConn?

 

I can't speak to funding, but I am familiar with the UConn area and it is very isolated and there is very little public transport. If you aren't okay with being at least 30 mins away from "civilization" you are going to be quite miserable there, despite it's beauty.

[RockheartPopovJr.]

Honestly I do not favor any of them. I am just passing from the one to the other without any firm decision.

UConn has also a particular IGERT program which I got into too. As an academic point of view, the fact is that UConn has my professor, with whom I already worked, and this program, which starts next Fall though. 

UPenn has instead more experience, but lacks any professor that I know or that has the same theoretical perspective of mine. Philly is very attractive to me from a social point of view, but on the other hand I wouldn't like to leave my professor.

 

I am SO confused.

[RockheartPopovJr.]

up

[juilletmercredi]

I'm not saying that a social life is not important, but I was surprised at how much I dislike living in a large city when I thought I would prefer it.  Personally, I've discovered that I really just like hanging out with friends at my apartment or at theirs.  I really don't need to go out into a city and party.  I do that sometimes, but it gets old really quickly.  And in Storrs, if you made some close friends you could always take a weekend trip into NYC and party for a weekend or something.

 

Plus, you could probably afford a better place in Storrs.

 

Penn may offer you more money, but do a cost of living comparison between Philadelphia and Storrs.  The difference may be completely wiped out by the differences in the cost of living.

 

Personally, I think you should select the school that has the best fit research-wise and resources-wise, regardless of where it is located, unless you think you would be miserable at one or the other.

[RockheartPopovJr.]

Good point.

As an Italian student, I have this (untrue?) concern about school ranking and notoriety: I mean, will both of them give the same chances in the future? how are each of them considered? Perhaps they are result of my typically Italian way of thinking, but since I am about to invest my next years (together with a lot of money) for my professional growth, I am just worried about making the right decision.

[MPPgal]

Go for Penn especially if you are international,nsadly ranking andnotoriety matters, no one has heard of U Conn and thebother one is an ivy, and you can't really tell if you will not find a faculty that sharesyour views, youbjust don't know them. Fear of the unknown is normal but you have to be brave!

[RockheartPopovJr.]

Wow, is UConn so unknown and unheard of?

Edited March 10, 2013 by RockheartPopovJr.

[MPPgal]

Yep, Ive heard of it because I studied in NY, but if you are outside the country NO ONE knows it!

[RockheartPopovJr.]

UPenn is much more renowned instead?