Application Dilemma

[HinnehMahTov]

I've spent some time this summer narrowing down my interests, and in the process I came across an interesting quandary. (I'm being intentionally vague about some of the details -- apologies up front!)

 

One of my top choices for schools (UK-style, supervisor-intensive program) has two POI's in two different departments (one NT, one OT). Both are accepting applicants this fall, and there is a significant overlap in their research interests (though obviously with different emphases). The overlap in their interests happens to cover my area of interest, which is relevant to both OT and NT studies. So theoretically, I could do work under either. From what I know about the two of them, I would be happy to work with both. The professors in my M* program have all affirmed by ability to work with either in this area.

 

My difficulty, of course, is trying to figure out how/where to apply. I'm assuming that it would be frowned upon (if it's even possible) to apply to work with both -- I need to choose one of the two. 

 

Were you in my shoes, how would you go about making the decision? What sorts of questions would you be asking yourself? 

[Body Politics]

You could email them both (separately) and explain your situation and interests and see which one bites.

[sacklunch]

Speak with some of the current grad students. They will likely help figure out which one is the best fit.

[acarol]

Just curious as to why you can't apply to both, considering they are indeed in different departments? 

[Yetanotherdegree]

If I were in your shoes, I would be thinking about the area slightly beyond my area of interest. Would the choice between OT and NT POIs affect the language requirements for your degree? And what about approaches/overlapping interests/related research? How might the POI affect the broader horizons that will be brought into your work?

I would also look at lists of POI publications to see where their research and interests are leading (especially recent work) and I might try to find a current or recent student of theirs to ask about supervisory style etc.

Finally, I would ask myself if one would be better for future job projects. Is one a more significant academic? Does one give you credibility in an academic area or subdiscipline that might prove more beneficial than the other?

If you were going to spend the rest of your life tied to one discipline or the other, would you prefer to be NT or OT?

Good luck. It sounds like kind of a fun dilemma to have

[cadences]

Ditto Yetanotherdegree's advice, especially the point about looking at their publications.

[HinnehMahTov]

Thanks for all the (great) advice! One clarifying point: a closer look at the department's structure showed me to be somewhat wrong. Technically they both teach in the same department, in which NT and OT are considered different "emphases." So it really would be applying to two professors in the same department. I'll be reading the fine print about the departmental regulations, but even if it's permissible, I'll need to do some more work to figure out how it would be perceived. I'm sure I'm not the only one paranoid about what "they" (whoever "they" are) would think of my every step!

 

I'll be spending some time tracking down their publications and (hopefully) finding some recent students to chat up. And Yetanotherdegree, I think those are all excellent things to be pondering -- I'll add "soul-searching" to my summer to-do list!

[Yetanotherdegree]

Thanks for all the (great) advice! One clarifying point: a closer look at the department's structure showed me to be somewhat wrong. Technically they both teach in the same department, in which NT and OT are considered different "emphases." So it really would be applying to two professors in the same department. I'll be reading the fine print about the departmental regulations, but even if it's permissible, I'll need to do some more work to figure out how it would be perceived. I'm sure I'm not the only one paranoid about what "they" (whoever "they" are) would think of my every step!

 

I'll be spending some time tracking down their publications and (hopefully) finding some recent students to chat up. And Yetanotherdegree, I think those are all excellent things to be pondering -- I'll add "soul-searching" to my summer to-do list!

I figured they were both in the same department, different areas

I don't think you can or should apply to both, at least not with a typical North American PhD program. The applications would go to the same committee and (if you could even get two applications in to the same place) it would look...unfocused at best. You mentioned that its a UK-style program, so the process may be different. But if you were applying here, you would do one app and mention your interests and both POIs in your SOP and the committee/POIs would sort out the specifics at that point,