Need Help Deciding (QUICK!)

[Guest dettociao]

Here's my situation:

~$7,500 from an MA program, with a great track record of getting students into top-10, top-20 PHD programs in my field. The school is in a city (this is a plus), and the department looks great.

~$18,000 from a PHD program, with a good track record of getting students tenure-track positions at 4-year schools (although none that are extremely well placed). The school is in a college-town (this is a negative) and the department looks great.

Money is an issue simply because I don't think $7500 is enough to live on... but what are everyone's thoughts?

[Guest bobb]

if the phd program is strong and well respected go as the ma will produce a lot of debt if you need loans

[rising_star]

I agree with Bobb. Can you really live in a city on $7500/yr? If not, how much in loans are you going to take out? In that sense, wouldn't the PhD be better?

[daseinplushie]

I think the money issue is going to depend a lot on where each place is located. If the school offering $7500 is in, say, Ohio and the school offering $18k is in New England, it probably would wind up being six of one, half dozen of the other.

[FreakingOut]

If the school offering $7500 is in, say, Ohio and the school offering $18k is in New England, it probably would wind up being six of one, half dozen of the other.

Say what?

[jms123]

Say what?

I think what he is trying to say is that if you are attending school somewhere with a high COL and getting more $$ it works out to be the same as getting less $$ and attending school somewhere with a low COL.

If the MA school is in Boston LA, NY, SF, and probably Chicago $7500 will not cut it. You'll have to pay more than that for rent alone. Some smaller cities like Philly or Atlanta you may be able to get by but I wouldn't do it personally.

I think if you go into a PhD program (especially w/o a Masters) you should go for it.

[FreakingOut]

Oh, ok.

Well, I'd probably go with the Ph.D. program.

[daseinplushie]

Say what?

It's pretty simple. You want to evaluate the cost of living in each place to see how far the money goes, rather than just look at the dollar amount.

If the $7500 is in a small, midwestern farm town where you can get a one bedroom for $400 a month, and the 18k is in LA or New York where the typical rent runs somewhere in the area of two grand, you actually come out ahead with the $7500.

Gradcafe and who_got_in both have forums to ask about various cities. You might want to inquire about how far your money will go there. A lot of current grad students frequent them, and can tell you not just how much it costs to live there, but where to look for good deals on rent, as well as any "hidden" costs (e.g. if food is more expensive, transportation issues, etcetera).

[daseinplushie]

I think what he is trying to say is that if you are attending school somewhere with a high COL and getting more $$ it works out to be the same as getting less $$ and attending school somewhere with a low COL.

Actually, I'm a "she" ;-)

[jms123]

Actually, I'm a "she" ;-)

Omg, I'm sooooo sorry!

[rising_star]

Given that this thread is almost a year old, I'm wondering what dettociao actually ended up picking...

[daseinplushie]

Omg, I'm sooooo sorry!

Heh, it's okay. It can be hard to tell without a user pic ;-)