Same school for grad and undergrad (English PhD)?

[davidipse]

Dear ones: It seems, unlike the Westminster Kennel, academia doesn't like its dogs pure-bred, or so I hear. It seems, unlike the Westminster Kennel, academia wants you to get your (pe)degrees from different institutions, or so I'm told.

 

Dogs aside, I'd appreciate people's take on how big of a deal this "academic inbreeding" thing is. Does it negatively affect job prospects do your PhD at your (very very highly ranked in your field) undergrad school?

 

I'd especially appreciate if you could share anything on the matter you've heard from people that are actually likely to be on hiring committes, e.g. faculty.

 

My field is English lit, if that makes a difference for this question. Thanks!

Edited March 3, 2014 by davidipse

[Icydubloon]

If you go to a top 10 school in your field it's fine. Otherwise from what I've seen and heard, switching is preferable. It's notably easier (for most schools, including some top schools) to get admitted to a schools graduate program if you went there for undergrad.

[CarefreeWritingsontheWall]

I asked my undergraduate thesis advisor if it was a good idea for me to stay at my current institution for my MA or PhD. He told me that he was 'kicking me out of the box' so to speak, in the sense that he felt he had taught me as much as he could in four years, as had his colleague. (Only the two of them specialized in my disicipline) He felt that I would benefit from going to another institution with a larger department in my field and fresh/different perspectives. Ultimately I decided that it would be worthwhile to jump ship. Were I in a different discipline that was larger, and had a number of faculty I had yet to take classes with or work with, I would have strongly considered sticking around if only because my current institution is as good as it is. I work in political science, but with only two professors concretely specializing in my research interests, it would have meant signficant overlap between my undergraduate and graduate courses and a continuation of the advisor relationship I already have.

 

So I think it depends a lot on how much you've learned and specialized within your current department. How many English professors know you? How many of the same faculty will be teaching you at the graduate level? Is there a department that specializes in your research interests specifically? If there a professor you dream of working with who works at another university? (If so, apply - why not?) I do agree that if you're well known by a department already, you have an in.

 

I asked about the bias that certain people have discussed when it comes to sticking to on institution for their BA, MA or PhD. I was told by my Professor that it's increasingly common, and less so a focus point but there were obvious benefits to attending a number of institutions. In my particular case, as I mentioned, it was not in my interest to stay. For you, that might be different. Worst case, it might be worth it to bring up your thoughts to a professor you might consider working with if you did stay.

[bsharpe269]

I think that it would be much much better to go somewhere else, even if that means reapplying to schools next year.

 

Aside from the negative view future jobs could have on it, you will have half of the number of contacts that every other phd student will have, putting you at a huge disadvatage connection wise. Also, most students will have multiple perspectives on their field and you will not.

 

Good luck either way... if you can get into your school for phd then I am sure that you can also get into other great schools.

[juilletmercredi]

I think the effect of this is 1) greatly overblown and 2) varies by field.  In some fields it is pretty common for people get all three at the same place, whereas in others it isn't.

 

I think generally speaking, if your university is one of the best programs in the field (top 10-20 or so) then nobody would look at you strangely for staying in the same place.  Most places will barely pay attention to your undergraduate university when evaluating your CV; they want to see where you got your PhD and what your productivity is like so this is unlikely to have a very impact on your job prospects, if any at all.

 

Also, if your university is well-known and also the best place in your subfield, nobody would question why you stayed.  For example, in my field if you studied stigma and its effect on health, there's a very famous professor at the #15 ranked program in the field and it would probably be better to work with her than it would be to go to the #1 ranked school in the field (not known for this subfield), even if you went there for undergrad.

 

I think that this is primarily a problem for people who stay at low-ranked departments or stay at a department with any reputation but where their research is not a good fit.

 

So if your alma mater's PhD program is very very highly ranked in the field and is a good fit for you, and your professors want you in the program, I think you should definitely at least consider it!

[bsharpe269]

I think that juilletmercredi makes some good points. I agree that you can get great jobs despite going to the same school for both undergrad and grad and can become a great researcher. Here is the one reason I still disagree though:

 

Say you went to school X for undergrad and are considering it for grad. Lets even say that one of the very top reserachers, in your subfield, Prof X, is there. Sure, you could work with Prof X for both your undergrad research and then have an easier time getting into the grad school and keep working with him from your phd. In this situation you still have a great connection and have done your research under this great profressor. On the other hand though, what if you go to school X for undergrad and work with Prob X there then with that experience you should be able to get into school Y with other very top researcher in your subfield, Prof Y. Now you have worked with 2 of the top profs in your area and will be an even better reseracher since you will have been advised by TWO amazing people in your field instead of just one. Now you have published with both of these top researchers, have connections through both, and have training from both to help in your development.

 

I dont think that it is a horrible option to go to the same school for both. I think it is probably fine. I just dont think it will give you the BEST possible expereince that you could get, which I think is what we all going for.