Deciding between IO Psych Phd Programs

[Maziana]

I’m struggling to decide between school A and B in IO Psychology. Some people know or can guess which schools I’m talking about, but I’d rather keep a semblance of privacy in this thread please! School A has always been my first choice. Both are great schools, I’m certain I could get a great job after each program, and everyone I met there seems super nice.

 

A pros:

·         There are 3 professors who do work closely related to my research interests, who I’d love to collaborate with. There are 2 other professors who I could possibly collaborate with, in other departments.

·         I like the general program culture there better

·         I like the city better – better transportation system, more internship opportunities in the city, etc.

·         I could go a bit early (funded) and do some research, which might let me submit a paper/poster to SIOP (main IO Psych conference).

 

B pros:

·         Has an area of research that I used to not be interested in, but now I’m thinking I’d like to branch out and study this a bit. Overall, this program has many more faculty members. Their department focus is in areas I’m not interested in, but there are 2 people whose research interests closely match mine, and there are so many faculty members that I think it won’t be hard to find someone to work with at any time.

·         Offered me a generous five year fellowship that would make funding not an issue. Also, lower cost of living.

 

A cons:

·         Not sure if I could survive on the stipend for years 2-5 (I was offered a higher stipend for the first year, so I’m not worried about that year). Higher city cost of living than school B.

·         18ish hours away from my home. I’m concerned about moving. (school B is maybe 11 hours away, so not much better, I admit)

·         Awful weather. (not that school B has great weather, but it’s slightly less bad!)

 

B cons:

·         Not a huge fan of the program/city culture, although it’s not bad.

·         I think it’s less strong in quantitative psychology, although I got mixed opinions talking to people. Also, less strong in my area of interest.

·         Would need a car sooner in order to do summer internships – also, plane flight costs are higher - but with their generous funding, maybe I could afford one sooner?

 

Honestly, I was hoping I would get the NSF fellowship, which would have allowed me to go to school A, but because I’d love to work with any of the professors at both programs, research interest is not a big issue. I can’t really say which is better – the narrower research interests that match mine at A (and multiple people I could work with) or the 2 people strong in my research interests in school B, plus a wide range of other research. I could apply to the NSF again if I went to school A, but that’s a crapshoot. It seems relatively easy to get summer internships at least in my 3^rd year at school A, which would help. Just… uncertainty.

 

Funding is an issue for me because 1) I don’t have a car, and really need one at least eventually. 2) My family cannot provide any financial support. I have some money saved up, but I'm gonna need a good chunk of that for moving/school fees/apartment/etc. 

 

Any thoughts? Ideas of what I should ask grad students/professors? I'm gonna ask grad students from A about if they have loans and if there are alternative ways I could get funding.

 

[Maziana]

Basically: Low-funding + high fit vs. high-funding + slightly lower fit dilemma.

 

I've seen no funding vs funding dilemmas, but I think this is somewhat different since it's probably *possible* to survive off stipend A offers - but I'm worried about having to take out loans, factoring in visits back home, conferences, and living costs. I don't think I'd need *that* much in loans though.

 

However, it's kind of a selling point that school B wants me so much they offered me a generous fellowship. (Also, School B probably has more funding for things in general)

[Munashi]

Hey Maziana!

 

This is a really tough choice.  I think it ultimately is up to you to determine which of these options will make you happier.  Both sound like good choices.  But it sounds like it comes down to this: What will make you happier?  Less financial worry or a better program fit?

 

I tend to lean toward the "follow the money" camp, but since you mentioned that surviving is technically possible both ways (even if B will make it easier), I think fit is a huge factor in "happiness".  If you end up disliking the program culture at B, you will not be happy and that will make getting through the program that much tougher.  Just my two cents.

 

But again, as I'm sure you're painfully aware, it's entirely up to you.  I think people tend to do better/thrive more when they are happy and in a good place mentally.  You now have to decide which of these two programs will set you up better for that mindset.

 

(And btw - Congratulations!!! You've done wonderfully.)

[Maziana]

Hey Maziana!

 

This is a really tough choice.  I think it ultimately is up to you to determine which of these options will make you happier.  Both sound like good choices.  But it sounds like it comes down to this: What will make you happier?  Less financial worry or a better program fit?

 

I tend to lean toward the "follow the money" camp, but since you mentioned that surviving is technically possible both ways (even if B will make it easier), I think fit is a huge factor in "happiness".  If you end up disliking the program culture at B, you will not be happy and that will make getting through the program that much tougher.  Just my two cents.

 

But again, as I'm sure you're painfully aware, it's entirely up to you.  I think people tend to do better/thrive more when they are happy and in a good place mentally.  You now have to decide which of these two programs will set you up better for that mindset.

 

(And btw - Congratulations!!! You've done wonderfully.)

 

Thank you. That's good advice. Something I really need to consider. 

 

...haha, I didn't want to be one of the people creating this kind of forum, but as the deadline approaches I am getting anxious!

I really wonder if the advice I've seen about not going into debt for grad school holds true for IO psychology, especially since I'm not interested in academia... maybe some debt is okay if you're entering a growing field, in a grad school that will likely get you a decent job? oh, I don't know.