Stay put or enter the US application process

[coffeemachine]

I am an American who came to Europe last fall to do an MS which would complement my BA, since the field of study for my BA was different than my current one. My original plan was to apply to PhD programs in the US this fall, but recently I was offered a PhD position by my current adviser. I have until the summer to decide, which means I can either stay where I am now or decline the offer and cast the dice in the US application process.

 

In itself, my current department is not particularly well known in the US, where I would ultimately like to work. However, my field is small and my adviser is somewhat influential. Moreover, the advising is high quality. My adviser and I generally meet for one to three hours a week to discuss my work. I genuinely like my adviser, her insight, and the work I am doing. If I stay here I would also have connections to a lab in the US which is among the best in the world for my field. I would thus spend some time there and develop a wider network of contacts.

 

There are several US departments where I originally planned to apply. They have good faculty, have a large number of students in the same subfield, are close to other institutions doing related research, etc. In short, if I were accepted to one of these schools, I might sleep sounder knowing that many others have tread my path and had a good outcome (solid reputation, tenure-track position, etc.).

 

My situation can be problematized as follows. The offer from my adviser is obviously an opportunistic move on her part. As a friend of mine put it, “she sees a talented young scientist and wants to snatch him up before someone else does.” Regardless of whether the talented part is true, that's a way of looking at the situation. My task is to decide whether the move is the best one I could make for myself.

 

Has anyone had a similar experience or just care to share some insight?

[PsycD]

I am American and I had a Canadian PI express interest in me very early in the process. Someone said the same to me...that he was just reaching out to me early to snatch me up. They encouraged me to pursue other opportunities in the U.S. because they were in a particular field, I'd have "better" opportunities post-grad, blah blah blah. After $1,000 in application fees, with fantastic offers from U.S. schools, guess where I ended up??? With the PI who reached out to me first.

 

It was clearly the best fit. I am not at all concerned about obtaining great opportunities post-grad, whether I decide to stay in Canada or return to the U.S. I personally never cared much for name recognition and prestige. Do your best and doors will open...that's always been my motto.

 

If you don't mind waiting and spending the money for the possibility of getting accepted into a U.S. school, even though you have a solid offer already, then go for it if going to a U.S. school means that much to you. You are obviously intelligent and have done well for yourself so far...you'll be fine no matter what you decide. I wish you the best!

[TakeruK]

In my field, I think there is definitely a small bit of disconnect between North America and Europe. Researchers from the two continents just don't see each other very often, so it's hard to build strong relationships. The advice I got was that if I wanted to work in one continent, I should do my PhD there. One exception would be a preexisting connection between your advisor and a US program and/or your advisor being very well known in the field. 

 

It's definitely true that we get people moving from one continent to another but it's less common.

 

However, I would not say that the "tenure track" path is a tried and true path. It's a tough path and going to a top US school does not make it a sure thing! 

 

I think you should do what you are most interested in! If your advisor is as great as she sounds, she should be understanding that you might want to consider opportunities in the US as well as her offer. But if you are truly happy with staying, then I am not 100% certain that the Europe program will hurt you since you say that the advisor is influential and you will have connections to US groups. Perhaps you can discuss your future plans with your advisor and make an agreement that she will pay for you to spend X weeks per year working with the US lab etc.

[TheGirlWhoLived]

I would have to agree with TakeruK on the idea that if you want to work in the US, it might be the best place to get your degree. You really need to be networked in the place you want to work.

A professor I know did her post doc in Australia. She said it made things harder, but obviously she is doing really well. I imagine the same probably goes for where you get your PhD. So, it is possible. I would think it makes things more difficult, but not impossible. Also, it might not matter as your adviser is well known and must have a lot of contacts. Plus you said your adviser has contacts in the US already.. You will still have that opportunity to network. I would be aware that it might be more difficult for you and just weigh that with your other options. If you have good opportunities where you are and you are happy there, you can make it work.

Edited April 16, 2014 by TheGirlWhoLived

[coffeemachine]

Thanks for the responses, guys. It's good to get some further perspectives.

[buffalowizard]

It sounds like if you could do your post-doc at that top lab in the U.S. where your advisor has connections, then the whole Europe vs. North America thing might be a non-issue.

 

It's incredible (and rare) to have an advisor who is willing to go to bat for you and with whom you work well, and there's no guarantee you'll be able to find that if you move to a different program.