Where should I got? Advice appreciated

[maru58]

Hello,

 

I have been accepted with funding to several schools and now I'm having a hard time making the very important decision so I'd appreciate your inputs on my situation. 3 of my school choices are:

 

University A:

- My program is ranked pretty high here. It's an interdisciplinary program with one aspect among top 5 and another aspect among top 20 of the US.

- Good funding for 9 months, not sure about the summer yet.

- Funding guaranteed for the first year and is expected to renew for the next 3 years subject to performance and fund availability.

- Advisor is a young professor who just came to the Uni last year. His goal is to have lots of papers published in respected journals, which is also my goal. He seems a really nice and passionate person and he wishes to train me to be a great researcher. But again, he's a fairly new professor, so I'm a bit worried.

- School location is not really ideal. It's not really remote and it has things going on but it's not considered an exciting place to live.

- Good internship opportunities since some of the companies I wish to intern/work for is close by (2-3 hours away).

- I have to move from another state (I'm terrible at moving).

 

University B:

- Lower ranked program.

- Good funding, guaranteed for first year and is expected to renew for the next 3 years subject to performance (note: they don't say subject to fund availability, so I assume they'll have enough fund for me for the next 3 years?)

- Paid summer appointment guaranteed.

- They like me so much they give me $5k more in fellowship for the first year.

- Advisor is an associate professor who already has quite a bit accomplishments.

- Locate right 7 miles from where I live now.

- Nice college town with a lot of friends I already am close to.

 

University C:

- Highly ranked program (among top 10).

- Prestigious school.

- Too remote. In the middle of nowhere, which is really really depressing for me to live in for the next 4 years.

- Funding guaranteed for 1st year. Not certain about years after.

- Advisor not very communicative. I tried to ask her about my assistantship and 2nd year funding but she didn't respond to me (yet! - it's been 2 weeks).

- Good experienced advisor.

 

 

All 3 programs are very much aligned with my research interests. I wish to work in research positions (either in academia or government agency or industry) after getting my PhD.

 

Any advice is appreciated! Thanks :-)

[maru58]

Sorry I think I posted this in the wrong place? How can I delete this to avoid duplicate? Sorry

[rising_star]

maru58, it is posted in the right place. PM me if you have questions.

[hikarizx]

In order, I'd choose B first, then A, then C. But that is just me. Mostly because if you're deciding somewhere you're going to live for the next 4 years I would choose somewhere you really want to be over a higher ranked school. Not sure if others agree..

[maru58]

In order, I'd choose B first, then A, then C. But that is just me. Mostly because if you're deciding somewhere you're going to live for the next 4 years I would choose somewhere you really want to be over a higher ranked school. Not sure if others agree..

Hello, THanks very much for your opinion. Would you still choose B if its ranking (according to USnews) is top 70 compared to A and C (among top 10)? 

[avflinsch]

B, A, C as hikarizx said -

B - better funding and not based on external variables that you have no control over, no moving expenses, and you are already comfortable with the area
A - young prof - possibility oh him moving on before you finish (could be good or bad), possible funding issues
C - possible funding issues, non communicative advisor, and you can't see yourself living in the area

[astaroth27]

I would go A or B. I think B might edge out just a little bit just because I am cautious about new faculty. They can be awesome and intelligent and driven but sometimes they are in way over their head.

Edited March 9, 2015 by astaroth27

[Chai_latte]

Maybe it's just me, but I'd want specifics as to what "subject to performance" means.  What specifically will they look for/evaluate?  I wouldn't make any assumptions.  It's difficult to answer your question b/c we don't know your goals.  Do you want to be a prof?  If not, I'd go for B.  I'm a fan of associate prof. advisors.  In my experience, they have experience and don't mind rolling up their sleeves/getting their hands dirty.  

If you want to remain in academia, it's a more difficult choice.  The funding situation at A doesn't seem great (cruddy funding can lengthen your stay) and you'd be saddled with a new professor (who may, or may not be good).  But, you'd get the brand-name that can open doors for tenure-track hopefuls.  Hmmm...  

Good luck

[maru58]

Thanks very much everyone. Looks like B gets the most votes here.

 

 

Chai_latte:

I was just lazy to type all of it. It's subject to satisfactory performance. I guess if you do a good job with TA/RAship + maintain good academic performance (above certain GPA) then you're good. 

 

I just talked to the young professor at University A and he said that the idea is he'll support me second year and beyond with his grant. But I'm afraid if he doesn't get grant approved. He also said that if the grant does not go through then I may continue TA-ing. On the department website, it says that for students who already had masters in a technical field like me, the PhD only takes 3 three years and they expect to fund these students for 3 years. Does that look like that they'll have fund for me throughout the course of my studies? The young professor seems passionate. He recommended me a few books to read to prepare for research and classes there, and he said that he'll make sure that I'll do light TA work so that I can start doing research. 

 

I'm only sure I want to do research. I'm not sure about going to industry or stay in academia, but my current goal is to have a few papers published during the PhD. I'm afraid if I go with B and if I decide later on to stay in academia my chance would be limited

[MathCat]

Hello, THanks very much for your opinion. Would you still choose B if its ranking (according to USnews) is top 70 compared to A and C (among top 10)? 

If you want to go into academia, probably not. Unfortunately, the ranking can impact your job prospects a lot - and there is a significant difference between top 10 and top 70. If they were all top 30, then I'd say ranking should not be the deciding factor, but that's not the case here.

 

The funding situations sound tenuous at all the places - that is worrisome. Definitely look into the details of that. This is a very important factor (unless you are loaded and could afford to keep going if it fell through, I guess).

[maru58]

If you want to go into academia, probably not. Unfortunately, the ranking can impact your job prospects a lot - and there is a significant difference between top 10 and top 70. If they were all top 30, then I'd say ranking should not be the deciding factor, but that's not the case here.

 

The funding situations sound tenuous at all the places - that is worrisome. Definitely look into the details of that. This is a very important factor (unless you are loaded and could afford to keep going if it fell through, I guess).

It is definitely important to me. Is contacting current students at the department to ask about their funding situation a good idea? Also, is it possible (and if yes, how) to ask another professor (more experienced) with the same research interests to be co-advisor? 

[MathCat]

It is definitely important to me. Is contacting current students at the department to ask about their funding situation a good idea? Also, is it possible (and if yes, how) to ask another professor (more experienced) with the same research interests to be co-advisor? 

I think it is a very good idea to contact current students! I can't answer the second question, since I have no experience with advisors yet.

[maru58]

I think it is a very good idea to contact current students! I can't answer the second question, since I have no experience with advisors yet.

Thank you very much!

[maru58]

I have an update on my situation after talking to POIs at Universities A and B:

 

Professor at B said that the chance that I will have guaranteed funding for my entire degree is close to 100% (most admitted PhD students got guaranteed funding  through the program) and after the degree I'll have the opportunities to teach classes in the department (because teaching that subject is really in demand there).

 

Professor at A said that he expects me to work with him over the summer so I'll have funding for the summer as well. He also said he'll try his best to secure funding for me throughout my studies, and on the school website it looks like the department is committed to fund its PhD students through their entire degrees but again he's a new professor so I'm not sure. I emailed one current student but haven't heard back from them yet. Will email another student today.

 

Professor at C is still MIA which really makes me concerned :/ I thought professors at Ivy aren't supposed to be this non-communicative

 

 

What do you think about my updated situation? Thanks

[Chai_latte]

I'm not sure I would bring up co-advising unless the professor has mentioned intradepartmental collaborations.  Overall, this is a tough decision.  But, since you don't know if you want academia, I think I vote for the higher ranked school.  

As for school C, an MIA PI is a no-go.

Question: At these schools do you HAVE to attach yourself to an advisor/prof. immediately?  Can you rotate in labs during your first semester, or two?

[maru58]

I'm not sure I would bring up co-advising unless the professor has mentioned intradepartmental collaborations.  Overall, this is a tough decision.  But, since you don't know if you want academia, I think I vote for the higher ranked school.  

As for school C, an MIA PI is a no-go.

Question: At these schools do you HAVE to attach yourself to an advisor/prof. immediately?  Can you rotate in labs during your first semester, or two?

At school B, the program director will be my advisor for the first year (I'll be TAing the first year) then I can choose an advisor whose research interests me the most so in the first few semesters I can decide who I want to be my advisor and can have both a general advisor and a research advisor.

 

At school A, since the young professor supported my application and I was accepted so that I can work on his project, I think he will be my research professor. He already has a few research projects lined up that he wants me to work on. However, I also TA the first year so I'll report to another professor (a more experienced associate professor). I think the young professor felt my uneasiness having him as the sole advisor so he said it wouldn't matter who i will choose as advisor later (if i don't like him) as long as I decide to come.

[braindump]

If it were me, I would choose school A. If school B were among, say, top 40, I would say B. But I think that, unless you think you will absolutely hate the higher ranked school (in which case, you aren't very likely to succeed in a place you're miserable, and honestly being miserable for so many years doesn't seem worth it to me), a higher ranked school will open more doors for you in the future. That's not to say that you can't succeed at a top 70 school, but the difference between that and top 10 is not insignificant. It sounds like A is a bit risky but low-risk enough that I would probably go for it. I'd rule out C for sure, though. It might be top 10 but it doesn't sound like it'd be worth it for you, with the location you don't like and the unresponsive professor. School A sounds like a happy medium, but that's just me. 

Not sure I'm qualified to give advice when I can't even make up my own mind about programs

Have you visited these places?

[nugget]

I would go with school A. School B is just too low ranked in case you decide to work in academia later on. Have you researched what jobs former grads have been getting from this department? This is a very important piece of information to have, I think. There is no point in dedicating a few years of your life to a program that is not likely to offer you the career prospects you want afterwards. 

 

School C doesn't sound too promising because you hate the location and the adviser does not respond to your emails in a timely manner. Unless some extenuating circumstances have occurred, like hospitalization for instance, I would rule this one out too.

 

School A often comes out in second place out of your three options in terms of ranking, funding (sounds nearly guaranteed based on what you read on the school website), and the location. Not to mention, the adviser responds to your emails, he is approachable, passionate about his work and has published in some very good journals. It sounds like a good middle ground considering your options, IMO. 

Edited March 12, 2015 by jenste

[maru58]

Thank you very much, everyone, for your very helpful perspectives. It looks like A has turned the table and has the most votes now. My young professor at A has few articles published since he just started. But he currently has 4 articles in submission and some other research projects ongoing so I'm hopeful that I can collaborate with him to result in some published articles during my PhD. We both need that.

[hikarizx]

I have an update on my situation after talking to POIs at Universities A and B:

 

Professor at B said that the chance that I will have guaranteed funding for my entire degree is close to 100% (most admitted PhD students got guaranteed funding  through the program) and after the degree I'll have the opportunities to teach classes in the department (because teaching that subject is really in demand there).

 

Professor at A said that he expects me to work with him over the summer so I'll have funding for the summer as well. He also said he'll try his best to secure funding for me throughout my studies, and on the school website it looks like the department is committed to fund its PhD students through their entire degrees but again he's a new professor so I'm not sure. I emailed one current student but haven't heard back from them yet. Will email another student today.

 

Professor at C is still MIA which really makes me concerned :/ I thought professors at Ivy aren't supposed to be this non-communicative

 

 

What do you think about my updated situation? Thanks

 

Is there someone else at school A you can talk to about it? (Or C, if you're still considering it.) Maybe a dept. chair or something? That might ease your concerns about the new prof as well as funding..

[maru58]

Is there someone else at school A you can talk to about it? (Or C, if you're still considering it.) Maybe a dept. chair or something? That might ease your concerns about the new prof as well as funding..

Thanks for your advice. Do you think it would be appropriate if I email a department chair to ask about the chance that PhD students get funding for their entire degrees at the department? My new professor is not sure about that since he's new and I'm afraid I'd offend him if I come to another professor for information. 

[braindump]

Thanks for your advice. Do you think it would be appropriate if I email a department chair to ask about the chance that PhD students get funding for their entire degrees at the department? My new professor is not sure about that since he's new and I'm afraid I'd offend him if I come to another professor for information. 

 

I think this is a totally appropriate question. It's important for graduate students to understand the financial situation. I would email the graduate coordinator or something though, not the department chair.

[maru58]

I think this is a totally appropriate question. It's important for graduate students to understand the financial situation. I would email the graduate coordinator or something though, not the department chair.

Thank you very much. I just email the graduate program coordinator. Hope it will clear something up for me. 

[maru58]

Update on my situation:

 

I have tried to get more information on funding at school A to no avail. Graduate program coordinator said that the department does not document this information and funding depends on advisors (now it looks like I will have to have another talk with my potential advisor). The current students are not sure about how PhD students there do financially and they won't reveal much about their personal situations. I'm afraid when I ask my advisor about the chance PhD students at the department get funded for the entire degree, he would say he does know know since he's new. So, funding situation at A seems pretty weak