Torn between two schools

[Clueless91]

Hi All,

I'm currently torn between two programs and I am hoping you guys can help as I am trying to make a decision by the end of the month.

School A:

-Top 5 in my field

- Has both qualitative and quantitative scholars

- Would have to alter my research interests a bit

- POI very well known in field has a lot of grants

- Willing to negotiate funding offer

- Faculty seem excited to have me

- Great location

- Majority of faculty well known in field

- Cost of living expensive

- Would have to move across country

- Would require working in the summer

School B

- Top 10

- Good funding offer

- Faculty a lot more laid back

- Both quantitative and qualitative researchers

- A lot of faculty excited about my research interests

- POI would be a perfect fit

- POI not as well known as School A POI

- More "applied" research

- Not the best location

- Only female in very small cohort

P.S. Looking to work in policy or at a research think tank.

Thanks for your help!

[GeoDUDE!]

The top school sounds a lot better. You will change as a scholar, as long as you are excited to do whatever is your going to do at a place, the % of fit doesn't really matter.

Edited March 10, 2015 by GeoDUDE!

[iphi]

Huh, I thought Option B sounded better. I think you need to think about which of these categories you would weigh more heavily than others. It's a pretty personal decision, figuring out where to live, your particular interests, etc.

[GeoDUDE!]

The negatives of school A vs school B put me over:

 

Cost of living is higher, but school A is willing to negotiate with her. That makes me think they view her as a top candidate, or is private, or is an overall much better funded program. 

 

Moving across the country may seem like a negative, but I personally have done it 3 times and have never regretted it. 

 

Working during the summer.... thats grad school. 

 

 

but for School B:

 

Only female in a small cohort makes me think that her research isn't emphasized at the department. Also, being worried about that might make it harder socially in the beginning, and getting off to a good social start does wonders imo.  

 

Also she says its not the best location. And liking where you live is just about the one thing you can control. You can't really control if your advisor goes crazy. You cant really control if your going to like your peers (you just dont spend enough time with them before hand). But you can know that you really like the place your going to live. 

 

I think its a bit silly to say "perfect fit" when everyone in graduate school evolved so much intellectually. I think you just need to get into the ballpark. 

[nugget]

You mention the location of A is expensive. Will your funding cover all of your costs or will you need to take out a loan or use some of your own money to make ends meet? If school doesn't give you enough money and school B does, I'd lean towards school B. If funding for school A is sufficient, I'd lean towards B.

 

It really is a close call though. A lot will depend on where your priorities lie. I saw someone on the forum resolve this problem by creating a score sheet for each school. He attributed a value for each category based on how important it was to him and graded each school on its pros and cons. His decision was made by  counting up the points and picking the winning school. If you really cannot decide, perhaps you would find this system helpful too.  

[rchien]

I would choose B.  Quality of life, recreation, and social connections matter to me.  I wouldn't do well in a high-stress graduate school situation without some time to recuperate!

[ucdude]

Can you link this post? I think that has a lot of potential for me, but I don't know how to even assign values to arbitrary things. 

You mention the location of A is expensive. Will your funding cover all of your costs or will you need to take out a loan or use some of your own money to make ends meet? If school doesn't give you enough money and school B does, I'd lean towards school B. If funding for school A is sufficient, I'd lean towards B.

 

It really is a close call though. A lot will depend on where your priorities lie. I saw someone on the forum resolve this problem by creating a score sheet for each school. He attributed a value for each category based on how important it was to him and graded each school on its pros and cons. His decision was made by  counting up the points and picking the winning school. If you really cannot decide, perhaps you would find this system helpful too.  

[Clueless91]

Thanks for all your input! I'm going to try making a list, I'm hoping to make a decision by the end of next week. I should add that graduates from School A fare better on the job market

[idiochromatic]

Thanks for all your input! I'm going to try making a list, I'm hoping to make a decision by the end of next week. I should add that graduates from School A fare better on the job market

...then the answer really becomes obvious, imo.

[nugget]

Can you link this post? I think that has a lot of potential for me, but I don't know how to even assign values to arbitrary things. 

 

Here you go: 

 

A tough choice, but on the bright side if the choice is so tough that probably means they're equally good options so either way you go you'll end up making a good choice. Good luck and congrats on your offers!