UPenn PhD v. Harvard MS

[statsjack]

Hi all, 

I have my biostatistics admission decisions and am wondering how you would tackle this. I got into:

• UPenn - PhD program - fully funded for 5 years + health insurance + ~$30k stipend + earning MS after 2 years
• Harvard - masters - no word on funding yet...I could potentially use my other offers to bargain?
• Columbia - masters - 50% scholarship
• Brown - masters - 25% scholarship

So I think the real decision here is between Penn and Harvard. I'm set on getting a PhD, so if I choose Harvard it will only be as a stepping stone to a PhD (hopefully also from Harvard). 

Harvard has a lot of benefits plus the hope of getting a PhD from Harvard, but is costly as well. I will be paying a lot of money. If I don't get accepted into the PhD afterward, I'd have to repeat coursework somewhere else...in which case I will have wasted money and 2 years with no progress towards a PhD.

Meanwhile, Penn is giving me the best financial offer, plus the benefit of NEVER having to go through the application process again. It has a solid program with an emphasis on applied research from the very beginning, which is a plus for me. I visited the department and left with great feelings about the current students and faculty. I felt like it would be a great fit.

I'm strongly leaning towards Penn. Can anyone give me a solid reason why I shouldn't choose Penn?

And yes I know that this is a PhD so the adviser is more important than the department, having faculty in my area of interest is more important than brand, etc. I've heard all this before... but what would you do.

Thanks!

 

 

[Vulpix]

It sounds like if a PhD is your ultimate goal, it would be silly not to go with the fully funded offer from an excellent program that you feel is a great fit.

I was interested in your decision though because I will likely be going to Penn this fall, but I will hear back on a masters from Harvard on Friday and then, if accepted, I will be looking for compelling reasons to choose Harvard over Penn... and really, the only reason is that Harvard is a stronger alumni network/name brand outside of academia (i.e. who will get me the best jobs/connections?).  But with a PhD, if you want to stay in academia, I don't think there would be any disadvantage in choosing Penn over a possibly elusive PhD at Harvard.  I don't think it's worth the risk, and the funding is just so enticing!

Edited March 1, 2016 by Heather1011

[fernandes]

11 hours ago, statsjack said:

Can anyone give me a solid reason why I shouldn't choose Penn?

I don't think there is a reason. You have the best financial offer, you get an MS degree after two years (in case you realize PhD is not for you), and you felt great about the grad students and the department. Go for it!

[naomi6]

you can always do post-doc at harvard...

[COGSCI]

PENN PHD NOW ! 

[juilletmercredi]

I would definitely choose the Penn PhD. There's no reason not to.