Help Meeeee!

[AuRevoirMarin]

I'm having a hard time picking between two programs (I know, great problem to have). I've been accepted into Berkeley--the Holy Grail of English Lit--and a very small, private school--prestigious, but much further down the list than Berkeley. The latter, I think, is a better fit for me in every way: the class size, atmosphere, location (closer to everyone I have ever cared about by thousands of miles), probably better funding (haven't received word from Berkeley yet), and the one professor I've dreamed of working with. My parents, closest friends, and therapist all tell me I should choose this latter school, because they think it'll make me happier. However, my advisors tell me to go to Berkeley because it is the most renowned. I've come to feel pretty good about choosing school B, but there are times when I feel the horrific grip of pride--of knowing I could have had the better name on my resume, but giving it up. Am I making a crazy choice here?

[ScreamingHairyArmadillo]

That's a tough one. I know prestige means a lot in humanities, but overall enjoyment of your program might help you produce more and better work, which is (hopefully) ultimately more important when you're eventually looking for jobs.

Would you be crazy to choose school B? No, especially if you don't get good funding from Berkeley. But have you visited Berkeley? You might feel different if you do.

I also hate this decision stage.

[fuzzylogician]

I'm having a hard time picking between two programs (I know, great problem to have). I've been accepted into Berkeley--the Holy Grail of English Lit--and a very small, private school--prestigious, but much further down the list than Berkeley. The latter, I think, is a better fit for me in every way: the class size, atmosphere, location (closer to everyone I have ever cared about by thousands of miles), probably better funding (haven't received word from Berkeley yet), and the one professor I've dreamed of working with. My parents, closest friends, and therapist all tell me I should choose this latter school, because they think it'll make me happier. However, my advisors tell me to go to Berkeley because it is the most renowned. I've come to feel pretty good about choosing school B, but there are times when I feel the horrific grip of pride--of knowing I could have had the better name on my resume, but giving it up. Am I making a crazy choice here?

I went against all my professors' advice. I don't regret it for a second.

Go to the school that you feel is right for you. It's your degree and your life, not your advisors'. You'd be making a crazy decision if you chose a school to indulge your pride, at the expense of your intuition that it's not the right place for you.

[myrrh]

I would like suggest that the OP does this: contact the professors you are most interested in in each school, and talk about your future research plan. Provide as much as information you could, and discuss how could/ would you work with each of them. Then you could figure out the feasibility of working with them, and I believe it matters on your being happy or not during the PHD years. I also believe they will be very willing to discuss this with you, especially if you let them know this discussion will help you make up your mind.

[Venetia]

How about combining the advice of ScreamingHairyArmadillo and tomi. Definitely talk to the profs about your research interests to see which one suits you best, but don't discount the value of a visit. If you're worried about whether or not you'll be happy somewhere, then the vibe of the location will be very important. Who knows, you might love Berkeley. You can also then rest assured that you've done everything possible to make the best decision- fewer regrets that way.

And try and block out people that tell you how amazing Berkeley is. Only you can really know if it's perfect for you. My sis got into Vassar for undergrad, and even though everyone always made the impressed face when she mentioned it in her list of acceptances, she ended up going elsewhere and hasn't regretted it for a moment.

[red_crayons]

At my Ivy league undergrad, a number of the younger English/French lit profs are from Berkeley and Yale. At least one I can think of is from UC-Irvine, too. This may be due to the prestige of the programs, links between older faculty and faculty at those schools (...the 70s/80s Yale crew...), or both. I doubt it's random.

School can matter, but whether you take it into account depends on what your goals are.

[mbs191]

Dear Split Decision,

How about this for rationalizing things? Do the professors at the smaller school have credentials from UC-Berk or other "highly rated" PhD English type schools? If so, then that tells you something about the standards of the smaller school - that it is great and EVEN people that went to UC-Berk are happily teaching there.

Also, like someone else said....what do you want to do post-PhD. Will being at either school aid or adulter that dream?

Hope this is helpful.....I may (don't want to count my chickens before they hatch) be in the same situation.

G'luck!

Mike

[sciencegal]

My first choice really changed when I visited schools. I thought I knew where I wanted to go and then the list really flipped. If you can visit Berkeley it might help you a lot. Maybe you'll feel at home and have great discussions with potential advisors. Or, maybe it will all strike you the wrong way and you'll feel better about turning Berkeley down. It does seem like you really want School B.