<p>When you pick an undergrad school, after figuring out cost, you look for things like size, where it is located, what kinds of students go there and stuff like that. How important are these things when selecting a grad school? I know your primary focus should be on the faculty and what the professors are doing research in. So, do you compromise and move somewhere you would hate to live, or go to school that is too big, or go to a school where you don't really think you would fit in, in order to work with a professor who is doing research in exactly what you are interested?</p>
<p>You’re going to be there fore at least 3 years; if its a heavy research position that has no need for travel - 5 years. Culturally you want a good fit. So I would say it should be a top concern of yours.</p>
<p>Your advisor is Everything and everything else is a poor second. </p>
<p>as for your undergrad, you got that backwards too.</p>
<p>Your future advisor is important, but don’t choose a school because a specific faculty member is there (you have no idea if you’d even end up working with that person).</p>
<p>Fit is therefore everything. But “fit” is a broad term. My decision was based almost entirely on my “fit” with the following: the faculty (as a whole), and the students (current AND interviewing). The program that happened to be the best fit in those areas also had an ideal class size and location for me, so that worked out nicely.</p>
<p>I think the “fit” of the research community, the people, around you trumps everything else. Less-than-great location or school size are tolerable as long as you enjoy interacting with all the faculty and your grad student colleagues there. And if you like the faculty in general at your program, then it will not be difficult to find the one person who would make for a great advisor.</p>
<p>I would say that is true to a point; if you are an older student, and will perhaps be moving family or a partner, cultural fit isn’t as important. A young student though absolutely needs a nurturing SOCIAL community outside of the classroom, and being stuck in Ames, IA or Storrs, CT is not something I’d wish on any young person being separated from their family/friends for the first (or second) time.</p>