<p>I'm having a very difficult time deciding between two schools... they're both decent schools and have offered decent financial packages. I've found pros and cons in both faculty sets and both have been quite pleasant during communications. The climates are obviously vastly different but I've lived in both types of climates before and can live and thrive in either. </p>
<p>The main difference: </p>
<p>At one I've been offered a 20hr research assistantship and at one, a teaching assistantship. </p>
<p>I did a quick search on the pros/cons of these two (funding) types and didn't really come up with much. Anyone have any ideas?</p>
<p>I am thinking that the RA position would gain me more experience in the field as much of it is doing "consulting" type work for communities. More things to add to my resume, and more opportunities to build contacts. That being said, I feel like a TA position would be more relaxed... am I completely wrong? </p>
<p>Any feedback would be appreciated on either the experiences at these two schools or with the RA/TA thing.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>If the prof's research interests you, the prof's nature is a match for you and you are sure that the kind of work u wanna do go for the RA. Otherwise take the TA, explore and talk with the guys during the time and then move on to research.</p>
<p>I guess it might depend on the program, but in Biology an RA is way better than a TA. Basically what it boils down to is you have to do research either way. With an RA, you get free money to do so, with a TA you have to teach a class/grade papers on top of your research to earn money. Sure, a TA gives you teaching experience if you want that for your future work, but I see RA's as getting paid to do what you would otherwise without any extra work. Again, might be different for you.</p>
<p>The field is urban and regional planning... the "research" isn't really research in the sense of lab work obviously.</p>
<p>For future phd considerations... is one(TA or RA) more impressive? I would think that the RA would be... ideas?</p>
<p>With an RA you do research (like you are suppose to do as a PhD student), with a TA appointment, you do research and teach. So which one shows more dynamic character?</p>
<p>I am not sure "dynamic character" is really in play here. Again, I can only speak from my experience but in my master's the TA position was the one you fell back on to make money. Those working in funded labs could sometimes score an RA for a semester or the summer, everyone else was lucky to get a TA to get funding. Keep in mind, I am also coming from a situation where no one that I know of ONLY had an RA. Everyone taught at some point. You might get an RA for one semester, teach the next, RA in the summer...so the RA was still the better option (than only TAing) but you still got the teaching experience.</p>