Ranking vs location

<p>So I am basically deciding between the two different programs to submit my last grad application, since I've already submitted enough apps that have costed me alot. The first school is a top-10 school in its field, but I don't like the location at all. Theres about 1-2 profs I'd like to work with, and I already emailed one of them to find that out that he plans to have an opening in his research group. He also has produced alot of publications in the past few years</p>

<p>For the other school, the location is much better, and theres 2-3 profs I'd like to work with, but its ranked pretty low (around 22nd) since those profs have produced far fewer publications than the prof I mentioned earlier. Since this field is small, theres only about 30 schools that have a ranking in this field</p>

<p>Which school should I apply to?</p>

<p>The first. You have to be willing to study anywhere and work anywhere.</p>

<p>If you’re going for an academic job later on and the only tenure-track opening in your field is at Southeast Northwest Dakota A&M, are you going to apply for the job or starve?</p>

<p>I agree. If you’re an academic, you are in a pretty desperate situation. Go where the jobs are. On the other hand, if you’re looking at using these skills in a more practical field in which jobs are more or less existent, then I’d say study where you want to live, and you can find a job there.</p>

<p>Are you going to be completely miserable in the first location? Because if you want to go into academia in any capacity, then I’d say assuming that there’s a good fit in that department unless you’d be out-of-your-mind uncomfortable in that place I’d go there.</p>

<p>HOWEVER. You only said field - not subfield rankings. From your comment it looks like #2 despite being lower ranked might be better fitting. I would not advise going anywhere at where there’s only 1 professor you want to work with. What if s/he gets sick, dies, leaves, goes on sabbatical during your dissertation or outright hates you? What does 1-2 mean? Is that a good solid 2 people or is that a solid 1 and a tentative 2? Is it going to be easier for you to get the kind of work done that you want to get done at place #2?</p>

<p>The field I’m considering is Astronomy btw. But since most graduates don’t go into academia, and I intend to do research that also uses marketable skills, being in a location where theres non-academia jobs would help. </p>

<p>Yes 1-2 means a solid 1 and tentative 2.</p>

<p>I can’t believe people are advising for number 1 because as an academic you’re also supposed to live like ****. :lol:</p>

<p>These are going to be 6 years of your life, and you’re not getting them back. Location is HUGE and will impact your productivity. In addition, rankings don’t mean much because what really matters in grad school is the lab you join and the publication record. From what I get from your post, I say go for number 2.</p>

<p>OP said the first school’s professors have a far better publication record than those at the second. So yes, that is what matters.</p>

<p>The reality of being an academic is that the job you want or need may not be in your dream location. If you’re picky about location, you might have problems finding a job.</p>

<p>While I understand some of the statements about going where the jobs are, this does not exactly apply to the situation of picking a graduate program. There is a job (perhaps) for you at both of these schools. Just because you go to a lower ranked program does not mean your subsequent job prospects will be worse either… that is much more dependent on the quality of your work, regardless of where you are.</p>

<p>So I would suggest you consider the quality of research you will be able to do at each school. Your mentor will play a big role in this, but your personal motivation will perhaps play an even bigger role. If you are miserable in a location, you are probably a lot less likely to do great work. When grad schools talk about finding the right “fit” they mean that in a very broad way, and to neglect the location of the school is to neglect an important aspect of “fit.”</p>

<p>Okay creepypasta, based on your field (which is my dream field… when I finish this MPA and have the $$$ to get a second bachelor’s paying cash, LOL), I would say you have a lot of applications, so I think you can study somewhere you like knowing that (a) you can probably move out of that place to get a job and (b) you can always transfer as it’s not like this is Medieval Spanish Moor Morphology and Gender Studies or something where you’ll never be able to squeeze into their tiny department.</p>

<p>“as an academic you’re also supposed to live like ****.”</p>

<p>I think the point is, it is hard for academics in some fields to get jobs because the competition is so fierce, so you need to consider that when you apply. I do know academics in the humanities that are basically working in the service industry to support their families. You might not want kids now, but when you do, all of a sudden you realize why people join the rat race and want jobs.</p>

<p>I’m very happy for all the academics that got great jobs in their dream cities, but realistically, some academics cannot make that a do-or-die goal.</p>

<p>That said, I seriously doubt Astronomy is such a field. There’s always London or France or Berlin or Moscow. Or China! I think the OP will have lots of opportunities. It’s a growth industry.</p>

<p>In graduate fields, it’s sometimes wise to think about the quality of the professional networking you can do at school x versus y. That’s the peer contacts, collaboration, etc, that may lead to future opportunities.</p>