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Should I apply for grad school at higher-ranked institutions besides the one I am working at now?
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I am trying to decide about my future and it does look like a dilemma to me for the following reason: I can probably get accepted to PhD program in a good university in europe (top 30 in the subject, top 20 in general) to work with a professional supervisor that I had an experience working with and we were happy to work together. However, friends here tell me that my resume is better than the overall student in the university and I have the chance to get an admission from top 10’s. As I am conservative, I do not want to take a risk. I want to be sure if I can get admitted to PhD programs in top 10 after starting a PhD program if I did not find the university satisfying to me. I am an undergrad student.
phd
edited 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
asked 5 hours ago
mathvc_
212
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I am trying to decide about my future and it does look like a dilemma to me for the following reason: I can probably get accepted to PhD program in a good university in europe (top 30 in the subject, top 20 in general) to work with a professional supervisor that I had an experience working with and we were happy to work together. However, friends here tell me that my resume is better than the overall student in the university and I have the chance to get an admission from top 10’s. As I am conservative, I do not want to take a risk. I want to be sure if I can get admitted to PhD programs in top 10 after starting a PhD program if I did not find the university satisfying to me. I am an undergrad student.
phd
edited 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
asked 5 hours ago
mathvc_
212
3
I don’t understand why you would not apply to both.
– Dawn
4 hours ago
@Dawn it’s complicated but if I apply to top 10 universities, then I will lose this chance and vice versa. So I have to choose only one
– mathvc_
4 hours ago
4
@mathvc_ I don't understand. Why can you only apply to one? It seems to me that you should apply to lots of PhD programs and then decide once you get multiple offers. This is what most people do.
– Thomas
4 hours ago
@Thomas because I have to contact directly the supervisor and if I tell them that I wanna be their student, then I cannot choose between multiple offers! Moreover, I need their recommendation letter for other universities. It’s all about taking risk. Does it make sense?
– mathvc_
4 hours ago
1
@mathvc_ Please edit your question to make the dilemma clear. I do not follow your concern.
– Thomas
4 hours ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I am trying to decide about my future and it does look like a dilemma to me for the following reason: I can probably get accepted to PhD program in a good university in europe (top 30 in the subject, top 20 in general) to work with a professional supervisor that I had an experience working with and we were happy to work together. However, friends here tell me that my resume is better than the overall student in the university and I have the chance to get an admission from top 10’s. As I am conservative, I do not want to take a risk. I want to be sure if I can get admitted to PhD programs in top 10 after starting a PhD program if I did not find the university satisfying to me. I am an undergrad student.
phd
edited 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
asked 5 hours ago
mathvc_
212
I am trying to decide about my future and it does look like a dilemma to me for the following reason: I can probably get accepted to PhD program in a good university in europe (top 30 in the subject, top 20 in general) to work with a professional supervisor that I had an experience working with and we were happy to work together. However, friends here tell me that my resume is better than the overall student in the university and I have the chance to get an admission from top 10’s. As I am conservative, I do not want to take a risk. I want to be sure if I can get admitted to PhD programs in top 10 after starting a PhD program if I did not find the university satisfying to me. I am an undergrad student.
phd
phd
edited 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
asked 5 hours ago
mathvc_
212
edited 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
asked 5 hours ago
mathvc_
212
edited 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
edited 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
edited 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
10k13051
asked 5 hours ago
mathvc_
212
asked 5 hours ago
mathvc_
212
asked 5 hours ago
mathvc_
212
212
3
I don’t understand why you would not apply to both.
– Dawn
4 hours ago
@Dawn it’s complicated but if I apply to top 10 universities, then I will lose this chance and vice versa. So I have to choose only one
– mathvc_
4 hours ago
4
@mathvc_ I don't understand. Why can you only apply to one? It seems to me that you should apply to lots of PhD programs and then decide once you get multiple offers. This is what most people do.
– Thomas
4 hours ago
@Thomas because I have to contact directly the supervisor and if I tell them that I wanna be their student, then I cannot choose between multiple offers! Moreover, I need their recommendation letter for other universities. It’s all about taking risk. Does it make sense?
– mathvc_
4 hours ago
1
@mathvc_ Please edit your question to make the dilemma clear. I do not follow your concern.
– Thomas
4 hours ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
3
I don’t understand why you would not apply to both.
– Dawn
4 hours ago
@Dawn it’s complicated but if I apply to top 10 universities, then I will lose this chance and vice versa. So I have to choose only one
– mathvc_
4 hours ago
4
@mathvc_ I don't understand. Why can you only apply to one? It seems to me that you should apply to lots of PhD programs and then decide once you get multiple offers. This is what most people do.
– Thomas
4 hours ago
@Thomas because I have to contact directly the supervisor and if I tell them that I wanna be their student, then I cannot choose between multiple offers! Moreover, I need their recommendation letter for other universities. It’s all about taking risk. Does it make sense?
– mathvc_
4 hours ago
1
@mathvc_ Please edit your question to make the dilemma clear. I do not follow your concern.
– Thomas
4 hours ago
3
3
I don’t understand why you would not apply to both.
– Dawn
4 hours ago
I don’t understand why you would not apply to both.
– Dawn
4 hours ago
@Dawn it’s complicated but if I apply to top 10 universities, then I will lose this chance and vice versa. So I have to choose only one
– mathvc_
4 hours ago
@Dawn it’s complicated but if I apply to top 10 universities, then I will lose this chance and vice versa. So I have to choose only one
– mathvc_
4 hours ago
4
4
@mathvc_ I don't understand. Why can you only apply to one? It seems to me that you should apply to lots of PhD programs and then decide once you get multiple offers. This is what most people do.
– Thomas
4 hours ago
@mathvc_ I don't understand. Why can you only apply to one? It seems to me that you should apply to lots of PhD programs and then decide once you get multiple offers. This is what most people do.
– Thomas
4 hours ago
@Thomas because I have to contact directly the supervisor and if I tell them that I wanna be their student, then I cannot choose between multiple offers! Moreover, I need their recommendation letter for other universities. It’s all about taking risk. Does it make sense?
– mathvc_
4 hours ago
@Thomas because I have to contact directly the supervisor and if I tell them that I wanna be their student, then I cannot choose between multiple offers! Moreover, I need their recommendation letter for other universities. It’s all about taking risk. Does it make sense?
– mathvc_
4 hours ago
1
1
@mathvc_ Please edit your question to make the dilemma clear. I do not follow your concern.
– Thomas
4 hours ago
@mathvc_ Please edit your question to make the dilemma clear. I do not follow your concern.
– Thomas
4 hours ago
 |Â
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
You should apply to programs you are interested in working in, regardless of their ranking.
If you are worried about upsetting your current supervisor by letting them know you might be interested in working elsewhere, consider this: If your supervisor won't allow you to apply to other programs they are a jerk who doesn't have your best interests in mind, and you should work with someone else.
A good advisor will write you recommendation letters for any program you are interested in and let you make the decision, because it's your decision, not theirs. They are free to be disappointed if you decide to go elsewhere because they value your contributions to their lab, but they are abusive if they threaten to withhold recommendations to keep you in place. If you trust your current advisor enough to work with them in the future as a graduate student, you should also expect that they will be willing to write recommendations for you for any programs you are interested in.
That said, it would be both impolite and misguided for you to rank the opportunities ahead of time. You should not attend an institution just because it is "top XX" on some measure of rankings: you should attend the institution where you are most likely to learn and produce good work. A key element of that is the selection of your advisor. Working with a helpful advisor who has your best interests in mind is going to be a far better learning experience for you, regardless of "rank" of the institution.
answered 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
+1 very eloquently put.
– astronat
3 hours ago
Yes! Every good advisor will recommend going to the program where you will have the best learning, most resources, and best chance of meeting your career goals. We want you to succeed!
– Dawn
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
You should apply to programs you are interested in working in, regardless of their ranking.
If you are worried about upsetting your current supervisor by letting them know you might be interested in working elsewhere, consider this: If your supervisor won't allow you to apply to other programs they are a jerk who doesn't have your best interests in mind, and you should work with someone else.
A good advisor will write you recommendation letters for any program you are interested in and let you make the decision, because it's your decision, not theirs. They are free to be disappointed if you decide to go elsewhere because they value your contributions to their lab, but they are abusive if they threaten to withhold recommendations to keep you in place. If you trust your current advisor enough to work with them in the future as a graduate student, you should also expect that they will be willing to write recommendations for you for any programs you are interested in.
That said, it would be both impolite and misguided for you to rank the opportunities ahead of time. You should not attend an institution just because it is "top XX" on some measure of rankings: you should attend the institution where you are most likely to learn and produce good work. A key element of that is the selection of your advisor. Working with a helpful advisor who has your best interests in mind is going to be a far better learning experience for you, regardless of "rank" of the institution.
answered 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
+1 very eloquently put.
– astronat
3 hours ago
Yes! Every good advisor will recommend going to the program where you will have the best learning, most resources, and best chance of meeting your career goals. We want you to succeed!
– Dawn
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
You should apply to programs you are interested in working in, regardless of their ranking.
If you are worried about upsetting your current supervisor by letting them know you might be interested in working elsewhere, consider this: If your supervisor won't allow you to apply to other programs they are a jerk who doesn't have your best interests in mind, and you should work with someone else.
A good advisor will write you recommendation letters for any program you are interested in and let you make the decision, because it's your decision, not theirs. They are free to be disappointed if you decide to go elsewhere because they value your contributions to their lab, but they are abusive if they threaten to withhold recommendations to keep you in place. If you trust your current advisor enough to work with them in the future as a graduate student, you should also expect that they will be willing to write recommendations for you for any programs you are interested in.
That said, it would be both impolite and misguided for you to rank the opportunities ahead of time. You should not attend an institution just because it is "top XX" on some measure of rankings: you should attend the institution where you are most likely to learn and produce good work. A key element of that is the selection of your advisor. Working with a helpful advisor who has your best interests in mind is going to be a far better learning experience for you, regardless of "rank" of the institution.
answered 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
+1 very eloquently put.
– astronat
3 hours ago
Yes! Every good advisor will recommend going to the program where you will have the best learning, most resources, and best chance of meeting your career goals. We want you to succeed!
– Dawn
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
You should apply to programs you are interested in working in, regardless of their ranking.
If you are worried about upsetting your current supervisor by letting them know you might be interested in working elsewhere, consider this: If your supervisor won't allow you to apply to other programs they are a jerk who doesn't have your best interests in mind, and you should work with someone else.
A good advisor will write you recommendation letters for any program you are interested in and let you make the decision, because it's your decision, not theirs. They are free to be disappointed if you decide to go elsewhere because they value your contributions to their lab, but they are abusive if they threaten to withhold recommendations to keep you in place. If you trust your current advisor enough to work with them in the future as a graduate student, you should also expect that they will be willing to write recommendations for you for any programs you are interested in.
That said, it would be both impolite and misguided for you to rank the opportunities ahead of time. You should not attend an institution just because it is "top XX" on some measure of rankings: you should attend the institution where you are most likely to learn and produce good work. A key element of that is the selection of your advisor. Working with a helpful advisor who has your best interests in mind is going to be a far better learning experience for you, regardless of "rank" of the institution.
answered 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
You should apply to programs you are interested in working in, regardless of their ranking.
If you are worried about upsetting your current supervisor by letting them know you might be interested in working elsewhere, consider this: If your supervisor won't allow you to apply to other programs they are a jerk who doesn't have your best interests in mind, and you should work with someone else.
A good advisor will write you recommendation letters for any program you are interested in and let you make the decision, because it's your decision, not theirs. They are free to be disappointed if you decide to go elsewhere because they value your contributions to their lab, but they are abusive if they threaten to withhold recommendations to keep you in place. If you trust your current advisor enough to work with them in the future as a graduate student, you should also expect that they will be willing to write recommendations for you for any programs you are interested in.
That said, it would be both impolite and misguided for you to rank the opportunities ahead of time. You should not attend an institution just because it is "top XX" on some measure of rankings: you should attend the institution where you are most likely to learn and produce good work. A key element of that is the selection of your advisor. Working with a helpful advisor who has your best interests in mind is going to be a far better learning experience for you, regardless of "rank" of the institution.
answered 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
answered 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
answered 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
answered 4 hours ago
Bryan Krause
10k13051
10k13051
+1 very eloquently put.
– astronat
3 hours ago
Yes! Every good advisor will recommend going to the program where you will have the best learning, most resources, and best chance of meeting your career goals. We want you to succeed!
– Dawn
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
+1 very eloquently put.
– astronat
3 hours ago
Yes! Every good advisor will recommend going to the program where you will have the best learning, most resources, and best chance of meeting your career goals. We want you to succeed!
– Dawn
1 hour ago
+1 very eloquently put.
– astronat
3 hours ago
+1 very eloquently put.
– astronat
3 hours ago
Yes! Every good advisor will recommend going to the program where you will have the best learning, most resources, and best chance of meeting your career goals. We want you to succeed!
– Dawn
1 hour ago
Yes! Every good advisor will recommend going to the program where you will have the best learning, most resources, and best chance of meeting your career goals. We want you to succeed!
– Dawn
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
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3
I don’t understand why you would not apply to both.
– Dawn
4 hours ago
@Dawn it’s complicated but if I apply to top 10 universities, then I will lose this chance and vice versa. So I have to choose only one
– mathvc_
4 hours ago
4
@mathvc_ I don't understand. Why can you only apply to one? It seems to me that you should apply to lots of PhD programs and then decide once you get multiple offers. This is what most people do.
– Thomas
4 hours ago
@Thomas because I have to contact directly the supervisor and if I tell them that I wanna be their student, then I cannot choose between multiple offers! Moreover, I need their recommendation letter for other universities. It’s all about taking risk. Does it make sense?
– mathvc_
4 hours ago
1
@mathvc_ Please edit your question to make the dilemma clear. I do not follow your concern.
– Thomas
4 hours ago