It is difficult to decide...t - (Feb/05/2007 )

Hi everyone.
I am about to finish the master course and I have to choises for PhD but I am not really sure which one is best....well, I have an idea though. But some advice is always wellcome.

Option 1.
I can go to a very good university, I will have 2 professors supporting me., so if I do not get along well enough with one I can go to the other one. hehe. the topic is kind of related to what i have been doing until now, so I kind of know what and how to do it. But I have to start as soon as I finish here. Other good thing is that the laboratory is in a good place, I mean, not isolated from society...hehe

Option 2
Or either I can go to a University that is not that recognize but is not bad either. I will have only one professor I know just by mail. the topic is not so related with what I have been doing but it is a topic I have always like. Though I will need to learn things again. And I can start 3 month after the end of the master course, so i can go home during that time. (I couldn't go back my country for the last 3 years....)

Any comment is more than wellcome.
thanks in advance.

I would choose Option 1...and start PhD straight after Master.
After three to four months...ask for two weeks break and go home.

Besides, good university has better resources and money.

it does seem like a none contest between options. Option 1 looks like the best.

However a PhD position in my opinion should be based on
the project, and the lab's technical and financial situation.

Which project is more likely to successed. Which lab is better at helping you succeed. And which university has a better reputation. Because cynically, it seems, who you know is almost as important as how good your work is.

Everything else takes a back seat.

Actually I was thinking about option 2 because I really long to be at home for some time. ......
but maybe option 1 is better .....in an academic way.
Thank you very much for the advices!!!!!!

option 1 is best i think, after enter phd make some time to visit family

I agree with the others.. Although I know what it means to be from home so long. Go for the project that speaks to you the most, is more likely to succeed.. If you go for option 1, tell your professor that you want to go home and plan for that to go after 3 months or so..

Your family is always will be with you. The rest and holidays of course will be attractive in your young years but it is only dust in your mind! But the most important task is - will you get satisfaction with your future work! Try to speak more with your favorite teachers and friends. But tha last point must you do! During our life sometimes we radically change our interests , work and views but if we choose our way according our heart ( firstly) and mind (secondly) we will be free elsewhere and everywhere and our family and friends will be very glad to see flame and light in your eyes and warm near it. So my variant for your question is discard for a time "home problems" and choose the direction that whisper your heart!

Good luck!

Thank you very much for all your comments...
To be honest i still am not sure which one should I choose. The professors in both universities already accepted me but I still need to apply for the university. Everyone is saying that it shouldn't be a problem, but I will decide after i have the acceptance of the universities.
Circlepoint, thank you for your advice too. The thing is that I follow my heart to come to do the master course. personal life great, but at the lab was kind of complicated and I do not take a good experience with me. So this time, I really want to think about it. Maybe option 1 may help my academical life more....
I still have some time.

Well, have you been to the labs already.. I always want to get a feel of how the lab works, how the people work in the lab and what kind of atmosphere there is.. Is it stressed, is it relaxed... For me that is always really important.. so if you would get accepted by both universities and still don't know what to do... Go for the lab that feels best for you.. Especially if you didn't have a good experience...Good luck!

I would love to do that...visiting the labs before starting....but I can not go. they are really far from where I am now.
So, I guess i will use intuition....

Thanks to everyone for your advices and support!!!!!!