Hi everyone. I am graduating this semester with my undergrad in mechanical engineering. I have applied to phd positions at two of the top schools in my field (university of michigan ann arbor and caltech) and one fall back school (university of florida). I have an offer from university of florida that is actually really good. However, I also think I will get an offer from michigan. I have been back and forth with a professor at florida who has really helped me and guided me in this process. Although nothing is set in stone, I still would feel bad not working with him in his lab at florida. If I do get offered a position at a top school, would it be bad (i.e. would you recommend) to go to that top school? Would there be hard feelings? I don’t want to start off on a bad foot with someone in my field. I know it is a small world.
As long as you’re straightforward and don’t break commitments, I don’t think there will be any hard feeling. Most applicants receive offers from multiple schools. Turning down offers is just a way of life.
The professor at U of Fl has to understand that you need to look after yourself. He invested his time and energy on you, hoping you’d join his lab. But like any other investment, you win some, you lose some…
You should go to the best school for you and your future career goals. That may be the top-ranked program or that may be the #14 ranked program. I do think that you should go to a well-reputed school that is ranked somewhat high (like top 30ish) but don’t be a slave for numbers - the #1 school isn’t necessarily twice as good as the #2 school, if you know what I mean. Pay attention to factors like advisor, ranking within subfield, institutional support, atmosphere, and opportunities. Maybe this UF guy is a famous professor who has lots of connections. Maybe he has a 100% placement rate in academic jobs, and that’s what you want. Maybe he works tirelessly on behalf of his graduate students, reads drafts promptly, tries to help all his students get publications and funding.
The short version is, don’t go to Michigan simply because it’s higher-ranked.
HOWEVER. If Michigan is truly the best school for you - not just in terms of rankings, but also in terms of other things that are important for you individually in your career - then go to Michigan! Professors are generally supposed to be helpful; they do that because they want to do it. But every professor knows that the good students apply to multiple schools and not every good student will decide to attend their program. Unless you have inappropriately signaled that you would commit to UF (and I don’t mean just by chatting and communicating interest; I mean by giving clear statements that you plan to attend in the fall), this professor shouldn’t be offended or upset unless he’s insane and unreasonable. And even in the very unlikely event that he is upset, you shouldn’t decide your graduate program (and thus the trajectory of your career) on the emotional instability of one person that is not you.
You guys have given me a lot to think about! I will definitely take all of this into consideration when I make my final decision. It seems that everyone is in agreement here. Thank you all so much!
