Hello everyone,
I am entering my senior year and will be graduating with a B.A. in Criminology. I want to get a Master’s or Ph.D., depending on what the school offers, in Sociology. I have a few programs on my list, but my primary choices right now are State University of New York (SUNY) - Albany and University of Wisconsin - Madison. However, I have schools on my list as far as California. I am originally from New Jersey and am currently in Pittsburgh.
My parents have hinted that they would like me to attend a school closer to home than Pittsburgh, which is SUNY - Albany, but they understand that I may have to go further depending on where I get accepted and what programs I am interested in. Sometimes I want to be closer to home, and sometimes I feel like I could handle living somewhere totally new out west. I know that the quality and fit of the program is the most important thing to look at, but it’s hard for me not to seriously consider location.
I am looking for tips about how to consider the location of a school without it kind of dominating my decision to apply or not. Has anyone else experienced this struggle?
Thanks!
Apply to schools and see where you get in first. You may or may not have a choice.
I would say location is an important consideration in choosing your graduate program…to a point. For a PhD, especially, this is a place you will live in for at least 5 years during some prime years of your life. Developing a life outside of your PhD program is also key to maintaining your mental health. I was lucky enough to do my PhD in New York, and I wouldn’t trade that experience for much.
But you do want to make your location considerations as an adult. And while wanting to be nearby your parents is not necessarily not adult…you do want to think about your own career and personal development first. Your parents moved where they wanted/needed to move based on their own career and personal considerations, yes?
A PhD program is a perfect time in life to experience a new location in a relatively safe way, without a long-term commitment. You’re only committing to be there while you finish out your degree. Why not consider the possibility of exploring a California city or Madison, WI for 5-7 years? You can also determine for yourself whether, career-wise, you want to be closer to your parents or whether you’re okay living farther away. (My 6 years in New York reassured me that I do not need to live anywhere near my parents.)
Basically, I agree with the above - apply to grad school without regard to location, then make your decisions later!
(In addition, I don’t understand “I want to get a Master’s or Ph.D., depending on what the school offers, in Sociology”. If you want to get an MA in sociology, don’t apply to departments that don’t have an MA. Same with the PhD: If you want one, don’t apply to departments that don’t have one. If you, personally, are unsure of whether you want a PhD, it’s probably safer to apply mostly to MA programs and only to a handful of really, really appealing PhD programs. But don’t make it dependent on the university itself.)
Thank you both for your responses! They were really helpful 
In regard to the confusion juillet, I am still deciding whether I want a master’s or a Ph.D. - I have schools saved that offer one or both. I will take your advice of applying mostly to MAs and a few stunning Ph.Ds. Thanks again!