offer选择 Lehigh VS Drexel Ph.D in Econ?

心香一瓣

大家好！请教大家offer选择问题：

3月底收到Lehigh的offer. Ph.D in economics at the school of business and economics. $13,600/9 months as TA+tuition waiver for 4 years. 条件是八月底入校时考SPEAK考试，250的满分必须考到230，否则只能做grader，$11,000 per year. (这口语考试是个挑战,但我还是有信心的) 因为当时没有更好的offer,就答应了下来，学校现在还没寄出I20表。
昨晚收到Drexel教授的信, ph.D in economics at B school. 之前联系他，一直告诉我排在waitinglist的首位，但迟迟没有更新状态.信中他问我是否还available，说想给我发offer, $20,500/per year for 4 years. 比Lehigh钱多呀，我有点迟疑(大家别扁我哦)。

从综合排名来看，Lehigh最近进步很快，33的样子，新过来了一个MIT女校长，扩建学校，商学院也有进步。但Lehigh的强项仍是工程和理科，商学院里的phd只有econ这一个方向，会不会有些薄弱和单一？相反，虽然drexel综合排名100左右不如lehigh，但其商学院非常齐全，phd有八个方向，这似乎更有利于以后转方向或做交叉学科的研究(finance or accounting)。但听sm1说最近经济系要从商学院分出来，那样意义又不大了。
从师资上看，Lehigh的老师多做labor economics, health economics and finance. Drexel的老师多做international business and trade. 其实我都挺喜欢的，感觉不出来很强的倾向。
从地理位置看，drexel在费城，还可以去沃顿听听课什么的，呵呵。Lehigh离纽约一个半小时，离费城两小时，在伯利恒这个小城市，倒也挺适合学习和居住的。
我以后的职业规划是留美教书，也不求很高的年薪，能找个稳定的tenure track的职位慢慢奔就满足了。大家看看我的情况怎么选择好啊？为了不耽误学校的时间，我想两三天内就答复drexel的老师，谢谢大家的意见！非常感谢！祝大家签证顺利！

calebxu

If I were you, I will go to Drexel as it provides more generous financial aids, and the location is good. 

心香一瓣

many thanks, calbxu! you are on the point^_^

again, which one do you think can provide me better environment to do academic job in the future?

sm1

The gap of money is important. When you start to study, you will know. Drexel PhD students go to restaurants but other students feel stress of money. However, job hunting could be another important criterion for you to consider. Try to compare the job of graduates of both universities.

Actually, economics faces a problem of oversupply, as other CDers mention this many times. It may not be easy to find a job of assistant professor.

kndx5

  Yes, I agree with sm1. Although econ department is at business school at both lehigh and drexel, you job market target should be still econ department  at other university and industry. If you want to find a faculty job at econ department, your research area is very important.

echo518

Vote for Drexel..

jingbeiboy

Drexel is better since it gives you more money. Futher, the kind of jobs you may get will be dependent on what you can do in terms of publication and other academic factors.

心香一瓣

thank you guys! I will consider seriously about the research fields. I know interest is much more important than other factors.right? hehe.

besides, the funding $13,600 at lehigh is for 9months while $20,500 at drexel is for 12months. the director told me just now students in the second year and above can work during the other three months then get some money. therefore, money seems not be a big issue.

what do you guys think about the reputation to do research for the b school at drexel and at lehigh?

Thank again for your information!

sm1

It is necessary for you to compare the job of economics graduates of both universities but not the reputation of the whole business school. For example, say, Drexel's Phd accounting graduates all got good jobs but how is this good job market in accounting related to economics graduates? Nothing!

FYI. A Drexel economics graduate just got a job in an industry, about US$60,000 (from my memory).  It is really tough to get a job of assistant professor in economics, though.

心香一瓣

thank you, sm1. i am trying to contact more graduates to make a quick decision. thank you for your help with my application. though econ is tough for job market, i like it and i will carry on with my dream. good luck for everybody