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PhD at Newcastle or cambridge?

Hi, I am currently doing my MPhil (research masters) at Newcastle University. My research is about Bayesian adaptive designs (medical statistics). I originally came here because of my sport (volleyball) as I received a sports scholarship and it’s one of the best teams in the country. I now have been “offered” to do my PhD at either institution and I don’t know what to do…the idea of going to Cambridge sounds amazing, however the volleyball isn’t that great either and this is a very important part of my life…staying in Newcastle would mean another 3 years playing the sport I love in one of the best environments in the country for it. I love my life here right now, but everyone is telling to go to Cambridge. Both PhD programs are similar and I would enjoy doing either of them. The supervisor at Newcastle is one of the best biostatisticians in the world, but the unit at Cambridge is one of the best in the world. However, volleyball isn’t that good there. To play at a good level I would have to commute to London a couple times a week for training and matches to keep playing at the highest level. My head is a mess. I have talked to everyone and anyone, made all the lists… and I have not reached a conclusion yet. Please help😭
Cambridge.
Do the commute.
Reply 2
Original post by jsjdjsjnfjsdfade
Hi, I am currently doing my MPhil (research masters) at Newcastle University. My research is about Bayesian adaptive designs (medical statistics). I originally came here because of my sport (volleyball) as I received a sports scholarship and it’s one of the best teams in the country. I now have been “offered” to do my PhD at either institution and I don’t know what to do…the idea of going to Cambridge sounds amazing, however the volleyball isn’t that great either and this is a very important part of my life…staying in Newcastle would mean another 3 years playing the sport I love in one of the best environments in the country for it. I love my life here right now, but everyone is telling to go to Cambridge. Both PhD programs are similar and I would enjoy doing either of them. The supervisor at Newcastle is one of the best biostatisticians in the world, but the unit at Cambridge is one of the best in the world. However, volleyball isn’t that good there. To play at a good level I would have to commute to London a couple times a week for training and matches to keep playing at the highest level. My head is a mess. I have talked to everyone and anyone, made all the lists… and I have not reached a conclusion yet. Please help😭

Asking random people on TSR what to do is not very useful, as ultimately people are going to make a decision based their own perspectives and motivations not yours. I dont like volleyball so i will completely dismiss that part of what you said, but for you this is a key part of your life.

All things considered, without the outside influence and if you truly listened to yourself i think (from what you said) you would choose Newcastle. So others opinions are immaterial. The success of a PhD is broadly determined by the supervisor, how weĺl your interests/skills match project and even more importantly how happy you are in and outside of the course.

Well done also on your options, you are doing a great job.

Greg
Original post by greg tony
Asking random people on TSR what to do is not very useful, as ultimately people are going to make a decision based their own perspectives and motivations not yours. I dont like volleyball so i will completely dismiss that part of what you said, but for you this is a key part of your life.
All things considered, without the outside influence and if you truly listened to yourself i think (from what you said) you would choose Newcastle. So others opinions are immaterial. The success of a PhD is broadly determined by the supervisor, how weĺl your interests/skills match project and even more importantly how happy you are in and outside of the course.
Well done also on your options, you are doing a great job.
Greg

I agree with this and also want to add - have you tried connecting with people on LinkedIn who've had your prospective supervisors before? Cambridge may have a good reputation but feedback from former alumni could help narrow down what working with supervisor X is really like

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