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Hi guys, so while I'm still waiting on a couple of decisions to come back, I could use some help deciding between my current options. UW and UCI are my two best options at the moment (also have a good offer from Syracuse but unless I'm very impressed with faculty meetings I'm probably going to decline). I'm interested in labor, but also macro, political economy, and economic history. I know UW is ranked higher than UCI (35 vs 47), but there are a couple of things that keep me from choosing it immediately. Funding: UCI offered me five years of guaranteed funding, whereas UW only offered me 4 years of funding. UW said they expect the 5th year could be filled with some type of fellowship, RA work, or working in some other department, but that they simply can't guarantee department funding. This seems kinda sketch to me, especially considering the stipend isn't that much for Seattle (around 22k). If I didn't get funding for the fifth year, I'd have to take out loans for tuition and probably drain my savings for living expenses. Placements: This is where I could really use some help. Looking at the placements for UW and UCI, I don't honestly see that big of a difference. I'd prefer to go Academia > Government > Industry, and it doesn't really look like UW has better placements than UCI overall (UCI almost appears to have slightly better placements). Is there a point to going to a higher ranked school if the placements don't seem that much better? Or am I off about UW not placing better than UCI? Housing: This may seem like a small one, but UCI guarantees housing for graduate students, and at very good rates actually. Their stipend is around the same as UW, but due to the low cost of their graduate housing, it comes out to more effectively. I like the idea of not having to worry much about getting housing at good rates, close to the school, and with other graduate students. I know this shouldn't matter, but I also don't want to be miserable/having to dip into my savings to get housing at UW. Location: Again, I know people say it shouldn't matter, and normally I wouldn't care too much, but part of the reason I applied to UW in the first place is because I have family nearby. I don't actually care for either location much, but aside from the proximity to family I think I'd prefer Irvine more. Anyway, considering all of this, which do you all think is better? Appreciate the help.

Hi all: Does anyone have any insights on the econ phd programs at UCI vs UCSD? And how is living in Irvine vs La Jolla? My research actually fits UCI better, but UCSD is ranked higher maybe because they have lots of distinguished professors (not that UCI doesn't have any either)? I like that UCI funds all students 100% for 5 years guaranteed, and UCSD despite being very rich doesn't offer that (75% of first years are funded and after that only partial is guaranteed). I noted that La Jolla is expensive (Irvine too) and maybe kind of boring? Admissions to UCI appears to be approx. 30% while UCSD is much lower around 12-15% at best, not 100% sure my numbers are correct. I took the virtual campus tour on both of their websites, and favored UCI. What are some ideas you have about these two schools?

Currently choosing between UCI and UNC. The funding at UCI is a solid amount more and I don't have to teach for a couple of years. They also have subsidized housing which makes it easier to live there. UNC's offer isn't as good but includes fellowships in the summer. I'm interested in labor and empirical IO. Not sure which one I value over the other one yet. Also, I am interested in an industry job, so rankings are not as important. I'm pretty split down the middle currently, anyone have any opinions?