I am in a 3 year MA program, and will be studying abroad in Germany for one year. I am just completing my 1st year, and was planning on going to Germany for the entirety of next year. However, now I am thinking that it might be better for me to stay here (I'm at Yale) and form stronger relationships with professors, and then go off to Germany and do applications there. I feel like I can't win either way though:

-Many people have warned me against completing PhD applications while in Germany because it is better to be at your home school, around the professors who will be writing your recommendations--as well as just being in a place where you have more resources.

-However, if I go to Germany for the 2nd year, and then return to Yale for the 3rd, I won't have strong recommendations from Yale professors, because I will have been gone for a year, and therefore only will have those professors who knew me during my first year.

I'm so torn. I would love to hear some advice, or different perspectives as to what would be best for my application!

Thanks so much for your replies.