Chinabro at MRM school (ranked at ~30 in US) This year we will have 4 candidates. I and another American girl have the same advisor (he is also our department chair). I have a top 3 R&R (coauthored with the other 2 Professors) and the American girl does not have any pubs or R&R. She is better than me at teaching though.
Our advisor told me that I should target US mid-low ranking research schools and Chinese top research schools. He strongly discourages me to apply any teaching schools or go to any teaching schools. He told me if I cannot find a research school, I should stay for one more year and apply again. However, for that American girl, he recommended her to target most balanced/teaching schools, and apply for a few fma/AFA borderline research schools.
I think this is a risky play. I might not get any US offers while that American girl will mostly likely get offers (although bad ones). However, I think some teaching school offers are better than some Chinese top research school offers. I told this to my chair, but he said he wanted the maximize our department placement. He also said he will make good phone calls for me and he is sure that I will get good research school offers. He said the ultimate choice is made by me, but I do realize he writes letters for us.
What should I do??