mountaingal

Conferences can be very good for networking. If you're outgoing and comfortable introducing yourself to a large number of strangers one after the other then you will probably get a lot of bang for your buck. Here are some general networking tips: Go to events, visit places you'd like to work in person, etc. Hand out and collect a lot of business cards (if you don't have any, at least get some cheap but professional looking cards with your contact info on it) and FOLLOW UP on all of these conversations. Let everyone know you're looking for a job, ask them questions about what they do, and ask them to introduce you to other people. Big events aren't really my thing but my husband is in a sales/consulting type job and that's how he gets clients at conferences and festivals and that sort of thing. He also finds cool people and meets with them. Do that too. Basically, let everyone you're at least somewhat friends with or family know you're job searching and what kind of job you're looking for. You never know what might come up just from 2nd degree connections.

I agree with the above - with the programs being about equal in the most important aspects, living situation is the next big factor! Things like town/city size, potential commute, cost of living, available activities, climate, community, etc. can really make a difference in your ability to manage stresses of grad school and your happiness with life in general. When you walk out of the lab, where do you want to be, what kind of people do you want to hang out with, what do you want to do to unwind? Where do you want to LIVE?

+1 for always keeping an open mind and jumping on cool opportunities! And, good luck!