Adorabella

Hey everyone... this issue has been on my mind for a long time now. Next year I should be applying for grad school. By that time I will obtain my BSc degree (majoring in Molecular Biology). Due to the structure and length of my studies, I qualify for PhD studies right away, meaning I don't have to do the Master's. I am wondering, should I skip Master's and go straight into PhD - which will save me one/two years, or do Master's? Master's will definitely broaden my research experience and prepare me more for PhD. (I am aware that at most universities in US you are not required to do Master's to get into PhD, but in European system it's a little bit different) Thanks!

So I am currently a third year molecular bio undergraduate student. Still have one year left (it's a 4 year bachelor). This summer I did a summer research in a lab of very renowned institute. I got along perfectly with the PI and the rest of the group, made a great team with them - even got a publication out of it. Long story short - PI invited me to come work with them next summer as well. On the other hand, there is another renowned institute (almost the same rank as the one from this summer), offering summer research (similar thing as the one I did this summer), that I would like to apply to for the next summer. I love competition and it would be a great satisfaction and privilege for me to get accepted for that one. Unfortunately, applying for that one and if I get rejected settling with past summer's placement is not an option for me - simply due to the deadlines. I won't get decision for the new one before March 2013, and for this one I have to let PI know around January at the latest so he can prepare stuff for my project. So, what do you recommend? Should I just keep working in the same lab I worked in this summer, since I was so lucky with the PI I can learn a lot from or just risk and apply for another institute? I know flexibility is very important, and I would like to do the 'rotations' at this point of my career and see where I fit better - it would definitely make my graduate school decision easier. On the other hand, I have no guarantee that in a new lab I would have such a stimulating environment - it would be the risk I already took this summer (and it turned out well thank god). Thank you!