mls17

Hi everyone, I am currently in the process of deciding which grad school to attend and could really use some advice. I know I have some great options but each one seems to have its pros and cons. I was accepted into MIT and Duke's mechanical engineering PhD program and Georgia Tech's Robotics program. My interest is medical robotics and as of now I plan to go into industry after graduation. Listed are the pros and cons of each school. Georgia Tech: pros - I received a prestigious medical robotics 2 year fellowship. This fellowship would let me choose who I work with and I have already met, and like, some of my potential advisers. There is plenty of research I am interested in. I plan to go into industry eventually and the school has affiliations with some companies I would be interested in working for. I really like their Robotics program and I like the location and the people generally speaking. cons - Georgia Tech does not have the same prestige and name recognition as MIT. Also, if I were to change my mind and decide to stay in academia, I've been told it would be much harder to get a postdoc position. Duke: pros - Similar to Georgia Tech. I received a really nice 2 year fellowship. I know who my adviser would be and like him (based on the brief time I talked to him on visit weekend) and am very interested in the research. It is my ideal place to live and I really liked the other grad students I interacted with. Also, basketball (just kidding). cons - Duke is not known for robotics and there aren't as many options lab-wise if something were to not work out with my adviser. MIT: pros - The name carries a lot of weight. MIT guarantees funding. Because MIT makes you get your masters first, then PhD, if I am unhappy there, I could always leave with my masters. There is a lot of research I am interested in. It would set me up well for an industry position or an academia position. cons - It seems that most of the RA offers go out in the summer so I have no idea who I would be working with or what research I would be doing. Several grad students said there is a chance you end up having to work in an area you are not interested in, which is concerning. I really did not like the campus or the area and just did not have a good over-all feeling. This may be due to the fact that I was only able to visit for one day and was very rushed. Also Boston is very expensive. My professors say I would be crazy to not go to MIT but so many other people have told me that adviser is THE most important thing. If I turn down MIT, would I be throwing away an amazing opportunity for something not as good? Which factors should I put the most weight on? Any pros or cons that I am missing? Any advice would be greatly appreciated especially since the deadline is fast approaching!