I chose Einstein for many reasons:
1. Faculty - There are lots of faculties I am interested to work with and they showed interest in me. After interviews, I kept in contact with them via email and they were available to talk about their science, answer any questions, etc.
2. Environment - The collaborative environment between departments and faculties and students is phenomenal.
3. Career opportunities - They have a strong career center. They provide lots of workshops and networking events targeted for their students to expand their options.
4. Housing - Housing is VERY spacious and affordable (~$500), plus I will only have one housemate compare to having 4-6 if I went to Mount Sinai or having to pay ~$1,200 if I went to NYU. The location is good as it is quiet but there are things to do and Manhattan is not far away (many busses and trains nearby to get to Manhattan, Queens, or Brooklyn).
5. Students look very happy
6. The stipend is VERY GOOD. After calculating housing and all other expenses, I found out that Einstein was giving me the better offer economically speaking.
7. I know I will have the support I need at Einstein to become a great independent scientist and get into my next step of doing a pos-doc.
If you need any advice or help throughout your app, I am here to help.