Yes those are all good points. I am interested in research as well but I read somewhere that some schools are more apt to accept you if their department doesnt have to support you or if they can get a break in supporting you. I figured if I taught in the lab school and they paid my tuition for 2 years, it would alleviate some of the stress from the department and they would be more willing to accept me and fund me for the remaining 3 or 4 years it would take me to earn the phd. But who knows haha, I am assuming also that even if I was interviewed for it I would not necessarily have to take it...so I figured why not! =) Has anyone heard from Tufts though?