Help me Choose Graduate School please

[NeedChange]

Hi guys~

I've got admitted to some biomedical graduate schools, but I don't know how to choose. I need your help and advice.

Duke CMB vs. JHU BCMB vs. Weill Cornell BCMB vs. UTSW DBS

thx and bless everyone~

[Genomic Repairman]

None of us can really help you. Just sit down and compare some of the following factors:

-Stipend money

-stipend vs cost of living (utilities can be super expensive some places)

-Taxes (some states have no income tax)

-Location (city vs BFE)

-reputation

-potential PI's you could work with

-other grad students (fun and laid back vs supercompetitive gunners)

-Internal fellowships (you need to get if you want to make your applications competitive for a good postdoc)

-Moving expenses

[applicant7]

Definetly JHU. The second choice would be Duke.

[BioTurboNick]

I had to choose between JHU BCMB (That's the one at the School of Medicine, right?) and Emory BCDB when I applied a couple years ago. I loved the research at both places, though I liked the research at JHU a little bit more. However, the stipends and insurance were comparable (though JHU included Dental, which would have been nice), I liked my potential classmates at Emory a little bit better, and I liked the area a lot more than I did downtown Baltimore, where I'm not sure I would have felt safe walking around for 6 years. Although I think they have a new complex they should be close to finishing that was supposed to include grad housing right next to campus which sounded like a plus.

Just take a look at all of your options, and consider what's important to you, and especially somewhere you think you'll be happy for the next 5-6 years-who cares about the research if you'll be miserable outside of the lab!

[NeedChange]

Definetly JHU. The second choice would be Duke.

Thx but I don't think it should be "definitely"...

[NeedChange]

I had to choose between JHU BCMB (That's the one at the School of Medicine, right?) and Emory BCDB when I applied a couple years ago. I loved the research at both places, though I liked the research at JHU a little bit more. However, the stipends and insurance were comparable (though JHU included Dental, which would have been nice), I liked my potential classmates at Emory a little bit better, and I liked the area a lot more than I did downtown Baltimore, where I'm not sure I would have felt safe walking around for 6 years. Although I think they have a new complex they should be close to finishing that was supposed to include grad housing right next to campus which sounded like a plus.

Just take a look at all of your options, and consider what's important to you, and especially somewhere you think you'll be happy for the next 5-6 years-who cares about the research if you'll be miserable outside of the lab!

I've considered many aspects, and still like Duke better. Although it's very hard feeling to turn down JHU, since I know the interviewer professor and he's been so kind, I'll do it. I don't like JHU's research so much, since I'm not interested in Neuro or Genetics, but cancer cell signaling and drug development.