USC Quantitative & Computational Biology vs. UCSD Bioinformatics & Systems Bio

[thelilypad]

Hi y'all,

I've narrowed my final decision down to these two Californian schools, and I'm having the worst time making a final choice due to a couple factors. Here's the details on each:

USC QCB:

- 5 year package @ $36k/yr, combination of 1st year full funding and 2nd year onward TA/RA

- Received top up fellowship award of $5k per year for 2 years, bringing first 2 years to $41k

- No guaranteed graduate student housing

- Friends and family in the area

UCSD BISB:

- 1st year fully funded @ 33k/yr, later years up to advisor funding

- 2 semesters TA required

- 2 years max grad student housing, likely I can get it then, but capped at 2 yrs unless I get SHORE (not sure yet, but possibility)

- No friends and family in area

Some pros and cons of each:

USC

Pros:

- I have a few PIs of interest I've spoken to/contacted, including the director at the Laboratory of Neuroimaging, which is not only well funded but germane to my research area (and very renown in the field)

- Friends and family in area

- More funding, received top-up award (and probably could get more funding in later years as well)

- Can potentially live with friends or family

- More entrepreneurial focus

- Less concerned about funding gaps since private and guaranteed 5 years funding

- Faculty investment in program success seems high on discussion with students in program

Cons:

- I'm a USC alumna (graduated 2015) so it would be more-of-the-same and might ding me for post-docs/academia jobs in the future

- I feel like general consensus is USC < UCSD in terms of bioinformatics research, worried about impact on post-grad career selection

- Less research match/relevant faculty  in my preferred research area (genetics/epigenetics of neurodevelopmental disorders)

- Program on average is longer (6 years avg.)

- Internships technically permitted, but discouraged

- No guaranteed housing, LA is pricey (but can potentially live with friends)

 

UCSD

Pros:

- Have faculty in the autism space who are super nice and excited for me to come (including one in particular who focuses on the genetics of neurodevelopmental disorders, exactly my preferred subject area)

- La Jolla is safer, potentially nicer to live in (TBD since I've only visited once)

- Strong connection to industry biotech (basically a pipeline for Illumina)

- Lots of diverse faculty and strong research associations (Salk, UCSD Med, etc)

- Center for autism research (arguably the best in California/West Coast, or at least tied for the best)

- Different school than undergrad

- Potential to visit/exchange with other UCs via the Interchange Program (not sure if can do for my PhD area, but on paper possible)

- Internships permitted and often encouraged (depends on PI)

- Genetics Training Grant looks really cool

- Strong reputation in bioinformatics

- Shorter (averages around 5.5 years for all years)

- Better health insurance

Cons:

- Significantly lower stipend amount, especially for first two years

- Concerned about finding affordable housing (unless I get the SHORE offer)

- Concerned about social reputation of campus (I've heard UCSD as a whole is pretty asocial...)

- Away from all friends and family (albeit not super far away, LA is a 2 hour drive and the Bay Area's a 1 hour flight)

- La Jolla seems very ritzy with not much nightlife

- Dating might be harder

- Concerned about impact of COVID-19 on funding (not as likely due to being in the biology space)

- Heard from current students that faculty investment in the program is lower

 

So to summate, I feel research-wise UCSD has a bigger draw due to the amount of autism research being performed there, and perhaps also because it has a strong pipeline into industry biotech. However, I'm definitely worried about the social and other lifestyle components of La Jolla life, especially because the stipend is appreciably smaller (although the net income may be larger if I can do a few paid internships). Conversely, USC is a known quantity to me since I spent 4 years there, and I'm very familiar with LA life (and have built in support structures nearby). However, I'm more concerned it's not a great potential research match, even though there are some compelling draws (like better funding, LONI, and the relative strength of the bioinformatics program).

 

That's my exhaustive decision list, would love ideas on how to decide. Thank you!

 

Edited April 9, 2020 by thelilypad

[cropop]

People go to downtown San Diego for nightlife (gaslamp) and not La Jolla/University City. If the trolley to UC is open yet, then it makes it much easier to get downtown. I can't remember when they told me it would open. There is admittedly little around the UC area and La Jolla for student night life. UTC mall has been moving towards adding some things but it still wouldn't be much.

UCSD sounds like a better choice for a graduate program based on your pros/cons. Most of the cons have little to do with graduate studies.