Biostat MS Harvard MS VS Umich

[fushia]

Harvard without funding

U of Michigan gives me full funding

Wow, so difficult to choose

My ultimate goal is to get a PhD. Harvard surely cannot guarantee that, while UMich's MS is easy to get its PhD.....

Anyone can give me some advice?

[wanthony86]

Harvard without funding

U of Michigan gives me full funding

Wow, so difficult to choose

My ultimate goal is to get a PhD. Harvard surely cannot guarantee that, while UMich's MS is easy to get its PhD.....

Anyone can give me some advice?

I'm in a similar situation except U of Washington is offering me full funding. It'd be an effing dream come true to go to Harvard although from a purely economic standpoint it makes more sense to go with the program that offers the funding. My heart says Harvard, but my brain says UW. Do I give up a life-long dream for money?

[newms]

Go with your head. Michigan and Washington are still highly ranked in Biostatistics right? Is Harvard a better fit for you than Michigan or Washington? I would say that you should only go with Harvard if it's that much better a fit for you and they're doing stuff there that isn't available at the other schools, because essentially you are choosing between a free, quality degree from Michigan/Washington versus incurring debt for a Harvard degree.

[ZeChocMoose]

The Cambridge area has a high cost of living so coupled with tuition at Harvard which is also high = lots of debt. I won't do it!

Personally, I would do the master's at the funded institutions and then reapply for my PhD at Harvard and of course at other places. You also may decide that you rather stay at your master's institution for your PhD too.