Want to Apply to PhD in MicroBiology, can't relocate... help?

[dstock]

I am thinking about in the next 2 years applying for my PhD for Micro. However my husband is currently applying to PhD programs all over the country... so by the time I apply we will already be settled in a new place. How reasonable would it be for me to expect to get into a PhD program while not having to be long distance?? In other words, I would only apply locally. I believe I am a very competitive candidate. If we were in NYC I would have several of schools to apply to, but if we end up somewhere where there is only one university.... I might be stuck. Any advice on what I should do?

We do not have children.

[Eigen]

I was a year ahead of my wife, we had a similar problem.

I ended up choosing a university in an area with several other schools within an hours drive or so- but she was able to get into the same school as me, so it worked out quite well.

How close are your fields? Like "spousal hires" higher up in academia, I think there's a decent bias towards a student who has to stay lower/already has a tie to the school... The closer the field, the more it will help.

That said, you say you're a strong candidate, so I wouldn't worry so much about it.

[emmm]

I could only apply locally - husband has his own career - but the local school was a large school with multiple programs of interest to me. It worked out.