USC, UMB or PSU

[ree]

I've been accepted into 5 grad programs and I've narrowed it down to 3 but I'm having a really hard time trying to decide between these three programs - University of Maryland, Baltimore (molecular medicine), Penn State University at Hershey (Biomedical Sciences) and University of Southern California (PIBBS).  Does anyone have any insight or advice?

[LMac]

Do they all offer comparable funding? Which school has the best fit POIs?

[ree]

The stipends for all are comparable if the cost of living is taken into account.  The programs are fairly similar and I like the research oppurtunities at all three as well.  PSU does have the option of earning an MBA in addition to the PhD, while USC and UMB do not.

[compiler_guy]

If your career goal is an academic position you could dismiss the MBA degree option quite quickly, and you should ask yourself which school is better known in academia?

 

Adviser and research-fit is also a thing to look out for.