University of Michigan VS Cornell (Neuroscience/Biology PhD)

[fluttershy]

Hi everyone,

 

I would appreciate any feedback on this extremely difficult decision I am facing. Both programs are fully funded.

 

1. University of Michigan - PIBS Umbrella Program

 

This university is my home, and I really love the department. I've lived here for 5 years: completed my BS, MS and tech'd for ~1.5 years here. I know many faculty, and this university is large enough that I never run out of new opportunities, labs, and faculty to meet and collaborate with. Integration with hospital. Have a current very successful PI I work well with and can continue with if after rotations it seemed like the right fit.

 

Cons:

- been here a long time, sometimes feel sick of Ann Arbor. Maybe going away would make me realize how much I love it again.

- All of my degrees will be from the same school (controversially not as big of a deal as it used to be).

 

2. Cornell BBS Program

 

Also an umbrella program, open to letting me work with Cornell faculty across campus as long as they have space/funding. Department has been very supportive in providing me opportunities to speak to current faculty and explaining the neuroscience opportunities. Housed in the vet school. I am very open minded with exploring new research and have many potential PIs I am interested in. It might be a great opportunity to stretch myself to move somewhere new, do something completely different, gain new experiences. Cool similar town to Ann Arbor, similar weather. I find myself excited about the prospect of completely changing my life.

 

Cons:

- abandoning my current situation and venturing into the unknown (maybe a pro?)

- smaller neuroscience department

 

 

Thank you for any feedback!

Edited February 20, 2015 by fluttershy

[Vene]

I say go to Cornell. Doing all your degrees at the same institution isn't the killer that it used to be, but Cornell is a good university and you'll expand your professional network.

[MathCat]

I agree - broaden your horizons and go to Cornell.

[Lisey512]

That's a hard decision. I guess I fall on the other side of the argument. If you already have a good PI you know you would like to work with and is a good mentor, that is worth quite a lot based on my different lab experiences. Some of the most successful researchers I know received multiple degrees from the same university (BS+PHD+MD or DVM). But this is coming from someone who wishes they could head back to a previously attended university.

Either way you will be attending excellent programs, so you only have 2 good choices!

[GABA-daba-doo]

I did my undergrad at Cornell, and it is an awesome institution in a great place (was there for neuro!). However, you are going to grad school to become a successful scientist so there need to be research and PIs that you are excited about. I wouldn't pick a school based on a single PI, even if you are currently working with them. Funding changes and you might find a totally new lab that interests you more. Go to whichever school has a better research fit and where there are multiple people you are interested in working with ... I really don't think you can go wrong, but it is exciting to be somewhere totally new and get outside of your comfort zone 

[Amayan]

Man, I wish I had your problems!  If I can live vicariously through you for a moment, I would take a hard look at my finances.  Moving can be very expensive, and the cost of living in New York is crazy.  But new places and opportunities to be a stranger in a strange land is so exciting!  I'm sure there is no wrong decision between these two.  Maybe you can contact a current student of the department in Cornell to get a feel of departmental politics and atmosphere?

[Vene]

The cost of living isn't much greater in Ithaca, NY compared to Ann Arbor, MI.

[freudianneuro]

I'm in the same boat. Trying to choose between other programs and Cornell. I searched and your post came up. I hope to get some guidance in making my decision. 

[neumiz]

I would pick Cornell.  You would really be expanding your network by changing institutions and you might be able to go back to University of Michigan for a post doc.  

[have2thinkboutit]

I'd also recommend Cornell for all of the reasons mentioned already - new opportunities, new people to work with, new angles to explore... I think that, professionally as well as personally, you can only grow there!

[sleepyhead]

Hi fluttershy, did you end up deciding where to go? I'm in almost the exact same situation as you were and wanted to hear what you ended up deciding on. I also had a thread asking the same question here: 

 

 

Let me know, thanks.