Deciding on a Summer Research Program

[toughdecisions]

Background: MD/PhD hopeful, applying this cycle, junior in UG

I've got a choice between:

1. The SRPG at the Broad Institute: http://www.broadinstitute.org/partn...es/srpg/summer-research-program-genomics-srpg

2. UPenn SUIP: http://www.med.upenn.edu/bgs/applicants_suip.shtml

3. WashU in St. Louis Amgen: http://dbbs.wustl.edu/divprograms/SummerResearchforUndergrads/Pages/Amgen-Scholars.aspx

I'm currently leaning towards Broad because of their departmental style and its reputation for genetics research, YET I feel I would be giving up an opportunity to network/get my name out there to people involved in the UPenn MD/PhD program. I even got an email from the MSTP director of UPenn saying they would talk to me individually about applying, what they look for, research plan, etc..
Do you guys think it'd be best to go with UPenn/WashU because of their MD/PhD affiliations?
Any other advice would be greatly appreciated

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[Patros]

You named your account "toughdecisions" for that? You should have called it "awesomedecisions," this is a win-win-win scenario if I ever saw one.

I'm inclined to agree with you though; if you want to go to the Penn MSTP, then it would help the most to have a letter of recommendation from a professor at Penn. However, you shouldn't rule out the Broad institute because it is affiliated with the Harvard/MIT MSTP. Honestly, I think you can't really go wrong at any of these places, so just go to the place that you would enjoy the most (cough Boston cough). All of their MD/PhD programs are super prestigious, though if you hope to join the Penn MSTP, then go to UPenn!

 

[VitaminVater]

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[okemba]

Agreed with Underu completely. Congrats!

One thing maybe to consider - I'm a senior, and I've started appreciating recently that since I would be spending at least *8 years* in the city where I will be training, I should make sure it's a city I like.

So maybe... choose the summer program with the city you're less familiar with and more curious about? (Not as the only factor, but as a consideration.)

Have fun!