Staying on your home campus, or campus of your choice, with HHMI Med Fellows or Doris Duke is nice - but if you have the opportunity to go to the NIH "main campus" I would highly encourage it. Re HHMI med fellows vs DD, I would say just go with whatever location you prefer, or whatever project would be more interesting and more fruitful.
Congratulations to all that have been accepted and good luck to those still waiting!
I'm in that position myself - accepted for both a Doris Duke (not my home institution) and the NIH MRSP, and I'm looking for some advice.
I've made a gigantic pros/cons list, weighted everything that's important to me, and when I ran the calculations I got 850 points for one and 860 for the other. Which one was which doesn't really matter - it basically just reinforces that both are great programs and it wouldn't be a mistake to choose either one.
At this point it's down to some of the intangibles. Like you said the NIH program is a totally unique, once-in-a-lifetime type of opportunity. Objectively however, I'm having trouble envisioning how that will affect the experience itself during this year off.
One key concern at this point is that we don't know who our mentors/PIs are or what kind of projects we'll get to work on until we are there on campus in Bethesda. What if I really want to work with someone, but another of the 40-some scholars wants the same? There's so much concentrated talent and research potential at the NIH, but could that be a bad thing in some ways and make it more difficult to carve out the niche that I want? The Doris Duke application process necessitated some early establishment of a potential project, and I've spoken much more extensively with my potential mentor(s), so my picture of a year off there is much clearer in my mind. With the NIH program, it's much hazier trying to imagine what exactly I'm getting myself into.
On another note related to mentorship, I am curious what kind of influence an NIH mentor could potentially have in terms of residency applications. I'm sure I'll get great research training and experiences at either program, but when fourth year rolls by, will I regret not having the chair of _____, who met with me every other week during my Doris Duke, calling his buddies at other institutions to give me a boost? Or will the NIH name, with its broader recognition, offer the same connections and benefits without the guilt of choosing a residency program that is not where I did my Doris Duke?
Lastly, I am confused about the compensation for the two programs. I've done my research but the best stats I can find are:
Doris Duke: 28k stipend + 5k lab/conference funds + health insurance
NIH MRSP: 33.7k stipend + ? lab/conference funds ? + relocation assistance + health insurance
Anyone have more specific/up-to-date numbers? It seems like a big difference and I'm not sure if I'm missing something. Also, what does "relocation" assistance usually entail, and why would it be necessary for a program that already offers pre-furnished housing.
I know I'm not exactly between a rock and a hard place, and I really hope that those of you with no current offers have a change in your luck. In any case, if anyone has advice for my current "burden of choice" I'd really appreciate it!
