MSTP: Help me Decide - Baylor vs Mayo vs UCSD

[MedApp100001]

Hey everyone, I've been very fortunate to have options for some fantastic programs and have narrowed it down to 3 with their own strengths and cons as they relate to my interests:
Career Goal: Lead my own original investigations at an academic institution and clinical practice 1 or 2 days out of the week. Industry is a possibility.
My research interests: Regenerative and Stem Cell Sciences... Strong desire for which program will provide the most opportunity

Baylor
+ Largest cultural community of interest is in Houston (my ethnic culture, native 1st language)
+ Greatest breadth of research
+ World's largest medical complex - providing ample opportunity
+Strong diversified match list
+Leadership is quite involved (Lead director and 4-codirectors)

-Hot, humid
-Southern (originally from South, but not from Texas)
-Not great in depth for regen/stem cells as UCSD or Mayo

Mayo
+1st in country to establish Regenerative PhD Track
+Highest faculty:student ratio in country (50 med students)
+Highest prestige for matching and possibly for future faculty positions - will open the most doors?
+Structured MSTP, tight-knit
+Strong diversified match list
+Extremely strong clinical education/focus
+National campus - I'd be able to rotate or train in Rochester MN, Pheonix AZ, and Miami FL

-Non-attractive Location, Weather - lots of snow, I don't ski
-Small graduate student community (only 250)
-May be lacking in translational & basic sciences research
-Students may be a bit more type A than other places

UCSD
+Location (prestine), nature, outdoor activities
+Strong Stem Cell Research (Salk, Sanford Consortium, UCSD) - California has $5.5B grant for stem cells(2020)
+Uniquely strong opportunities for biotech industry involvement (San Diego hub)
+Multi-institutional due to various partnered research institutions
+Strong match-list - especially if wanting to stay in Cali
+I've interacted with most other admits, very chill & brilliant individuals

-Medical program less prestigious (may impact later academia prospects?)
-MSTP program a bit loose - leadership mainly involved if requested/reached out to

Based on my interests and ambitions, all thoughts, especially informed ones, are welcomed.

-J

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[Fencer]

Congratulations on your acceptances. These are quality MSTPs. You are not making a bad choice just as when selecting the flavor of your gelato in a real Italian deli. All of the MSTPs have PIs that can train you in stem cell research with possibility to high impact publication and matching to a terrific residency. There is more variability in the applicant drive, luck, etc., than among the success of the programs (which are cumulative of all of those individuals). You missed two key questions (despite talking about some of the components):

• Where would you be happier?
• Where did you see yourself fitting better among the other current MSTP students (and perhaps your class)?

 

[MedApp100001]

Congratulations on your acceptances. These are quality MSTPs. You are not making a bad choice just as when selecting the flavor of your gelato in a real Italian deli. All of the MSTPs have PIs that can train you in stem cell research with possibility to high impact publication and matching to a terrific residency. There is more variability in the applicant drive, luck, etc., than among the success of the programs (which are cumulative of all of those individuals). You missed two key questions (despite talking about some of the components):

• Where would you be happier?
• Where did you see yourself fitting better among the other current MSTP students (and perhaps your class)?

Thank you for the reply and gelato analogy! In terms of quality of life/happiness, that'd most likely be UCSD/Baylor just based on activities available outside of training. However, I feel like I might be more productive in an environment like Mayo. The harder question to answer is where I'd fit best amongst other students.. I've honestly had very minimal interaction with each cohort outside of virtual zoom sessions which makes it difficult to gauge.

 

[SurfingDoctor]

No one knows where’d you be happiest and most successful more than you. Mentorship is a key to early success and is unfortunately incredibly hard to predict no matter how great the institute (unless you have already developed a prior relationship). So pick the one that checks of the most personal preferences.

Also, Houston as a city sucks.

 

[mdphd789]

How did you feel when you met with potential PIs at each school? Also, this is just my two cents, and I don’t know much, but I feel like an applicant as strong as you seem to be will thrive at any of these institutions productivity-wise. If it were me, and if I liked the research faculty equally at each school, I’d go where I have no doubts that I could be happy for ~8 years because that’s going to make a bigger difference on my quality of life than research productivity. I think it completely depends on your personal preferences though, and if you’re willing to risk going somewhere you’re not thrilled about for the sake of potentially better career options. Everyone has different priorities, so I guess it’s just about what you think will be most important to you.

 

[agp4]

Oh gosh, I was in a very similar position deciding between Baylor and Mayo years ago! I ended up loving it at Mayo (Rochester gets a bad rap, and Minneapolis is awesome). I'll send a DM with more of my background - feel free to reach out if you have questions about the Mayo MSTP.

Congratulations on getting offers from 3 very strong programs!

 

[Lucca]

UCSD mstp is plenty prestigious, i wouldnt necessarily factor it in as a con. Based on ur lists, voted UCSD. But you cant go wrong. Congrats on the options!

 

[wondervisions]

I would pick UCSD for the weather tbh. You really can't go wrong with any of them.