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Yep, I'm posting one of these--I am fortunate to be in this position and partially it's due to the wonderful advice and support of y'all, so I'm choosing to pay you back by demanding even more! I'm possibly one of the least decisive people in the universe, and I have no idea how I'm going to decide where to go by May 15. I won't make my decision solely based on feedback from here, but i sure appreciate it! (Especially if you justify your vote--maybe I'm missing something about these schools!)
About me: interested in vision science, cognitive neuroscience, and secondarily autism research right now. I would probably be looking at an fMRI lab for thesis work or *maybe* a primate neurophys recording lab. I would probably be in a small, supportive lab than a huge unsupportive one. I consider myself a bit more oriented towards research than clinical practice, but I"m certainly getting the MD for a reason. I'm considering lots of things for residency: psychiatry, neurology, ophthalmology, neurosurg, peds, these all could intersect with neuroscience research (clearly lots of differences there but that's what med school clinics will be for). I'm a big social justice activist and like to be authentically involved in my community, and want to be able to at least volunteer clinically during phd years. I want to live somewhere where I can get to school without driving but still have some things to walk to from my house. I'm a fiddle player and spend most of my non-science time playing music. Geography is no issue as my parents live in WV and I'm sure not going back there. I live in LA right now but have mixed feelings about it, so I have no great need to stay nor leave.
This is probably not comprehensive, but here are good and bad things about each school I am considering as I see it (UCLA/Caltech, Stanford, Yale).
UCLA/Caltech
PROS:
-opportunity to join powerhouse labs at Caltech
-in an urban area
-amazing role model of a woman director
-get to stay with current musical groups (sounds trivial but I have lived in other places and had much less success finding people to play my fiddle with)
-solid clinical programs in neurology, psychiatry (fields I am interested in possibly)
-new hospital
-diversity of patient population
-between UCLA and Caltech, lots and lots of possible labs (although lots at UCLA I'm considering are non-tenured profs)
CONS:
-cost of living
-phd at Caltech notoriously takes forever (mean of 5 years for phd alone)
-labs at Caltech and Caltech in general intimidate me
-less "prestigious" academic reputation at UCLA, although certainly comparable quality (don't yell at me for saying this, it's not meant to be offensive)
-not a lot of integration of md/phd programs, although from discussion with director I may be able to build clinical experience into phd
-I have a lot of emotional baggage in LA right now and kind of want a fresh start
-little clinical experience during phd or opportunities to continue clinical experience during phd
Stanford:
PROS:
-p/f all four years
-northern cali = good food, weather, liberal, access to everything
-other students often do research and take 5 years (i.e. I won't be the lone mstp weirdo)
-very highly regarded neuroscience program
-seems to be a really amazing group of students
CONS:
-evil suburbia-land, would either have to live in it or commute from san fran or something
-everything is EXPENSIVE
-less diverse patient population and opportunities for community involvement
-the one prof who works in the imaging area I'm interested in apparently isn't a great advisor, although there are others that do somewhat similar things who are
-little clinical experience before phd or opportunities to continue clinical experience during phd
Yale:
PROS:
-a few rotations before phd
-better integration of clinical/research
-other students often do research and take 5 years (i.e. I won't be the lone mstp weirdo)
-I like New Haven (no, really) and gritty urban areas in general, and the yale environment is amazing
-cost of living
-I absolutely love one of the advisors I am considering and know that he is a fantastic mentor etc
-the professors in my field are very supportive, collaborative, and smart
-happy students, no grades
CONS:
-I've already been there (academic incest?) even though I wouldn't work with the exact same PI
-not as many labs I would be interested in here -- 3 or 4 maybe, although I'm sure the great one I mentioned above will be there, and my interests are somewhat flexible
-I never fit into the music scene when I lived there before
-it's COLD
About me: interested in vision science, cognitive neuroscience, and secondarily autism research right now. I would probably be looking at an fMRI lab for thesis work or *maybe* a primate neurophys recording lab. I would probably be in a small, supportive lab than a huge unsupportive one. I consider myself a bit more oriented towards research than clinical practice, but I"m certainly getting the MD for a reason. I'm considering lots of things for residency: psychiatry, neurology, ophthalmology, neurosurg, peds, these all could intersect with neuroscience research (clearly lots of differences there but that's what med school clinics will be for). I'm a big social justice activist and like to be authentically involved in my community, and want to be able to at least volunteer clinically during phd years. I want to live somewhere where I can get to school without driving but still have some things to walk to from my house. I'm a fiddle player and spend most of my non-science time playing music. Geography is no issue as my parents live in WV and I'm sure not going back there. I live in LA right now but have mixed feelings about it, so I have no great need to stay nor leave.
This is probably not comprehensive, but here are good and bad things about each school I am considering as I see it (UCLA/Caltech, Stanford, Yale).
UCLA/Caltech
PROS:
-opportunity to join powerhouse labs at Caltech
-in an urban area
-amazing role model of a woman director
-get to stay with current musical groups (sounds trivial but I have lived in other places and had much less success finding people to play my fiddle with)
-solid clinical programs in neurology, psychiatry (fields I am interested in possibly)
-new hospital
-diversity of patient population
-between UCLA and Caltech, lots and lots of possible labs (although lots at UCLA I'm considering are non-tenured profs)
CONS:
-cost of living
-phd at Caltech notoriously takes forever (mean of 5 years for phd alone)
-labs at Caltech and Caltech in general intimidate me
-less "prestigious" academic reputation at UCLA, although certainly comparable quality (don't yell at me for saying this, it's not meant to be offensive)
-not a lot of integration of md/phd programs, although from discussion with director I may be able to build clinical experience into phd
-I have a lot of emotional baggage in LA right now and kind of want a fresh start
-little clinical experience during phd or opportunities to continue clinical experience during phd
Stanford:
PROS:
-p/f all four years
-northern cali = good food, weather, liberal, access to everything
-other students often do research and take 5 years (i.e. I won't be the lone mstp weirdo)
-very highly regarded neuroscience program
-seems to be a really amazing group of students
CONS:
-evil suburbia-land, would either have to live in it or commute from san fran or something
-everything is EXPENSIVE
-less diverse patient population and opportunities for community involvement
-the one prof who works in the imaging area I'm interested in apparently isn't a great advisor, although there are others that do somewhat similar things who are
-little clinical experience before phd or opportunities to continue clinical experience during phd
Yale:
PROS:
-a few rotations before phd
-better integration of clinical/research
-other students often do research and take 5 years (i.e. I won't be the lone mstp weirdo)
-I like New Haven (no, really) and gritty urban areas in general, and the yale environment is amazing
-cost of living
-I absolutely love one of the advisors I am considering and know that he is a fantastic mentor etc
-the professors in my field are very supportive, collaborative, and smart
-happy students, no grades
CONS:
-I've already been there (academic incest?) even though I wouldn't work with the exact same PI
-not as many labs I would be interested in here -- 3 or 4 maybe, although I'm sure the great one I mentioned above will be there, and my interests are somewhat flexible
-I never fit into the music scene when I lived there before
-it's COLD