<p>I was planning to apply to US graduate schools in the biosciences the upcoming application season. However, I have just received an offer for a molecular biology program at the University of Cambridge under a fully funded scholarship. I am currently in quite a though spot, since I dont know whether to take the offer:</p>
<p>1) I would rather get my PhD at most US graduate schools (Harvard, MIT, UCSF, Stanford, Caltech, UC Berkeley)
2) The project that I will be doing my PhD on isnt my favorite research topic</p>
<p>Nevertheless, it has been told to me by US graduate students that it is hard to say if I would get my favorite research topic once I have been accepted into a US graduate program. There are generally maximally only two or three topics (out of ~30) per department that interest me. It is uncertain whether any of these labs will have space for me during my enrollment year, and there could be tough competition for a spot with fellow graduate students that share my interests.</p>
<p>A second important aspect that I consider is that I can start my PhD at Cambridge this year already, and that the total time to obtain the PhD will take no longer than 4 years. Conversely, if I do my PhD in the US, I will have to wait a full year before I enroll (my application year), and then the PhD will take approximately 6 years.</p>
<p>I was wondering if people could assist me in my decision, for instance by clarifying aspects that I have not considered above.</p>
<p>I agree with RacinReaver. As you know, the US universities that you’ve listed are top notch. So is Cambridge. </p>
<p>Something you should be aware of is that US grad schools are very research-centric. If you plan to apply to a top notch US university, you’d better have decent research experience beforehand (…which is a great thing IMO). One may have excellent grades and standardized test scores; but, if one doesn’t have research experience, one won’t get into the top schools.</p>
Fully funded
3 and most important) Nothing is a 100% certain. What if you decide to skip on this magnificent opportunity and you end up being rejected by MIT, Stanford, etc… Cambridge is at the level of these schools.</p>
<p>As RacinReaver said: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.</p>
<p>Is it a world renowned program for molecular biology, or are you just saying that because its Cambridge? The program is actually not run by the University of Cambridge, but through the Medical Research Council. Unfortunately, I am mostly interested in synthetic biology, and not cell biology.</p>
<p>I erroneously assumed that the program was under the University of Cambridge, my bad. However, I remain on the same position: you already have an offer and graduate school applications in the US for international students are extremely competitive, especially for international students. In the end it is your decision, just giving you my 2 cents. You won’t know if you don’t apply, so might as well apply for US school. Who knows? You might get into one of them!</p>
<p>Also, take the offer, apply this year and see what happens? Would you be able to “transfer” to the US?</p>