<p>I will have the chance to intern as a research assistant at a Stanford neurobiology lab this summer, and I really, really want to go. However, the costs are high, and housing, etc. seem to be falling apart before my eyes. I love doing research (I've done it for the past two years), and I'll do it at the local university (University of Rochester) if I can't go to Stanford this summer, but my question is:
Do you think it would be worth all the extra costs to do research at Stanford versus at a local university? If I get a great (optional) rec from a Stanford professor, will that give me an edge in admissions, or will it just look like I have connections? I will probably be applying to Stanford EA. Thanks in advance for your help!</p>