Trying to decide

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>as acceptances come in, the scene changes from worrying about admissions, to worrying about where you are going to go. I have having a particularly hard time trying to decide. I have narrowed my decision down to around 3 options. I feel a little silly worrying about this because they are all great schools, but still, everywhere has its ups and downs, and this is a pretty big decision. These are my options:</p>

<p>Caltech bioengineering/computational and neural systems (I found a few professors there that I really hit it off with, I think there research is out of this world. Weather is great. Some concerns about social aspects.)</p>

<p>Harvard Biophysics (Didn't see any research that really hit me the same way Caltech did, but there are many many many more profs, and just by the shear amount of numbers, there are obviously people who I would enjoy working with. Socially, boston is filled with people.)</p>

<p>Princeton Chemical Engineering (Haven't visited yet. seems really small, not sure yet). </p>

<p>Has anyone heard anything about any of these programs? Any information/general opinions will help.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Can you ask the departments to forward you a list of their alums and where they are now? I think that’s very important. Just my two cents.</p>

<p>Impressive choices though, congratulations!</p>

3

<p>Congratulations on receiving offers from such fine programs!</p>

<p>I don’t think your worrying is silly at all, because this is an important and significant decision to make. Personally, I’d put the highest priority on research fit and less of a priority on whether a program is located in a city that would offer a great social life, but your priorities may differ. From your post alone I think Caltech might be the best fit for you simply because you’ve really hit it off with multiple professors there.</p>

4

<p>good suggestion about asking about alums.</p>

<p>thanks!</p>