grinnell vs Rutgers HC (biochem)

[silk hazel]

International student from Vietnam
Schools: grinnell college vs Rutgers Honors College
Intended major: Biochemistry, aiming for PhD afterwards
Similarities: Both generally good for research and STEM
Costs (both COA, per year): Grinnell ~30-33k, Rutgers ~50k, finaid for grinnell and 10k merit for Rutgers

Grinnell
School 1 Pros:
Small => less competitive to get research opportunities, professors more personal, significantly cheaper, PhD feeder, good prestige among people who know about LACs
School 1 Cons:
In the middle of nowhere, far from major pharmaceuticals/medical centers to get internships (have to get funds from school to go during the summer). just far from really anything basically.

Rutgers
School 2 Pros:
R1, fun student life cus big school and athletics, in the city so close to many medical or research centers, can get research at other nearby universities, accessible
School 2 Cons:
Much more expensive, large school so research opportunities are competitive (although being in HC does help since there are exclusive opportunities for HC students), and the extra honors tag on a rutgers degree might not be worth that much
Tiebreaking considerations
I just need good prep for the best shot at good PhD school as an international student

[gentle plover]

The money you save going to grinnell can pay for transportation to wherever your summer internship is

[silk hazel]

from my research then i think it is common practice for students at grinnell to receive grants from the school to go do internships elsewhere during the summer. it's just that the location of grinnell as a whole is quite inconvenient, say if i want to do a part-time internship during the year then that's not really possible.

then again ive never been to the US so im not sure how detrimental the remoteness would be

[red cradle]

ehh rutgers isnt rlly a super big city, as a person who lives close there its more like a small city fused w a bunch of suburbs

ny/philly is near tho w 1 hour train ride

and yea the city its based in is a big pharma hq

id say rutgers gives arguably more opportunities + student life but if u rlly want the phd pipeline go to grinnel

and yea 20k diff might be crazy and pile up 😭

but if u care abt prestige ruts and esp honors def has more