As I was choosing graduate schools, there were a few things on my list I was looking for. Aside from the great location of being situated in the city of Chicago, I chose University of Chicago's Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics graduate program because of the collaboration amongst faculty, and the ability to work with scientists of all backgrounds. The program is supportive when it comes to successfully completing classes, as well as choosing a lab that is right for each student. Many cores are also easily available to students to complete experiments, and having the Argonne National Laboratory nearby is a plus. Programs like the myCHOICE are great for students to get exposed to various career alternatives. The department also cares about recruiting faculty and students from all educational backgrounds and has created a great environment for my PhD experience.