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Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Houston, Texas

BCM is an internationally respected medical and research institution known for excellence in education, research and patient care.
Graduate School
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Living in Houston

Downtown HoustonIs Houston a Good Place for Me?

  • If you want to rent a nice apartment--or even buy a home
  • If you enjoy the outdoors year-round and don't like to shovel snow
  • If large communities of many different cultures appeal to you
  • If you enjoy good food--of every type--at affordable prices
  • If you like to fish, attend plays/operas/ballets/musicals/symphonies/art exhibits, shop at national chain stores and unique boutiques, cheer on professional or collegiate sports teams, or take short drives to the beach

...then Houston is a good place for you.

Houston Highlights

People

  • 4.8 million residents, 4th largest U.S. city
  • Young: 37 percent are 24 or younger, 34 percent are between 25-44

Cost of Living/Housing

  • No state or local income taxes
  • Cost-of-living is 24 percent below the average of cities with more than 2 million*
  • Cost of housing is 45 percent below the average of cities with more than 2 million*
  • Houston has the lowest housing costs and grocery prices among the 30 large metro areas in the U.S.*
  • Among the metro areas, Houston's utility costs are 9 percent below average, transportation costs are 10 percent below average, health care costs are 8 percent below average, and costs for miscellaneous goods and services are 12 percent below the average*

*American Chambers of Commerce Researchers Association, fourth quarter 2004

Student Housing/Transportation

  • There are lots of affordable homes, apartments, townhouses, and condominiums for lease or purchase near the Texas Medical Center
  • Many of these living options are close to a light rail system that provides access to the TMC
  • Parking is available--for a fee--in remote lots with shuttle service to TMC
  • On-campus garages are available after-hours and on weekends at reduced rates

Fishing in the Gulf of MexicoOutdoor Recreation

  • 314 parks
  • 95 miles of nature or hike and bike trails
  • More than 100 public and private golf courses
  • Houston Zoo
  • A quick drive takes you to the Kemah boardwalk, Galveston beaches, Clear Lake, Lake Conroe, Lake Livingston, and three state parks

Sports

  • Professional football, baseball, men's and women's basketball, and ice hockey teams
  • Collegiate sports at several universities
  • Recreational leagues for those who want to play

Dining & Entertainment

  • More than 11,000 restaurants that feature nearly every type of cuisine and price range
  • Night life options abound in the revitalized downtown area, as well as many other parts of town
  • Theater District: award-winning theater, ballet, opera, and symphony within a 17-block area
  • Museum District: 16 museums and galleries within a concentrated area
  • Shopping galore, including the Galleria, one of the largest indoor shopping complexes in the nation

Family Life

  • Job opportunities in a variety of industries
  • Quality child care options are plentiful
  • There are more than 20 local school districts, as well as many accredited private schools
  • Lots of kid-friendly activities including the Houston Zoo, the Children's Museum of Houston, and Space Center Houston

Houston Links:

Texas Medical Center

Baylor College of Medicine is located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, the largest incorporated medical center in the world. With more than 42 member institutions in 100 buildings on 800 acres, there's no denying that TMC is big geographically, but what is really impressive is the number of big ideas being explored in laboratories and clinics throughout the Medical Center.

Virtually every method, model system, and research instrument can be found here, and the collaborative spirit among TMC institutions means that graduate students can tap into this vast array of resources when working on their Ph.D. research.

By virtue of the name, you might think that the TMC is all about patient care. State-of-the-art medical care is certainly a core component of the Medical Center, but the place is also a research powerhouse and an educational giant. TMC institutions committed more than $3.5 billion to research in the last five years and there are more than 22,000 students and health-related trainees at 11 educational institutions:

  • The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
  • Texas Women's University
  • The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • Rice University
  • University of Houston
  • Baylor College of Medicine
  • Texas A&M University System

    Despite its size, getting to the various TMC institutions usually only involves a short walk. There is a trolley bus system that runs throughout the Medical Center as well.

    Bottom line: the Texas Medical Center is a unique environment that offers phenomenal opportunities for graduate student researchers.

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