Pros
Smaller university with a large graduate student population, so there is typically less pressure on grad students to teach, but it still has the resources of an R1 research university. The university responded well during COVID and valued student well-being. I was in the Biochemistry and Cell Biology Program, which had a higher stipend than the base required by the university.
Cons
Houston cost of living is rapidly climbing, especially for renters, and the stipend increases are not keeping up. The graduate coursework in my program was not effective, and in many circles there is still a "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" sentiment and expectation to work long hours. The chair of my department was unresponsive to student concerns or suggestions for program improvement. There are also few connections between the program and industry positions and not much guidance on career advancement.
