Nearly three decades in, I'd still choose this place
Pros
1. Genuine intellectual autonomy with real institutional backing behind you 2, A research heritage spanning nearly a century that raises the bar on everything you produce. I've worked with Nobel Laureates and many other top minds. 3. The nicest smart people I've encountered anywhere, drawn from all over the world; and that's held true across nearly 30 years 4. Treated like a responsible adult from day one; lots of autonomy and a remarkable breadth of data and research to work with 5. A place where your individuality is an asset, not something to sand down
Cons
1. If you are a person who needs someone else to structure your day and hand you a to-do list, you may struggle; the autonomy is real, and so are the expectations that come with it 2. The pace and intellectual standards can be demanding; this is not a coast-and-collect-a-paycheck environment