Things I wish I'd known before accepting:

1. The "Marine Biology" PhD and the "Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology" PhD are *administratively different programs* with different qualifying exam committees but the same faculty. EEMB has slightly more flexibility around theory courses; MB has slightly better field-station priority. Both have the same stipend.
2. The seminar series alternates Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4pm and *most faculty consider attendance basically mandatory*, even though it's officially optional.
3. There is no required teaching except for one quarter as TA for MB101. After that quarter you can opt to TA for an extra $5k/quarter, but most students don't.