I would love to have a PhD student of promise, but it would not be good for a student to do a doctorate with me while I am at a small university. Much better to do a thesis via a good quality university and have me as an ancillary advisor, and then only if the topic is squarely in my field (philosophy of biology). The future of a good candidate depends, unfairly perhaps, upon the status of the university and department in which the doctorate is done.