AMGEN Scholars Program - Summer 2009!

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Hey guys, if anyone has applied to any of the 10 host universities for the Amgen scholars program, tell about it! 🙂

1.) Which location/s?
2.) Research Interests
3.) Class year: sophmore, junior...?
 
I'll start off this post.

1.) I applied to UC- San Francisco, Stanford, Columbia University, Washington - Seattle
2.) I'm hoping to do research in immunology
3.) junior

My first choice is San Francisco followed by Stanford, Columbia, then Washington but obviously acceptance at any program is more than good enough!
 
UCSD
neuro, basically anything they want me to do
sophmore
it sounds like an amazing opportunity. anyone know when we hear back?
 
I didn't do this program, but my friend did. She did it at the UCSD site. All I can say is, the area that UCSD is in is an AWESOME place to be, especially during the summer. You can't ask for better weather or opportunities to do research there AND enjoy yourself. My friend loved the program and would recommend it to anyone. I'd give you more details but she's in DC right now wrapping up her fun for the night at one of the inaugural balls.

If I remember correctly, my friend and I heard back from the Amgen program around end of March/beginning of April? About a month or two after the apps or due (I'm assuming in Feb., my memory is a bit fuzzy). I chose to do a different program than this (read below), but all in all my friend had a blast all summer with the Amgen program.

P.S. Those of you who live in California, should also apply to the Scripps Research Institute (Immunology Dept.), for one of their paid summer internship programs if it's not too late. I did that program myself, and I loved every moment of it.
 
UCLA, UCSF, Stanford Amgen,

Junior, I think the admission is on a rolling basis. Thus, you should probably hear about the decision starting early march.
 
I did this program at UCSF last summer, and it was amazing. The dorms that you stay in leave a bit to be desired, but San Francisco is an amazing area to stay in. I recommend exploring the Richmond district there since there are so many great restaurants in that area. I heard around February via a phone call.
 
I am applying to Columbia, UCSF, UCSD, and Stanford. I am interested in Neuro, but I also put Histology/Pathology & Physiology. I am a junior & did a SURE program last summer. Does anyone know how many spots these programs have?
 
At UCSF, there were 75 people total, but only 25 of the people were from Amgen. I think on their website, it says that it's typically 25-30 students per Amgen site. With the excpetion of UCSF, which has no undergrad, half of the site is filled with people from that institution, the other half from people from other schools.
 
Just sent in my apps to UCSF, Stanford, Columbia, and Washington. I'm praying my biochem and physics prof wrote great letters of recommendations! March can't come soon enough, hope the wait doesnt distract me from focusing on my MCAT in May. Not gonna lie, but I'll be really dissapointed if I dont get into any programs. By the way, its freezing here in Minnesota guys!
 
Hey guys, I was just looking over some stuff and realized the AMGEN deadline at most locations (and def. at the ones I applied to) was February 1st. I sent in my application right after the fall semester ended (except for columbia because their app. didn't come out until Jan. 1st), however, one of my professors just called me and told me he sent in my LOR today! Do you think this is a big problem, like... they will probably look at me behind other people, but do you think they would just throw out my apps b/c my LOR didn't get there by the deadline?

I think I am going to call them today and see what they say.
 
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I dont think they would toss away your application. However, they might consider your application incomplete. I hope that you are not looked at behind others who have completed apps. To be honest, I really dont know how they would handle it. Best of luck to you, I hope you get a fellowship at one of the schools you applied to, especially Columbia cause I applied there too!
 
Would it look bad to go through this program and then apply MD-only? Wouldn't it seem as if you wasted resources that could have gone to someone applying MD/PhD or as if you lied on your Amgen app?

I made a thread asking this question:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=603150
 
hey, i did a search for a thread like this during app time and didnt find any...today i log in to sdn and see this on the 1st page! WTF lol anyways i applied to Howard U, Columbia, MIT, and stanford amgen. MIT didnt receive one of my LORs, but i dont think i stand a chance there anyways. I also applied to the mayo clinic SURF. my interest lie within immunology/molecular genetics.

i hope i get into one, as i have heard these are very competitive and coming from a small priv. school in boca raton, no research exp., sophomore, and a 3.7 gpa, it would be a miracle if i do. 🙁


btw, when are they (AMGEN) supposed to give us a response as to acceptance? I applied for a summer job in case i didnt get in to any of them and they want to know if i will take it asap and im concerned cuz i want to do the research program but if i dont get in i would like to do something over the summer..

any insights as to how to proceed? enlightments? :idea:

thanx
 
when are they (AMGEN) supposed to give us a response as to acceptance? I applied for a summer job in case i didnt get in to any of them and they want to know if i will take it asap and im concerned cuz i want to do the research program but if i dont get in i would like to do something over the summer..
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The results come out pretty quick, early march. If your employer is already asking you whether you can take the job asap, you can either ask for an extension or you pretty much have to decide. These programs are super competitive, so you might be running a big risk if you forgo the job.

Hey guys, I was just looking over some stuff and realized the AMGEN deadline at most locations (and def. at the ones I applied to) was February 1st. I sent in my application right after the fall semester ended (except for columbia because their app. didn't come out until Jan. 1st), however, one of my professors just called me and told me he sent in my LOR today! Do you think this is a big problem, like... they will probably look at me behind other people, but do you think they would just throw out my apps b/c my LOR didn't get there by the deadline?
Click to expand...
I know for berkeley amgen, they didnt receive one my LORs,and they told me on friday to contact my prof and send it ASAP. Anyways today they emailed me that it is complete. So, no they will not throw away your app and not look at it.
 
do you guys know how competitive it usually turns out to be?

i have lots of research experience so i was wondering maybe if that would hurt me since i feel like this program was somewhat geared to giving students the opportunity to do research. am i wrong in believing so??

i only applied to MIT and according to their website they should be sending out decisions by the first week of March. I HOPE MIT ACCEPTS ME!!!!
 
I have no doubt its competitive since it involves doing research at one of the top graduate
programs in the country sponsored by an international biotechnology corporation. This program is geared to giving students an opportunity to do research, but if i remember correctly some of the programs states that "although no prior research is required, previous experience is encouraged". Best of luck to you and everyone who applied!
 
ummmm heads up.. its really tough to get into many of these site if you do not go to the undergrad.. i think someone alluded to this earlier, but site like columbia and mit reserve around half their seats for their undergrad..
digi, are you a bluejay? and there's no point stressing about you chances.. but i wonder why you only applied to mit?
 
yeah im a blue jay! i only applied to MIT because the only other program i was interested in was @ Columbia but the dates don't work out for me since Columbia starts a week too early. im aware that MIT reserves half its seats for their undergrads and they accept up to 26 ppl and so i'm essentially competing for 13 spots... it seems very competitive but i just want to get some idea of how many people applied to MIT and if i'll have some advantage since i did indicate that MIT was the only place i was applying to. if i don't get in, then i'll just continue doing research at the med school, but i'd really love a change in scenery and get to know a new city and people!
 
those are my reasons for applying to programs all over the country lol (minus stipend and free housing).

good luck w/ your application!

i also considered amgen, but i was turned off by the phd focus and a friend of mine (goes to school in PA) actually did the MIT program last summer but she was placed in a computational neuro lab and hated it. im sure it's a great program overall and the location would make for a great summer, but her experience put me off.

meh, who knows though..maybe i'll apply next year. but i really want to do the SIP at hopkins <3
 
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decisions for MIT (prob other sites) are coming out within 10 days!

WHO'S NERVOUS??

i read somewhere that last year almost 400 people applied to MIT and only 30 ppl got admitted. In my case, I'm applying for one of the 15 spots. That's a 6% chance of acceptance. I'm throwing in the towel now, htere's no way I'm getting in. BOO!
 
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Best of Luck to everyone who applied!

Yeah decisions will be handed out starting March 2 with UCSF. Some schools do hand out decisions slower than others (Washington) so don't be discourage if its two weeks later and you haven't received an e-mail. And don't forget that its not the end of the world if one doesn't get a spot.
 
Really? How did you find out that UCSF will be giving out decision on the 2nd of March?
 
it's decision week! dun dun dun......

btw it's snowing down here in baltimore!!

best of luck everyone!
 
I got accepted to Columbia's Amgen Scholars program. Just got the email today!

However, I have a dilemma, and I could use some opinions. I also got accepted to NYU's SURP program. I was attracted to that one because of the additional physician shadowing on top of the research. However, the faculty's research that I got paired with at Columbia (neurodegeneration/Parkinson's) seems awesome. I still have to rank/"choose" my faculty for NYU. Is the Amgen program more prestigious? The stipend at Columbia is 500$ more, and the LA conference seems cool too. What should I do? I have no shadowing experience (i'm currently a soph) and want to gain some clinical exposure. I could shadow a doc before/after the Columbia program. I'll have an additional month after it b/c i'm studying abroad in Scotland, where the semester doesn't start till mid september. Any opinions would be great.

Yay columbia amgen scholars!
 
Definitely, Columbia Amgen. By far, amgen programs are more prestigious than any SURF program. Shadowing a doctor is not difficult at all. Especially if you have amgen under your belt, you should have no problem.

Anyone got any news for UCSF amgen?
 
It seems that Columbia has sent out decisions to some applicants. I didn't get anything yet so I'll just take that as a rejection. Only thing I've received is from Washington Amgen saying my app is still under consideration. Haven't heard from UCSF or Stanford yet either. Its still early though so hopefully everyone who apploed will receive some notice soon.
 
yea its definately still early. Anyways on the application thing, it says UCSF will contact you regarding your status no later that March 15th
 
Can people post some stats too please? And prior research experience?
 
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So impatient of this waiting process -- Sadly, I would be much happier with a letter of rejection ... So at least, I will know what I am going to be doing this summer
 
I can post some stats...sure.

Sophomore
School: Top 20 University
Major: Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology
GPA: 3.976
Research:
1) Social cognitive neuroscience research on amgydala connectivity in primates/humans, using fMRI and DTI
2) Cell biology/neurology - Fragile X Syndrome - PI3K/mTOR phosphorylation cascade analysis of expression in knockout mice, as well as local translation at synapses, via hippocampal lysates. using a bunch of cell bio techniques. peering into little mice brains...yum!

At Columbia Amgen, I will be doing research on parkinson's disease in transgenic mice. I'm pretty excited, b/c I will also be studying abroad at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland in the fall, and am planning on continuing parkinson's work there. should be an amazing summer

pursuing an md/phd most likely
 
Posting for the first time!

I received an email last week saying that a professor is interesting in mentoring me. But the email sounded like it's a very preliminary step in being selected. Who do they send those emails to, and what are my chances now??? This process is driving me crazy, I haven't been able to get it off my mind since the email!!!

And I guess this program offers a lot of spots to sophomores? I am a sophomore as well, so this bodes well for me I guess...
 
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oh and i should probably add that I applied to the columbia amgen. checking my email about every five minutes is getting tiring.
 
the waiting sucks! MIT said their decisions would be out by this week... aka 2 more days!!! did anyone hear back from MIT yet? 😕
 
Agoldb7 said:
I can post some stats...sure.

Sophomore
School: Top 20 University
Major: Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology
GPA: 3.976
Research:
1) Social cognitive neuroscience research on amgydala connectivity in primates/humans, using fMRI and DTI
2) Cell biology/neurology - Fragile X Syndrome - PI3K/mTOR phosphorylation cascade analysis of expression in knockout mice, as well as local translation at synapses, via hippocampal lysates. using a bunch of cell bio techniques. peering into little mice brains...yum!

At Columbia Amgen, I will be doing research on parkinson's disease in transgenic mice. I'm pretty excited, b/c I will also be studying abroad at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland in the fall, and am planning on continuing parkinson's work there. should be an amazing summer

pursuing an md/phd most likely
Click to expand...

Wow, so impressive!
 
Just wanted to say good luck to you all! I participated last summer and it was a blast. 🙂 A lot of opportunities/connections have opened up for me and I learned a ton. The conference is freaking amazing too! We were all treated like kings and queens (how many times do you think we can be fed gourmet food in one day? [answer: a lot.] And get an entire Dave and Buster's-like place rented out with everything free?) and Amgen execs/professionals talked to us (including the CEO!) so it was really fun.

If you didn't get it, don't sweat...try again next year if you can--it really is competitive. My site had almost 400 applicants. (I heard this year it's even more now that it's become more popular) I know the deadline's past but for the future, if you're MD-only...at least be open to an MD/PhD. Ultimately I decided an MD/PhD wasn't for me but it was still a really good experience.
 
Hi guys, I just got an acceptance to UCLA Amgen yesterday. Still waiting to hear back from UCSD and Washington.
However, I'm not sure what to do. I'm a biomedical engineering major and I think I'm leaning more toward a PhD at this point. I was also accepted to a smaller REU program at Washington which is bioE-focused. While the research I'd be doing at UCLA (based on my preferences) would be awesome, I don't think it hits my ideal research as closely as the UW program does. Any thoughts on what I should do? Is being an Amgen Scholar that big of a deal?
 
Also, UCLA's email said they had ~460 applicants and are taking 26 (I'm assuming half UCLA/half other).
 
When I was accepted to Columbia amgen (on 3/2), they said they received over 850 applicants. I'm not sure if that includes Columbia students as well, because they split their 25-30 seats on a 50/50 basis. The program is definitely becoming very popular. It will be in its third year, I believe?
 
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jesus, that really shattered the little hope I had left...
 
Anyone heard back from Stanford yet??
 
"Is being an Amgen Scholar that big of a deal?" > Yes
 
wow....i didn't know amgen was that competitive/popular. in that case, i'm glad i didn't apply. however, now i'm worried about some of the leadership alliance sites i applied too because i'm guessing it is probably a similar number of people that apply, which means i'm probably sol for the rest of my sites.
 
The NYU SURP program I applied for/got accepted (in addition to my Columbia amgen acceptance) to had over 1100 applicants for 30ish spots...all of these programs are super competitive and sometimes a crapshoot. essays are important, i know i worked hard on mine.
 
Has anyone heard (reject or accept) from UCSF Amgen?
 
csquare said:
But enough so that you would do a project less relevant to your future research plans just for the title?
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The project you are doing should be more important. Why would you want to do a project you have little interest in when you have the option of doing research related to your future plan. I mean yea its great to have the word "amgen scholar", but if you do the project your interested in, you probably get to present in conferences related to your field of interest and your PI may help you build connections with other PI in that field. Iono that is my opinion.

jesus, that really shattered the little hope I had left...
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yea same here
 
madamebovary said:
The project you are doing should be more important. Why would you want to do a project you have little interest in when you have the option of doing research related to your future plan. I mean yea its great to have the word "amgen scholar", but if you do the project your interested in, you probably get to present in conferences related to your field of interest and your PI may help you build connections with other PI in that field. Iono that is my opinion.
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ok, cause that's exactly what I was thinking before I came here and everyone was all Amgen-gung ho.
 
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