I was lucky enough to get accepted to one of my top choices for next year, but got a really weird vibe from the director of the program. My interview with them was super weird: they showed up late, didn't seem interested in me or to have read my application, and I just didn't mesh with them well. I liked the PDs at all the other places I interviewed much more. I heard from applicants at other interviews that they thought this PD was weird as well, so I know it's not just me/wasn't an isolated incident. Basically- how much do students actually interact with PDs? I know they sit on our committees and are supposed to be the point of contact for concerns, but does it matter whether we like them as people or not? Should this be one of the factors I consider when deciding on a school?
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It depends on the size of the program. Someone in the MD/PhD leadership is the person who gets you out of trouble when you need it, typically, it is the PD or an Associate PD. In my program, it is me, the PD. Ask my students... Furthermore, I meet with each of my students twice a year for at least half-hour to an hour individually. It is an important consideration. Ask the students in that program..
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I agree with Fencer. My program director bailed me out of a bad situation and helped me a few times. I don't always agree with him, but he was still really key for me.
I can't say I particularly clicked with the assistant PD who was scheduled to be my actual adviser. I'm not sure that he felt like he had much power anyway.
The problem with asking the students is that admissions seems to be dominated by chipper first and second years who have had no problems in the program yet. The more senior students typically self-select themselves out of admissions, so it's hard to really figure these sorts of things out from your perspective.
I think this is of importance having seen some bad residency program directors and chairpeople out there. I've seen these people really hurt the careers of trainees at the residency level. I could see how it could happen on the MD/PhD side as well. So my advice would be to consider this in your decision making. You could always try to think about this further at second look.
I can't say I particularly clicked with the assistant PD who was scheduled to be my actual adviser. I'm not sure that he felt like he had much power anyway.
The problem with asking the students is that admissions seems to be dominated by chipper first and second years who have had no problems in the program yet. The more senior students typically self-select themselves out of admissions, so it's hard to really figure these sorts of things out from your perspective.
I think this is of importance having seen some bad residency program directors and chairpeople out there. I've seen these people really hurt the careers of trainees at the residency level. I could see how it could happen on the MD/PhD side as well. So my advice would be to consider this in your decision making. You could always try to think about this further at second look.
One thing to think about is that that PD may have a weird personality but might still be someone who goes to bat for the students in their program. I met a PD I was hesitant about as a person (and who also managed to insult my research area during my interview, which did NOT help matters, lol) but who clearly was highly involved in protecting students during their PhD years, working to increase student support, etc.
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