Impressed, but concerned about my chances now.

[lwong]

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I posted this as a reply under another post, but since there wasn't any response, I decided to make a new thread for my question....

I've been really impressed with what I've about many of yall, and it concerns me a little....For the record, if I have no any publications, do I have no chance at MTSP? For that matter, if I didn't do research for a big-time university or lab, do I have no chance?

I'm an undergrad at a teaching university, rather than one a reserach one, and as a result, the opportunities are of a different caliber. I started working at a lab for about 3 months, so I don't know how far I'm going to get there, but I'll be going back for the school year. I think you would say that my official research expereince started this summer.

I didn't think about a science career until later in my freshman year, so I picked a liberal arts college. I'm going to be a junior, and I like the professors at my school, who I think I will learn a lot from. Anyone been in the same situation? Advice?

 

[beary]

Hey lwong - I was in exactly the same situation as you. I went to a liberal arts college and had no pubs. Still I had multiple MSTP acceptances. One thing I would recommend is going to a different institution to do research the summer before your senior year. I think lots of institutions have summer undergraduate research fellowships. That way you get to see a little bit how it is done at bigger places.

Good luck.

 

[tedrik]

I second what beary said. You can use the small college thing to your advantage because your letter writers will know you well. However, should go and at least do one summer at a lab with a little more clout just to prove that you can survive in a more typical research environment.

 

[Thundrstorm]

I went to a small liberal arts college and have no pubs. ... but I did do summer research at a big-name school and I'm currently working at NIH. It's funny... I learned the most from the lab at my college, but I guess having the big names on my app won't hurt. I happen to think that the quality of the experience is more important than the location.

 

[MrMunkily]

I'm also at NIH now.
I wonder how many md/phd hopefuls are here right now. I ahven't met a single one yet.

</threadjack, sorry>

 

[Thundrstorm]

I'm also at NIH now.
I wonder how many md/phd hopefuls are here right now. I ahven't met a single one yet.

</threadjack, sorry>

me neither, but I've only been here 3 days. Where are you at? I'm in NHLBI in bldg. 50

/extension of thread highjack

 

[gaganheim]

I'm also at NIH now.
I wonder how many md/phd hopefuls are here right now. I ahven't met a single one yet.

</threadjack, sorry>

At least one more.

 

[MrMunkily]

I'm NIDCD in old bldg 10

 

[Thundrstorm]

I'm NIDCD in old bldg 10

I got lost in bldg. 10 today. I'm looking forward to not getting lost any more around here.

 

[MrMunkily]

eventually you develop a sense of where not to wander.

everyone agrees that building 10 is a architectural mad-house though.

 

[ropra]

hey, i am in bldg 50 too. 4th floor.

 

[Thundrstorm]

My first day I got lost between buildings for close to an hour... got a nice walking tour of campus.

 

[Hurricane]

I posted this as a reply under another post, but since there wasn't any response, I decided to make a new thread for my question....

I've been really impressed with what I've about many of yall, and it concerns me a little....For the record, if I have no any publications, do I have no chance at MTSP? For that matter, if I didn't do research for a big-time university or lab, do I have no chance?

I'm an undergrad at a teaching university, rather than one a reserach one, and as a result, the opportunities are of a different caliber. I started working at a lab for about 3 months, so I don't know how far I'm going to get there, but I'll be going back for the school year. I think you would say that my official research expereince started this summer.

I didn't think about a science career until later in my freshman year, so I picked a liberal arts college. I'm going to be a junior, and I like the professors at my school, who I think I will learn a lot from. Anyone been in the same situation? Advice?

Yes, you have a chance. The admissions committee wants to see that you have an interest in research, and that you have some research experience on which to base your professed interest. And when you interview, they will want to see that you can speak intelligently about what you did in the lab. Publications are a bonus, but by no means required. (I didn't have any.)

Also, I agree with the advice to do a summer research internship, if you still have time. That shows that you took the initiative to seek out more in-depth research opportunities (i.e. you are serious about research), and it's nice to have experience (and a letter) in more than one type of lab. In addition, some programs are more likely to interview students who did a summer internship at their institition. I know our program does.

 

[1Path]

I'm also at NIH now.
I wonder how many md/phd hopefuls are here right now. I ahven't met a single one yet.
</threadjack, sorry>

I just finished 3 years at the NIH and I'm currently applying MD/PhD. 👍

To the OP's question, the smartest people I've met in grad school and other places like NIH, were from small colleges.

 

[Thundrstorm]

Back to the NIH-related thread hijacking... Were any of you at the interview workshop today? I keep wondering if I've seen any SDN people around campus.

 

[GradTX]

I'm also at NIH now.
I wonder how many md/phd hopefuls are here right now. I ahven't met a single one yet.

</threadjack, sorry>

Which NIH program are you all doing and what do you think of it so far? Since I'm about to finish up my MS, I've been considering doing a technical IRTA while applying to MSTP programs.

 

[snobored18]

Everyones advice is right on, I go to a small liberal arts school and although I don't work in the lab of an HHMI investigator or anything, but my PI knows my ability and is more than willing to write a terrific LOR. Stick with your lab at your home school get to know your PI well and that will be a critical piece of your application I think. Also take a summer fellowship somewhere, I did one at the Mayo Clinic and honestly the majority of the kids were from small schools like Grinnell, Kenyon, Carleton, Lawrence, Wheaton etc. it was a GREAT time and a GREAT experience, I would HIGHLY recomend the SURF program at Mayo if you are interested in MSTP. So I wouldn't worry about going up against people from big research schools, your school will more than likely give you the foundation you need to be highly successful in a glossy lab as an MSTP student.