Indiana IBMG program - campus invite

[boiler23]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I was curious if anyone on here applied to the PhD Indiana University Biomedical Gateway Program at IUSM. I have received a campus invite which will be taking place next month. For those that aren't familiar with this program it incorporates all 10 of the departments of IUSM. After the first year, each student branches off into their chosen program.

I was also interested if anyone has general information as to how campus invites generally go. This one is a 3 day affair which includes dinners with students/faculty, poster presentation attendance, and one-on-one faculty visits (which I assume are more along the lines of an interview). I'm unsure how these PhD program interviews differ from general MD interviews. I'm hoping it more specific with less emphasis on those dreaded off-topic questions. Thanks in advance...

 

[ANCAdoc]

I bet it will pretty low-key. IU is trying to compete with other schools for the best candidates, and they think by having this interdisc. program will help them od that. Since this is their first year, I wouldn't sweat the interview process. If you are interested in molecular biology or something along those lines, I would highly recommend you look at IU Bloomington as their PhD program reputation is very good (not so much for IUSM).

 

[boiler23]

.

 

[ANCAdoc]

With 2 publications already, you are golden! Nice job.

Yes, the program really wants to attract people like you. I know this because I worked for the guy who headed up one of the graduate programs for one of the depts (before it went interdisc.). Pubs will definently help you. Sounds like you also have some good coursework to show you can do well in classes as well.

Overall, I would be VERY VERY shocked if you were not accepted. In fact, I'd say you have a 99.9% chance of being accepted.

I am not a MD/PhD student, just an MD student. I've worked in a lab at IUSM for many summers and was able to land some pubs as well. I also applied to PhD programs when I applied to MD programs as a backup and can tell you that every one I interviewed at was impressed by pubs.

Since you are interested in the PhD route, you might want to check out this forum: http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/tools_resources/forum/home

You can find a wealth of info there (check out the most commonly asked q's) and post q's as you have them. It's a well moderated forum (the best I've seen) and you will get advice of recruitors, senior level academic profs, industry scientists, etc.

 

[boiler23]

.

 

[Suaveness]

Alright, I have a couple of really important questions, I hope someone can help me with.

1. Do you think that if I asked, they could extend the timeline given to me to accept? They gave me until Apr 15, but I need more time than that.

2. The bigger question...say like they do not give me that time. Is it ok to go ahead and accept the PhD program, but if I get into the program that I really want to within the next 1-2 months, to tell the PhD pgrm that I want to go in another direction?

This is VERY important!