Laptops paid for by MSTPs?

[yeastfan21]

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I seem to remember reading somewhere that, in addition to the cash stipend, some MSTPs also fund the purchase of a laptop to aid the student's research.

Considering that I am in need of a new laptop, I was wondering:
1) How common is this among MSTPs? Or did I totally make this up?
2) If my program did this (I still don't know where I'm going, of course), do you think I would be able to take advantage of this upon entering MS1, or -- better yet -- upon committing to matriculate?
3) Do you think I'd get to choose my own computer (say, if I want a MacBook Pro, which is more expensive), or would I have to get a crappy Dell?

 

[URHere]

I ran across a few schools with this policy when I was applying. In the case of the handful of schools schools that I am familiar with, laptops were only provided for MSTP students if they were a requirement of the medical school - for example, some schools like U Maryland require all students to have the same model of laptop so that they can be used for testing purposes. If you end up at a program with this policy, I doubt you would have much (if any) say in the model of your computer, but the computer would be yours from the start of MS1.

Regardless of where you end up, you may use personal grant and award money to cover the cost of research expenses (including computers). It is possible that some schools will give you this option even if you do not pull in your own funding. Similarly, it is not uncommon for some PIs to purchase computers for their students (if there is money to burn and the computer is important to the student's research). I can't offer you any figures for how common this is, and this kind of support wouldn't really help you until you enter your PhD training.

 

[dmblue]

If i remember correctly, Duke gives you a laptop, but all the med students there get one.

 

[StereoSanctity]

Some programs (well, my program... not sure if any others do this) provide an "Educational Enhancement Fund" - ours is $2,500 for the first two years, and can be put towards anything you need/want for school (laptops, books, step 1 fees, etc). Its possible other programs do this too?

 

[Freak]

I think the Tri-institutional does as well.

 

[CCLCMer]

Obviously CCLCM is not an MSTP, but for what it's worth in case any of you are applying here, we do get free computers.

 

[dmblue]

Whatever you do, don't use a free laptop as a reason to go to a med school.

 

[bd4727]

Whatever you do, don't use a free laptop as a reason to go to a med school.

yes!

 

[yeastfan21]

Thanks for the helpful responses, everyone. I was just trying to figure out whether there was any reason I should hold off on purchasing a new laptop until I matriculate. Seems as though that's not the case.

Whatever you do, don't use a free laptop as a reason to go to a med school.

🙄