MSTP Boulevard part 01

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To all those who are in the midst of MSTP applications or making final decisions, can you offer some "If I had known then what I know now"'s? I'm a sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill, hoping to do an MD/PhD program if everything works out. I just wanted to see if there was anything in particular that more experienced people think is important or worth knowing. Thanks.
 
Originally posted by jankanator:
•To all those who are in the midst of MSTP applications or making final decisions, can you offer some "If I had known then what I know now"'s? I'm a sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill, hoping to do an MD/PhD program if everything works out. I just wanted to see if there was anything in particular that more experienced people think is important or worth knowing. Thanks.•••

Jankanator,
What I'll tell you is that the length of an applicant's research experience is very important; however, even more important is the applicant's level of understanding of their research area and their ability to COMMUNICATE the research. Unknown to many, extracurricular activities are also extremely important in MSTP applications. For example everyone at my WashU interview except myself played a musical instrument. I on the other hand spent my childhood picking my nose and breaking stuff around the house. I made up for this void by being very involved while in college and holding lots of leadership positions. Good Luck.


It would be nice for we current cycle applicants to fill out the questionaires on interviewfeedback.com. I think Baylor21 suggested this a while back. I'll go fill mine out now.
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Original-

How important is the length of the research commitment? For example, I was in one lab for four years and though I did get a publication and a few presentations out of it, for the most part I worked on grad students' projects. Will the length of the commitment be more important than the fact that 3 out of 4 years I was doing grunt work?
 
Originally posted by anacapa:
•Original-

How important is the length of the research commitment? For example, I was in one lab for four years and though I did get a publication and a few presentations out of it, for the most part I worked on grad students' projects. Will the length of the commitment be more important than the fact that 3 out of 4 years I was doing grunt work?•••


4 years in a lab is a ****-load of time. That is very good (more than MOST MSTP applicants have). They'll be thrilled if you have a deep and far reaching understanding of the area of your work. On the other hand, they might be disappointed if you've been in the lab for 4 years and aren't too sure what that lab does. Having a working knowledge of the techniques used by your lab is important; but even more important is understanding the questions your lab seeks to answer; the impetus behind these questions; and the experimental approaches employed. In summary, you should know how to design the experiments (regardless of whether or not you actually designed them). Hey I'm no expert on MSTP admissions so definitely take all this with a grain of salt.

KEY: Really study your lab's publications and the publications of other labs doing related research.
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Original - Thanks for the ray of hope. I'll know the research cold!

(I'm the same as anacapa - fun with screen names)
 
oooh...you post on the thread that you've previously posted with a different name and it changes them all! Cooool. 😎 Sorry, back to the topic!
 
Since my illustrious colleague "derisivewords" decided to post his stats for some feedback, I'm gonna put the question up too, I guess. I'm VERY interested in pursuing an MD/PhD and was wondering what my chances may be. Word on the street is that research experience is really what counts, but I've been getting conflicting rumors about the "numbers-game" of the MSTP program. Some people tell me that grades aren't as important in applying to the MSTP program as opposed to the MD program, and other people tell me that the stats for an MSTP program are usually of higher expectations than that of a MD program. Can anyone help a brutha out? My stats are similar to "derisivewords"

Ivy League Engineering School
Biomedical Engineering B.S. (2002), and going for a M.S. degree
GPA: 3.5 (might get it up to a 3.6 when I apply)
MCAT: 36 (10V 13P 13B R)
GRE: 2090 (610V 740Q 740A)
2 years research, 1 yr. of that clinical
1 abstract, one full pub (2nd auth)
and various extracurriculars, day-jobs, volunteering, and leadership.

Also, I was wondering if anybody else is interested in cardiac or orthopedic biomechanics or research and knew of any good programs/schools to apply?

Thanks for any help
 
Guys - listen to Original... he's a star when it comes to MSTP stuff...

If I could contribute my $0.02 worth, I think I have to emphasize his point. I've got interviews from every place I applied to (well almost, 14 out of 15), and of the eight places I interviewed at I've already received six offers.... how spectacular is my research experience you ask? Actually, I don't have a single publication.

If you ask me, I think pubs help you, but I don't think it's necessary at all. An MSTP committee would be more impressed by an applicant who was remarkably independent in research, and can talk about his/her research with vigor, eloquence, articulacy, and clarity -- despite the fact that the applicant might not have anything significant on paper. This kind of applicant, to my mind would be more compelling than a person who has straight pubs. What you also have to remember is that "publications" is a very subjective term. A SCIENCE or NATURE paper is different from a pub in some obscure journal. A FIRST-AUTHOR pub is very different from 2nd or 3rd author... these things mean different things, so I would not worry too much about the credentials on your research. Rather, what's more important is to have good enough recs and stats from people who can tell admissions committees that you're the material they're looking for. After you get an interview, it's upto you to be ARTICULATE about your work, and show that you have both the grasp, and the enthusiasm to spend the rest of your life in research.

As far as my experience with interviews has been, that's what I've heard back from my interviewers.

But once again, take everything with a grain of salt. Your interview and application experience is unique to you, as is your application. No one can give you a formula that works, and if they say so, it's a lie. You will either impress or turn-off admissions people based on how unique you present yourself, both in your paper app, as well as at your interview.

... so keep that chin up.
 
Sonic,

Whats your top choice(s)? Did you apply to Harvard? They are basically the only MSTP program which I applied to that hasnt offered me an interview. Did you get one from them?

Does anybody have the secure URL link handy for Penn MSTP? It seems I have misplaced my interview notice letter.
 
Baylor21,

Right now my tops are Cornell, WashU, Yale, Duke, Hopkins and Columbia... The only school that hasn't offered me an interview yet is Harvard HST. I don't expect an interview either, because while I don't fulfill their calc-based physics requirement, my research isn't remotely related to BME, or anything that might benefit from Harvard's affiliation with MIT.

Hopkins was a great program, but there's the funding issue for me, because I'm not a U.S. citizen. So if that fails, I'm still not disheartened because I have a wonderful array of schools to choose from... other than Hopkins right now WashU, Cornell and Yale tops.
 
Thanks for the good advice Sonic, I'll keep that in mind.
 
Originally posted by SonicHedgehog:
•Guys - listen to Original... he's a star when it comes to MSTP stuff...

•••


Hey Sonic,

If anyone is a star around here it's definitely you! Look when I grow up I want to be just like you. Remember I told you back in the day that a gazillion interviews = a gazillion acceptances. Now you owe me $50. I'll take check or money order. On 2nd thought I'll just let it slide since you nicely offered to host me if I get a Stanford invite.
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Hey folks!! Happy Holidays! Well, so I got good news and bad news. Good news, my first-author pub just got accepted in the journal which I thought I had no chance at. Bad news, I just got knocked from the MD/PhD prog at UofChicago. Man, this is really weird. Anyways, I was wondering what you guys think the chances of getting in places for MD were -- after getting knocked from the MD/PhD, this late in the game?? Any thoughts? I've still yet to hear from a few schools about interviews. But the irony is, those schools are the ultimate tops on my list. I dunno what this means...now that the schools on the "lower-end" of my hopes just knocked me out. I'll keep praying...I still don't know where I'm going wrong here.
 
alright, i know it is important to have a well-rounded undergraduate education . . . but i'm having a dilemma about how to best use the "free electives" i will have in the next two years . . . while i would like to take all kinds (well, like 2 or 3) of cool interesting classes on subject matter that i have never been exposed to, i would also like to further my biology knowledge . . . i'm doing a biochem major and the only "real" bio classes in the major are genetics and cell biology . . . i really want to take immunology and microbiology and blood pathology, and these will be both applicable to my (hopefully) future medical training and my current/future research . . . so, will it look like i'm not taking advantage of my undergraduate education if i stick to the bio classes, or will it show commitment to my interestes and my desire to be part of an MD/PhD progam if i take the advanced bio classes?
 
In my experience, MD/PhDs are generally expected to be much more focused in their academic experiences than regular MDs. I would say definitely stick to the bio electives, particularly if that's what you're interested in.
 
i'm so glad that there are so many mstp pros here. i'm planning to apply next year and here are some of my questions...

1) what is the acceptance rate of mstp (i can't find the statistics anywhere)? i know most programs take in about 12 people per year.

2) most med schools have a very balanced student body in terms of gender. does this hold true for mstp too? about how many of your fellow interviewees are female?

3) i'm very interested in bioinformatics. do you know which schools have a strong program in this field?

thanks a lot...
 
Hey Jankantor:

Don't worry about having bio electives. That's unnecessary if you ask me. I have only taken 1 bio class in my life (Intro-biology); which I took in my freshman year. I also took biochem which is a chemistry course at my school. Most of my coursework consists of undergrad and grad math courses. I also took a graduate biomedical engineering course called biomedical device design which one of my Harvard interviewers found intriguing.

I think adcoms were really thrilled at my understanding of my neurobiology research despite not having any formal coursework or training in bio stuff (so a lack of bio electives can actually work FOR you). I sometimes get jelous of bio majors' knowledge base; but I'm sure I'll catch up in about a year (hopefully 🙂 ).

The main point of my rambling about myself is that you DON'T have to take bio electives. If you WANT to, then definitely go ahead and do so; otherwise take whatever you find interesting. It is important to be a unique applicant. A good magician with pathetic stats can definitely get in. If he/she can write very interesting essays revolving around magic, (s)he'll probably get an interview. At the interview, a few good magic tricks to wow the interviewers will finish the job. This is just my humble opinion which should always be taken with lots of salt. Good Luck!
 
Originally posted by blue curtain:
•i'm so glad that there are so many mstp pros here. i'm planning to apply next year and here are some of my questions...

1) what is the acceptance rate of mstp (i can't find the statistics anywhere)? i know most programs take in about 12 people per year.

2) most med schools have a very balanced student body in terms of gender. does this hold true for mstp too? about how many of your fellow interviewees are female?

3) i'm very interested in bioinformatics. do you know which schools have a strong program in this field?

thanks a lot...•••


Hey Blue Curtain! Welcome. I'll give your questions a shot.

1) I don't know what the acceptance rate is; but I know it's definitely higher than the rate for regular MD. This is because only about 500 people are applying for at least close to 500 MD/PhD spots; while this year 35,000 people are applying for 16,000 regular MD spots. An MSTP with 12 spots will be considered big. The norm is about 8 spots. The biggest one is WashU with about 22 spots, and the 2nd largest is UPenn.

2) There are not as many gir1s in MD/PhD programs as there are in regular MD programs. UChicago's program is 35% female, and I think they are proud of that 😕 (which might mean several programs are less than 35% female). At my UChicago interview there were 6 males and NO females (thanks to Sar520 who prostponed her interview there 🙁 ); at my WashU there were 5 guys and 3 gir1s; and my Duke there were 4 guys and 2 gir1s. WashU was ecstatic in 1997 when they had a 50% female entering class. The percentages are even worse for under represented minorities. UChicago's program is about 4% URM; WashU about 5% URM. Duke is the highest with about 25% URM.

3) For bioinformatics you want to go to Harvard's MD/PhD program and be an HST student; which means you'll also be a grad student at MIT. If you don't like Harvard then you should go to UCSD. And if you've got beef with Cali, then you should go to University of Chicago. These are the 3 big ones.

Hope this is helpful.
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Wow I just got my formal acceptance letter in the mail from WashU today. They want me to send $100 within 2 weeks if I'm interested in holding my spot. Cool!
 
I understand we're all into the do whatever you want mindset for MD admissions, but does everyone actually agree that MD/PhD programs don't want a hefty load of bio courses before admission? I know regular grad programs do and I don't really see the difference.
 
none,

I also thought the same thing. But I have just the basic premed bio courses, nothing extra. I'm applying for graduate programs in bioengineering which probably makes a difference however.

But the only interviewer who openly questioned my bio background was my interviewer at Dartmouth. It was not for MD/PhD either, it was a regular MD interview, and I got accepted anyways despite his concerns.
 
Well since we have to BME pro's, I thought I'll contribute my humble opinion coming from a hard core, cancer-bio related person..

My strength was definitely my bio electives. I took a lot of graduate/upper level bio courses (even TA'ed a course).. while this didn't have any specific impact on my application (interviewers didn't ask anything specific about the course other than the one I was a TA for).

However, what I did find is that my strong bio background helped me in two fronts.

1. I was able to respond to generalized questions about my research, when interviewers suggested why I couldn't have done alternate techniques I was able to answer their questions really fast, because I was familiar with experimental techniques that I haven't even used. Some interviewers were really impressed by this, and asked me how I knew about so many new techniques -- microarrays, RNAi etc.

2. My principle on interviewing has been "interested is interesting".. any interviewer will find pleasure in interviewing a candidate who finds his/her work fascinating. Part of showing fascination is in the interaction applicants have with the interviewer. I have found that having a strong bio background helped me quickly relate to the theoretical base of researchers from even other disciplines (immunologists, neurobiologists etc), and this certainly helped our discussion a lot because I could then ask intelligent questions about a different research area.

I don't know, I think it's all a personal choice.. if you're in for bio, then by all means I think it's advisable to do more bio electives, but if not, do what turns you on... interviewers will be impressed either way.
 
original,

thanks for the reply. and congrats on all those acceptances. they're very impressive. i just hope that next year when i apply, there will be a group of mstp applicants as supportive as you guys.
 
Hmm...just thought I'd bump this thread back up.

Adam
 
A happy New Year bump from this end as well!!!
 
Hi EVERYONE,

Happy New Year! I hope you are all doing well.

JANKANATOR: I'm going to have to agree with NONE & SONIC on this Bio elective question. Taking more bio courses will give you a better foundation for understanding a broader range of research. For example, at UCSF I was assigned to a faculty member affiliated with the grad program I applied for (not someone I requested). He chose not to ask me about my research and instead told me about his. In between, he'd ask me questions like "if you came up with this, what would you do next?" or "we didn't expect this result, why do you think it happened?" So I do biochemistry research in yeast signaling proteins and this guy works on viral transcription. I pretty much had to dig up concepts from my advance bio classes.

My recommendation is that if you choose not to take more bio courses, then make sure you read literature on research outside of your expertise. Personally, I like Nature Reviews and Annual Reviews because they cover many fields.

Most importantly, I think you should pursue whatever makes you happy and interested.
 
With being an MD/PhD applicant, how does one balance the extracurricular "requirements" needed for just an MD program with those in the joint program? . . . What I mean is, it seems impossible that I would be able to show as much involvement in clinical/hospital volunteer activities if I am actively involved in research . . . I'm not saying that I will do nothing in terms of clinical experience, but I definitely place heavy emphasis on getting lab experience . . . does anyone get what I mean? I just see myself at some MD/PhD interview weekend talking to an MD and he is grilling me on my commitment to medicine since I got more research than clinical experience . . . I guess I just also think that I will be compared to straight MD applicants who are "able" to focus more on clinical experience and I will seem like a worse applicant because my experience doesn't match that . . . oh well, I just wanted to know if anyone had any opinions . . . ask me if you need clarification.
 
Jankanator:

I definitely second what Mapkinkster said. My previous point was that the bio-electives are unnecessary; albeit very helpful as Map pointed out.

With regards the extracurricular stuff, your interviewers understand that you are applying MD/PhD and have spent lots of time in the lab. Despite this, you still must have some significant extracurricular stuff even though not necessarily as much as the regular MD candidate.
 
i still want any opinions on my previous post, but since we are snowed in here in NC I'm sitting here and I thought of something else . . . I'd like to hear about some cool/interesting/dynamic areas of the US that have MD/PhD programs . . . I have lived in NC for over nine years and I'll spend the next two and half at UNC . . . I do like the area but I am hoping to have the chance to go off and experience a different part of America for medical school . . . so can anyone out give their opinions on some schools with good programs in cool/interesting/dynamic areas of the country . . . thanks . . . oh yeah, and it's not like I haven't heard of all the MD/PhD programs and where they are, so I guess I'd like some specific reasons for why the school is in a cool area, etc.
 
UCSF is king! then UCSD is vice-king. University of Florida would also be great. Boston- Mass baby! (Harvard). For me Upenn would be nice too (I love Philly). Considering both the programs and the cities (but with more emphasis on the cities), I would personally order them like this.

1)UCSF
2)UCSD
3)UF
4)Harvard
5)Upenn
 
Well, I just heard from UCLA MSTP, and apparently I'm being offered early admission, and they want me to come out and take a second look at their program to help me decide. So...anyhow, that's pretty exciting. So, now I'm just waiting on UCSF. Why won't they let me know? 🙂

I'd also like to point out that UCLA has a good MD/PhD prgroam in a cool area. IMO, a much better area than UCSD. And, of course, a location that Original left out is New York City. There are plenty of good programs there. Also, a more low key place is Madison, Wisconsin...it was named the number one place to live in this country by, I think, Money magazine. But, it really depends what one is looking for. I do agree, however that UCSF is number one 🙂

Ok, that's enough rambling from me.

Later all,

Adam
 
Congratulations Adam! That is absolutely awesome that these schools are trying to recruit you so heavily. You'll have to be patient with UCSF, as the school is always notoriously late at letting people know. However, remember that good things come to those who wait. Keep up the good work and definitely take advantage of the revisit opportunities to help you make your decision. Best of luck! 😀
 
Hey Vader,

I know that you go to UCSF, so I wanted to ask you something. I am applying for UCSF's MD/PhD program. My application has been complete since 10/22/01, yet I have not heard ANYTHING from them. What do you think I should do? Is it normal to wait soooooooo long? I just don't understand what's taking so long.
 
Hey ADAM!

Congrats on the UCLA acceptance! I'm feeling you about this UCSF waiting game...I wish it would hurry up and be April already!

And you're right on about NYC being an exciting place to do MSTP...that's one of Cornell/Rock/Ski's big draws: the opportunity to live in Manhattan! Stanfurd (sp? 🙂 )is also in a nice part of the Bay Area. And Boston was rated the healthiest place to live by Men's Health!
 
hey rumit, congrats on ucla. didn't u also get accepted at u mich? if u were choosing bet ucla & u mich to attend, which one would u choose and why?
 
Hey Guys,
Happy New Year to all of you. Adam, WAY TO GO! Life must be tough when you have so many good schools to choose from.

I was just curious what you all thought, and maybe Vader is the best person to answer this question. What do you guys think is the timeline now given that most programs have been giving out a lot of acceptances? Is it normal to have MSTP interviews in Feburary or even March? The reason I ask is like Academic, I am still waiting to hear from several programs, be it rejection or interview. Just wondering what you all thought.
 
I'm in the same boat- wondering how long the MSTP interview season is. I haven't heard anthing yet. No schools have my verified app from AMCAS yet (after applying on 8/1 and being verified the day before halloween...) I hope I am still in the running.
 
I'm in the same boat- wondering how long the MSTP interview season is. I haven't heard anthing yet. No schools have my verified app from AMCAS yet (after applying on 8/1 and being verified the day before halloween...) I hope I am still in the running.
 
Hey all,

Thanks for all the support. This is definitely the 'problem' I had been looking forward to...trying to decide between programs.

I'm still really not sure how I'd even rank the places I've been to. I really liked Iowa, the program is really well run and I got along really well with the other students and the faculty there, but the main problem is that it's in Iowa. The medical school is also brand new and very good. I really clicked with the faculty I talked to at Wisconsin, and I'd love to work with some of them, but I didn't like any of the other interviewees (a bad sign, I think) and I really didn't like what I heard about the med school...we never really got to see it. Michigan was also a good experience (are you seeing a trend here yet?), and I think it's an awsome school. While I'm sure there are tons of people there who'd be cool to work with, I didn't end up meeting with any of them. It's the only interview that I've been to where I just wasn't that psyched about the people I talked to. Since I only talked to about 8 out of 500 faculty, it's not a real great sample size, but still a little odd. Ann Arbor's also a nice town and I really think the school is awsome, otherwise. Then, there was UCLA, where I also really liked the faculty, and I'm sure I'd have a great time doing research. The med school also seemed really laid back, and that's definitely nice. But, the MSTP program seemed a little disorganized, and Westwood is such an expensive area that it's pretty impossible to find housing without living at least 30 minutes away.

So...that's kinda where I am. I have a feeling that if I had to choose right now, it'd come down to Iowa or Michigan. But, I'd be happy at any one of these programs, because they're all pretty awsome.

As for the timeframe of MD/PhD stuff...I really have no idea. It doesn't make any sense to me. UCSF was probably the top program I applied to, and they were the first to interview me. Other schools, like UC Irvine, which is nowhere near the quality of SF, has only requested a secondary. While I've been recruited at great programs like LA and UMich, I never heard a word from the Chicago schools (Northwestern and Pritzker)...even stranger, considering that I have a pretty good friend who's mother is on the Northwestern adcom (I never really pushed that connection because I don't like doing things that way, but he did tell me that he'd mentioned me to her, so you'd think that would help). I'd also still love to get a chance to interview at Stanford, but have yet to hear anything from them since my secondary was in. So, I guess, the point of that long-winded rambling is that you cannot predict anything. Not much makes sense. What one school sees as a quality worthy of early admission and recruitment, another sees as reason to reject without a secondary.

I wouldn't worry too much though. There's still plenty of time, and many of the schools I've talked to had plenty of interview dates for January and Febuary.

Good luck all,

Adam
 
hey guys, I have 2 q's which some of u guys might be able to answer:

1. Do u guys think the adcoms of mstp programs communicate and discuss applicants b4 deciding to interview/accept us? I wonder if directors pursue a "i'll take him and I'll let u take this guy" type of admissions process, especially b/c there are far less applicants for mstp and the best ones tend to apply to all the same programs.

2. Q about "bio-engineering". Is bioengineering like BME, a field of mainly classical engineering w/ emphasis in biology and trying to solve bio-related problems through innovation in engineering (eg. developing new technology, machines like MRI, pacemaker, chips, etc) OR is it more like developing artificial organs, tissues, etc?
 
Originally posted by chef:
•hey guys, I have 2 q's which some of u guys might be able to answer:

1. Do u guys think the adcoms of mstp programs communicate and discuss applicants b4 deciding to interview/accept us? I wonder if directors pursue a "i'll take him and I'll let u take this guy" type of admissions process, especially b/c there are far less applicants for mstp and the best ones tend to apply to all the same programs.

2. Q about "bio-engineering". Is bioengineering like BME, a field of mainly classical engineering w/ emphasis in biology and trying to solve bio-related problems through innovation in engineering (eg. developing new technology, machines like MRI, pacemaker, chips, etc) OR is it more like developing artificial organs, tissues, etc?•••


I have no idea about #1, but #2 I can definitely answer. Bioengineering and BME are the same thing, just different names. You've pretty much got the idea, biomedical engineering is basically solving biological problems using engineering methods. Within the biomedical engineering field, there's usually 3 tracks: cell and tissue engineering, biomechanics, and biomedical imaging.

Cell and Tissue engineering is a mix of chemical engineering, biology, mechanical engineering, and sometimes electrical engineering. It's a real bastard science. This track focuses on artifical organs and tissue growth. Basically, growing new organs and tissues from cells and synthetic or biological scaffolds, but also taking into account the chemical, mechanical, and electrical enviroment the cells are subject to.

Biomechanics is the oldest and more traditional track of biomedical engineering. This involves designing prosthetics or artificial organs using mechanical parts.

Biomedical Imaging is applying electrical engineering and computer science to biology to develop diagnostic equipment such as MRI as well as complex systems modelling, such as neural feedback pathways or visual cortex mapping.

A lot of the body can be analyzed in traditional engineering terms. The heart and lungs are mechanical pumps, nerves are electrical wires, bones are structural support beams, etc.

Hope that helps.
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Hey Adam!
Congratulations! That's an awesome problem you've got there. Iowa's great! Antonio Demasio's kicking ass in neuronal circuitry and stuff; but I have always just loved UMich. Hey enjoy your problem!

With regards the time frame of interviews, I've met several MSTPs at my interviews who said they didn't begin interviewing till late Jan (and some Feb). Something I also heard quite often was "If you're interviewing this early in the season, then I'm sure you'll be fine". I'm guessing correspondence will resume in earnest as soon as program staff settle back in from the holidays in about a week or so.
 
Originally posted by academic:
•Hey Vader,

I know that you go to UCSF, so I wanted to ask you something. I am applying for UCSF's MD/PhD program. My application has been complete since 10/22/01, yet I have not heard ANYTHING from them. What do you think I should do? Is it normal to wait soooooooo long? I just don't understand what's taking so long.•••

Hi academic,
I might give them a call just to ensure that your application is indeed complete and ask if they are still granting interviews. Don't worry too much yet though, because it is still relatively early. Remember, UCSF's MSTP doesn't give out decisions until April. So there's still plenty of time. 🙂
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Hi shogun,
It's absolutely normal to be interviewing well into January, February, and March for MSTP. Programs often interview many very qualified applicants who just happen to apply later on. That's why many programs do not give out decisions until later. Hope this helps. 😀
 
Originally posted by chef:
•hey guys, I have 2 q's which some of u guys might be able to answer:

1. Do u guys think the adcoms of mstp programs communicate and discuss applicants b4 deciding to interview/accept us? I wonder if directors pursue a "i'll take him and I'll let u take this guy" type of admissions process, especially b/c there are far less applicants for mstp and the best ones tend to apply to all the same programs.
•••

This is not standard policy at most of the schools I'm familiar with, although it sometimes seems that way. The admissions process for MSTP is very random, more so than even regular MD admissions. Programs interview many qualified applicants and often have a difficult time deciding. It can often come down to how vocal your interviewers are at the committee meeting, as they are your advocates. Needless to say, admissions is a very subjective process.

The standard method of deciding is to rank applicants. Sometimes this is done using a point system, with different aspects of the application weighted according to predetermined guidelines. Then, a number of offers are made. Based on the responses, additional applicants may be admitted. They proceed down the list in this manner. Many students have multiple offers, but once they decide on one school and withdraw at all others, this allows offers to be made to other applicants. At most programs, if you get on a waitlist, you stand a good chance of being admitted eventually. This of course depends roughly on the competitiveness of the particular program and total number of spots available.

Hope this clears up the notoriously foggy admissions picture at least a little. 😀
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I'm only just bumping this thread up a little. I really don't have anything to say. But just so I say something:

I think things will soon speed up a whole lot. My guess is that we're yet to reach the peak of the interview season. I'm speculating this because Pat (Duke MSTP administrator) just told me that they will be doing much more interviews in Jan and Feb than they did in Nov and Dec. I'm pretty sure most programs will follow a similar pattern.

Another thing. One of my recommenders told me that he got a call from the big H. They wanted to "discuss" me with him. At first I was flattered; but then after thinking about it for a while, I was like WTF? Anyhow, keep posting people; regardless of relevance. Let's not let this thread dry or die out.
 
Hey Original - when the big H starts calling around about you, I wouldn't worry about it. It's gotta be good.
 
Hey Guys,
Original: I would not worry. I think that can only be good news if someone is asking your recommender about you. Think of it this way, if you were not under serious consideration, do you really think they would have bothered to call to your recommender? I think all signs point to good news for you on this one.

On another topic, this might just be a little venting on my part, but have any of you guys or gals received any regular MD rejections? I know that some of you are not even applying to any regular MD programs anyway. The reason I ask is that I just got my third MD reject(w/o interview I might add), and it is starting to get under my skin. I think a lot of this has to do with not having an acceptance yet, but I was just curious how I can get MSTP interviews but not get a regular MD interview. OK, that makes me feel a little better. I would appreciate your comments on this one.

By the way, GO BEARS!
 
Well, I think I'll take the honor of posting the 500th message on this thread.

Adam
 
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