Originally posted by MAPKinkster:
•Anyone interviewing at these MSTPs on these dates?
Hopkins JAN 8-9
UPenn JAN 10-11
UCSD JAN 16-17
Hey MAPKinskster I don't have interviews at any of those places. Penn was waaaay up there on my list for a long time. I visited Philly early this year was TOTALLY digging the city of brotherly love. I wanted to make sure I went back there for med school so I decided to apply to more than 1 school there. I thought Penn State was in Philly so I applied there. If a brick head like me can get into med school, anyone can do it. Yep! But hey I hope I get lucky and meet up with you over there. My app has been complete there for almost a month. Have fun at your interviews.
Originally posted by doraemon:
•Hi guys,
I am preparing for my BU interview next week. It's my first interview so I am kinda nervous. I have been reading over my own research, AMCAS, thinking about what to say, and etc. I have also gathered some info about my interviewers. I was wondering if you have any advice on how to go about doing this, seeing that many of you have been to multiple interviews. What questions were you asked? How much should I know about my interviewers? I have visited interviewfeedback, but it seems that the MSTP responses are very outdated.
Thanks guys!•••
It is crucial that you do a practice interview considering that BU is your first. I compiled a long list of questions (from interview feedback and elsewhere) before my Duke interview and I had my sister ACT as the interviewer. She randomly selected the questions and modified them as she pleased. Knowing your stuff definitely doesn't imply an ability to talk about it in a conversational, concise, and comprehensible manner. The mock interview is only necessary before you first interview. In addition to this, think of good and specific questions to ask during your interview. You'll inevitably get the "any questions for me?". Make them regret they asked that
Originally posted by MAPKinkster:
•
ORIGINAL...
Unless you also signed up for the Pharm Grad Program, we'll probably not be interviewing together...but it's all good b/c we'll both get into UPenn and we can schedule our second visits together =)•••
I like your optimism! I've been seriously toying with the idea of withdrawing my remaining apps after my next bunch of interviews which begin this wednesday and run till Dec 14. I'm starting to think it can't get better than Duke for me; considering happiness, money, location and the likes. I love Duke. I would have loved to see Stanford, Yale, UPenn, and Hopkins; but now I'm leaning more towards pulling my apps from these places and focusing on other areas of my life; as opposed to having to spend all of winter and spring flying all over the whole place. But then again with me you really never know
Originally posted by Rumit:
•I don't think they told us during the interviews but do you know what kind of clinical exposure MD/PhD's get at UCSF? Specifically, are you guys able to do a clinical rotation before starting your PhD and then is there any way to keep getting some clinical exposure during the PhD years?
•••
Hi Adam,
Glad you asked that because it's something that they often don't make obvious at some schools. At UCSF, there is excellent clinical exposure starting from day one. The curriculum is integrated with basic science and clinical material, so what you learn takes on immediate clinical relevance. There are weekly clinical cases and PBL cases, which is an interesting approach to the material and provides some context for learning. Here is a basic run-down of a possible timeline with opportunities for clinical exposure:
1st year:
Foundations of Patient Care (FPC)- This two-year long block gives you clinical exposure from day one: preceptorship, patient interviews, physical exam skills, etc.
Clinical Interlude-
A one-week clinical experience, after the cardiovascular block, in which you become a member of a medical team on the wards.
Electives-
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with patient care. Examples are U-teach, a program that lets you follow a pregnant woman through term and Homeless Health Clinic, a program in which you provide care for San Francisco's homeless.
2nd year:
FPC-
Same as above, but larger clinical role in preceptorships.
Electives
Clinical Consolidation Cases-
Near the end of year 2, this is a one-month period that integrates the material from all the previous blocks via review of clinical cases. This provides context for USMLE Step 1 studying.
Years 3-5:
Clinical Rotations
You can do, for example, one or two clerkships before beginning your graduate program and doing thesis work. I'm planning on doing at least the Medicine rotation before I start my thesis work. The program is very supportive of this and with the new curriculum, which ends earlier 2nd year, it will be even easier to accomodate these rotations.
Longitudianl Clinics
Some students choose to maintain contact with medicine during the thesis years by participating in outpatient clinics, which actually gives you credit toward the clerkships. This is also supported by the program. You'll have to talk with your research advisor to make sure everyone is aware of the situation, but usually they have no problem with it.
Well, I hope this gives you some idea of how it is possible to integrate clinical exposure throughout the program here at UCSF. I think that because both the medical and graduate schools are so strong, you'll have abundant opportunities to mold your education to your liking.
Originally posted by chef:
•
How important is the interview in the final decision making process?
I ask b/c the chances of getting in to any MSTP program is relatively higher once an interview is granted, compared to regular MD admissions. For example, at Cornell, WashU, and Hopkins, you have a better than 40% chance of getting into MSTP if you interview (anybody have the stats for other top10 schools?). The same cannot be said for regular admissions.
I kinda get a feeling that interview is less important for MSTPers b/c MSTP directors are very #s oriented.
•••
It is true that if you have an number of interviews (my former advisor used to say that 6 is the magic number), chances are that you will get in somewhere. However, this does not make the interview "less important." Remember, the people offered interviews (especially at top-ten programs) are all amazing individuals who have the stats, smarts, and motivation to attend any of those schools. Grades and MCAT scores become much less important at this point. What matters more (and where a large degree of the randomness of MD/PhD admissions comes into play), is your ability to interview well and the impression you leave on the interviewer, who will become your best advocate (or worst enemy) at the committee meeting. The subjective element of what your interviewers think of you will determine whether you are admitted, placed on a waitlist, thrown back to regular MD admissions, or rejected. From that point of view, the interview is of vital importance.
At UCSF, about 60-80 applicants are interviewed in a typical year, of which 8 are admitted initially. There is also a waitlist consisting of a variable number of spots, usually around 10. Thus, admissions here are very competitive. The numbers are similar for Harvard and a few other top-ten programs. Others traditionally must admit a larger group of applicants in order to fill their classes (like the schools chef mentioned above). This is something that you might want to ask about when interviewing at different schools. Good luck!
Check it out! So...my question is, what are the chances of getting into the regular MD program overall, if granted a JMP and MD/PhD program interview?
Originally posted by none:
•Okay, people here seem to know a lot about UCSF admissions.
I'm not sure exactly, but you have to get accepted to regular MD before you can even really be considered for MD/PhD. So, I imagine that if you get an interview it's pretty much the same as anyone else, and that's pretty high, around 50% of interviewees get accepted. Hope that helps and good luck,
Adam
)
Originally posted by none:
•Okay, people here seem to know a lot about UCSF admissions.
At UCSF you are considered separately for the MD and MD/PhD. The interviews are coordinated, however, to be on consecutive days (for your convenience). You need to be accepted by both the medical school admissions committee and the MSTP council in order to be admitted to the MSTP. Applying MSTP does not generally affect your chances for admission to the medical school (MD). So at interview, chances are 50/50 of being admitted MD. Hope this helps.
But hey congrats again. Have fun out there.
