MSTP Boulevard part 01

Online Graduate Programs in Medical Human Anatomy
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Status
Not open for further replies.
Members do not see this ad.
For those who have already interviewed at Penn MSTP:

1) the interview is half of thursday and all day friday. Did any of you fly in on thursday morning? I'm trying to save as much money as possible.

2) Did the MSTP or MD admissions office let you leave your luggage there during the day on thursday?

3) Did any of you stay with student hosts? Did you just stay for one night or two?

thanks
 
Well, I interviewed at Penn last year, but I suppose this info's still applicable:

1) the interview is half of thursday and all day friday. Did any of you fly in on thursday morning? I'm trying to save as much money as possible.

I took a red-eye flight and arrived Thursday morning. I couldn't sleep on the plane at all and felt miserable the whole day. I would definitely recommend arriving the night before (early) and getting a good night sleep.

2) Did the MSTP or MD admissions office let you leave your luggage there during the day on thursday?

Yep, the combined degree office people are very nice and they let you store your bags in the office.

3) Did any of you stay with student hosts? Did you just stay for one night or two?

I stayed with an MSTP student both nights. He was really cool about it.

Hope this helps! 😀
 
I submitted my UChicago secondary 2 weeks ago and today I got a email saying they started reviewing it. It said: "If you applied MSTP the review by the Committee on Admissions is contingent on receipt of the three letters specifically requested by that program. This present notification does not take into consideration whether these letters have been received. The Committee on Admissions for the MSTP begins its reviews on December 1. "

I think some of u here have already interviewed for MSTP at chicago? What's going on?
 
Chef,
When I submitted my MSTP app to UChicago(seems like forever ago), I heard nothing from them for a few weeks. I decided to take matters into my own hands and called the admissions office to makes sure that everything that was supposed to be there was there. The secretary I talked to indicated that my MSTP app along with all my letters of rec that were necessary were there. I then got an e-mail about three weeks later(a generic one from the office of admissions) indicating that my app was complete and under review. I would highly recommend you call both the MD admissions office and the MSTP office and confirm that all you stuff if there. U of C is not always that great about this stuff, so it pays to be perisistent with them.
I am intrigued that they say the review will happen on Dec. 1. I wonder what that means considering they have only three interview times, and it seems like they have invited most of the people they want to interview. I am still waiting to here from them, which sucks b/c I would like to stay in Chicago if I could.
I guess we will just have to hang in there. Good luck to you!

To everybody: Thanks for the encouraging words. Now I better get back to work!
 
When I interviewed there they did not tell us when the committee will meet. However, the director told me that I'll get an official call in January. My assumption is that they'll make all their decisions then; but I dont know for sure.
 
Just got back from BU and got a very good impression of its program. The MD/PhD students are enthusiastic about the school, the flexibility of the program, and of course, Boston. The only down side about BU is that it's not MSTP, the living expense, and parking!

Would just like to thank those who gave me suggestions and support!

Btw, for those of you who have sent thank you letters, did you do it via email or mail?
 
Quickly send them an email.
 
Originally posted by shogun:
•Just out of curiosity, has anyone heard from Michigan about interviews? Baylor21, didn't you interview at Michigan recently?

Hope all is well with you guys.•••


I just got back yesterday from my U of M MSTP interview. It has a pretty good program, I was pretty impressed. It's getting kind of hard to really differentiate between places because so many of them are really good. I imagine that it'll come down to little things with the school, and the major factor will be location.

Anyhow, they said we should probably hear before Christmas, and my interviewers were very positive. They were very cool about arranging the interview and were very flexible on dates. They don't interview many people on any given day, there was only one other guy there...so I think they do them every Thursday/Friday. They also pay for everything, so that was fun. It's a good program, so definitely check it out if you get the chance. If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to answer them.

Later,

Adam
Click to expand...
 
Adam,

Does Michigan reimburse you for ALL travel expenses, or do they just partially cover the costs?
 
Baylor:

As far as I know, they pay for everything. I drove (from Chicago) and they are going to pay me like $0.25 per mile. They told people to bring their travel receipts such as ticket stub, so I think they pay. They also pay for one night in a hotel and the second night you stay with a student. I also think they pay for cab fare from the airport, but I'm not sure about that. But, you can definitely call them and ask them all that stuff. The people in the MSTP office are very cool.

Later,

Adam
 
Hello guys,

This is SONIC... I lost my login for SDN, and can't login using my oldname. ANyways, I'm writing from Yale's MSTP.. I'm interviewing there now, and I'm heading off to Chi-town to interview at UofC with Sarah!

I finally got my much awaited acceptance email from Wash.U's MSTP!!!!! Woohoo!!!!

Also, to answer Chef's question, Yale got 318 apps, interviews about 80, and then gives out 20 offers.(for the MSTP)..

I CANNOT TELL you guys how relaxing it is to know that I'm gonna be an MD/PhD no matter what! Plus, Wash.U. is FANTASTIC!!

This just goes to show that you cannot judge the impression of the committee by just how your interview goes. I thought my WashU interview was a disaster, but I got in!
 
hey moosh,

Have you heard from the WashU MD adcom? I know its pretty much a formality if the MSTP committee admits you, but I havent heard anything from them yet.

Anyways, congrats on WashU, theres a very good chance I will go there next year. Perhaps we will be classmates.

I'm assuming that Yale's 20 acceptances are not all for full funding? I thought that they would have only 8-12 fully funded slots, but I might be wrong about that.
 
Hey Mooshu (the artiste formerly known as Sonic)! WOOHOOO I put my money on you the whole time. I'm proud of you. I'm truely happy for you. But then again you probably saw it all coming and were just being humble. Humility is good. I'll be interviewing at WashU on Thursday. I really want to get accepted to that program. It is one of my serious considerations. Would you believe this smack? I got a letter from UIC Urbana Champagn saying; "please apply to our program; we liked your freakishly high MCAT (they must have been on crack considering I got only a 33); and BTW ONLY US CITIZENS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY TO OUR PROGRAM 😀 Funny isn't it?
 
I was initially enthusiastic about UIUC, but their funding situation is not nearly as good as the MSTP programs. I think they only give you half-financial support during the grad school years and one-quarter financial support during the med school years.
 
By the way, has anybody been accepted to Hopkins MSTP yet?
 
Hey Sonic:
Good Luck in shai-town! Holla at Rekka at Pritzker. You'll see her when you're there. She's a 2nd year(non-MSTP). Tell her I (Stephen) thought she is damn hot; but I was bound by the oath of my MSTP application to act professional at all times. Look out for Neal (7th year MSTP) he is an awesome guy; I hope you are lucky to meet him while you're out there. My regards to Sunji (2nd year MSTP) he can show you what the night life is like in Chicago. Holla at Dan, Derrick, Terrence, David, Shawn, Paula, Christy, Scott, Inasar and the works. I'm not going to charge you for the above information; but if you feel pressed you can send me a check or money order of $234.00. My only request is that you not tell Jose that I got into Duke and I'm not coming to U of C. I'm probably not going there, but I REALLY loved the program and you never know where my sporadic unpredictable self will be next fall. I might go there so as to be close to Rekka

😀

Cheers ma guy!
 
Will anyone here be at WashU on Thursday? An SDN reunion would be nice 🙂
 
Hey Guys!
Mooshu(aka Sonic) Congrats on WashU! You rule!

This is a question for all of you who have interviewed already. I am preparing for my first MSTP interview, and was wondering whether any of you got random science questions outside of the realm of your research? A friend of mine got asked some random question about biochem even though it did not relate to his research. I am a little worried b/c it has been over two years since I have taken any science classes, so I am think I am a little rusty.

Thanks,
Shogun
 
shogun:

No, absolutely not. All of my interviews which must total around 30 (since you interview with 5 or 6 ppl in each place) have been really friendly. At some of them I hardly talked at all, often they didn't even want to hear about my research but just talked about theirs. So, a couple of mildly intelligent questions should do the trick. I have yet to be asked a really tough question.

Anyhow, good luck, and don't sweat it.
This is the fun part of the application process. Remember to be confident and to evaluate the school as well. You have to want to spend the next 8 years of your life there.

Adam
 
i had some crazy, crazy science questions asked to me at duke - but it wasn't an mstp interview but my md one! i think it was a fluke. i am trying not to worry too much. =D


-sar
 
Has anybody noticed that MD student interviewers are kinda arrogant and take themselves WAY too seriously? At UMich, for instance, I had two student interviews one with an MSTP student and the other with an MD student. The MSTP student was awsome, he was interested in my research, and he was cool to talk to. The MD student on the other hand was friendly, but was super arrogant and would interrupt me in order to make sure he asked his stupid questions about my experiences etc. He was super arrogant as well and was just irritating to be around. I was just wondering if you guys had had similar experiences comparing MSTP to MD students.

Later,

Adam
 
Well, I got the official WashU MSTP acceptance in the mail today along with the med school acceptance. I guess it never sunk in before, but today it hit me: I JUST GOT ACCEPTED TO ONE OF THE BEST MD/PHD PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY!!!!! WOOOOOHOOOOOO

I am still contemplating going to Michigan, since at least they will reimburse you for travel. I have a Penn interview set up, but they dont pay for anything and right now I'm considering just dropping all other MSTP apps at places that I havent already interviewed at.
 
baylor21:

Congratulations! That's awsome. That's a great place and I'm sure you'll have a good time there.

Adam
 
Is anyone else going to be at the UCLA MSTP interview on Thursday and Friday. I thought I remembered someone saying they were. If anyone is, it'd be fun to meet. I'll be the guy in the black suit, and my name is Adam. So, that should be enough to set me apart 🙂

Later,

Adam
 
Congratulations Baylor21:

It must feel really good! Now you can put your mind at rest and start packing 😀 When is their 2nd look weekend? I hope I get lucky; then we can meet there. Enjoy the moment and sign as many autographs as you can right now; cause as soon as you start school, everyone around you would have also gained an acceptance to The WashU and they probably wouldn't care much for your autograph 😀 Congratulations!!!
 
YEE-HA! I got the call from the Tri-Inst (Cornell/Rockefeller/SKI) director today and I was offered a spot!

MOOSHU/BAYLOR: Congrats on your WashU offers! I still haven't heard from them but I'm not feeling bummed about that anymore.
 
I promised on another thread that I'll retire my pen and become a full-time spectator on SDN; But I have to do this one last time: MAPKinster! You are the man! Yep. Sweet! and that's only the begining. Now you can kick back at your Jan 10 Penn interview. Congratulations!!!

Enjoy the moment!
 
ORIGINAL! don't go!!!!!! i need your support. you're still gonna keep calling pat every day telling her how much she needs to let me into duke too, right??

how bout just keep posting on the mstp board you so thoughtfully created? 🙂 🙂

well i'm off to chicago tomorrow. i'm excited! you know i would be DYING to go there if their average january temperatures were just, like, 30 degrees higher. well, i've dealt with horrendous weather for 4 years i guess i might as well resign myself . . . (and that brings me to my question of UCSF AND UCSD, WHEN ARE YOU EVER GOING TO NOTICE I EXIST??????)

--sarah
 
Hey guys!!

It's SONIC!!... Congrats MAPKinkster on your acceptance to Cornell!

I got ACCEPTANCE #2 today, from the CORNELL-ROCKEFELLER-SKI program! I'm really excited now because I have two wonderful programs (WashU and Cornell) to choose from.. Yay to your support guys!... you rule!

I'm really in love with Yale here. It's fantastic. I'm thinking of dropping my UofC interview, because I doubt I will go to Chicago over Wash.U. or Cornell, but meeting Sarah is certainly an incentive!

btw, Baylor21 - I haven't got the *official* MD acceptance (I'm not getting it until Dec 20), but Brian had a look at my MD interview score and said that my MD interviewer had given a very high score and that he advised that I cancel my other "less important interviews".

So I pulled out my apps from Northwestern, Mount Sinai, and Vanderbilt...
 
sonic - CONGRATULATIONS on cornell! wow, you have made the TRIFECTA of interviewing at all 3 schools which sent me rejections without a 2nd look (washu, cornell, and yale). i can't say that meeting me is really worth a trip all the way to chicago, but hey, i'm not gonna argue (i have heard they treat you pretty nicely @ u chicago if you need any more incentives 🙂 ).

i dropped one of my interviews the day before - i feel a little bad about it but not really!

and hey if you applied to upenn or duke i WHOLEHEARTEDLY support your decision to drop any other aps 🙂 (kidding, kidding).

see you soon (maybe! i'll understand if i DON'T)

-s
 
Hey Sarah:
I'm not going anywhere! I was just bluffing 😀 Anyhow I'm glad someone asked me to stay. Hey I think Duke will be silly not to let you in. I'm pretty confident you'll get accepted there. Have fun at your Chicago interview.

Stephen
 
Yippie! I'm still really excited! Thanks everyone for the kind words!

But did anyone read that other thread about the COR/ROCK/SKI MD-PhD? That totally sucks how that applicant was teased with an acceptance! It got me real nervous and I called the office just to make sure I really got in before I pull any apps.

So I'm probably going to DROP my interview at UPenn and not turning in my 2ndry to Pritzker. I'm also DEBATING about going to Hopkins. Hopkin definitely has a better REPUTATION than Cornell...but I'm also thinking about the research at Rockefeller and the environment around Hopkins (the upper East Side of Manhattan is so nice!)

What do you guys think about interviewing at Hopkins?

-MaPKiNKSTeR

P.S. Sonic/Mushu: Let me know what you decide about on Cornell...maybe we can fly out on the 2nd visit together!
 
Mapkinster and Baylor21:
Way to go! Those are two abosolutely FANTASTIC schools, so you both deserve a pat on the back. From what I can gather, everyone is standing to do very well this year in terms of MSTP acceptances. Mapkinster, I don't think it would hurt to go to Hopkins, but you might want to see if it is worth the plane fare and such.

Good luck to all of you heading off to more interviews this week. UCLA and U of Chicago people, I would definitely like to here about how the interviews went when you get back.

I myself will be off to Minnesota for my first MSTP intervew this weekend, so good luck to all of us.

Later,
Shogun
 
Hey MAP:
Most definitely go to your Hopkins interview. If for no other reason that for the mere fact that its HOPKINS!!! Check the program out and if you still wish, then you can frame your acceptance letter and draft them a nice rejection 😀

Shogun:
Have fun at the Twin cities. Concerning your earlier question about preparing for random Biochem type stuff; I think that will be a waste of time. Your research is more than enough to prepare for. It is also extremely helpfull to know a thing or two about you interviewers' research ahead of time. Good luck in Minesota. Dont forget your coat 😀
 
Hey Guys I'm posting from WashU! I am impressed already. I am the only one here as of now; however, there'll be 8 of us inteviewing here this session. The library is breathtaking. From the library lobby you can see into the different labs (very colorful). I cant describe it; it's sort of like those watches or computers that have transparent engine cases. They definitely have the money over here. This place is good. If I am lucky to get accepted here; it's going to be a tough decision 🙂
 
Hey everyone...congrats to all who have been accepted to some of the best programs in the US. As for me I am still awaiting at least ONE interview. Any of you have any honest thoughts on what the deal is? I am pretty much on hold at all the places I've applied. I wanna make alternate plans should I have to apply next year but I would really like to know the outcome of this cycle FIRST. Alright folks -- good luck on the rest of your interviews and acceptances.
 
Hi JJ4,
After interviewing at BU two weeks ago (my first and only interview so far), I got several more rejection letters. However, I still haven't heard from about half the schools that I applied to. I called most of them up and found that I was either put on hold or that they still haven't reviewed my file yet. Most schools told me not to worry, 'cause they will interview well into march/april this year. I am guessing that once applicants like everyone on this board have made their decisions, more spaces will open up. So hang in there and don't despair. Enjoy your holidays -- I'm planning to do a lot of eating, drinking, shopping =)

Congrats to everyone who has gotten acceptances at top schools. You guys are awesome, and it must feel great!
 
I pulled this off of Harvard's MD/PhD website:

8. When are interviews held?
Applicants invited for interviews will be scheduled on one of the following dates: November 27, 2001; December 18, 2001; January 8, 2002 or January 29, 2002.


So far, I dont know of a single person who has interviewed MD/PhD at Harvard, and it looks like the 2nd interview date is about come and go with still nobody on SDN getting an interview invite there I guess.

I guess we should just all get down on our hands an knees and proclaim: 'WE'RE NOT WORTHY!'
 
HEY VADER:

I sent you a private message.
 
Hey Baylor21:
I feel our pain concerning Harvard. A friend of mine I interviewed with at Duke and am currently interviewing with at WashU will be interviewing MD/PhD at Harvard on Dec 18th. I will also interview at Harvard (HST) on the 18th but not for the MD/PhD. 2 guys at WashU told me that Harvard almost never interviews international students for MD/PhD because they have no non-NIH money. There is still a good chance that you'll hear from their MD/PhD program soon. People that will interview there on Jan 27 can be invited as late as Jan 13. In any case I think an average of 10 years is waaaaay too long to be in any program. My interiews at WashU went pretty well. I walked out of my committee interview feeling like a Bad-ass! and my wrap-up interviewer asked me to please consider WashU. I think those are good signs and I'm very optimistic about my chances of hearing some good news on Dec 14. We might be classmates dude. That would really kick-ass. Whether or not we're classmates, I would like for us to schedule 2nd look weekend together (this is of course assuming I'm lucky to get the good stuff next Friday). JJ4 please check your PM.
 
To those MD/PhD applicants who have not been invited for an interview/interviewed at very few places so far (both the few people who were brave enough to post here and also those who never post):

Do NOT worry about your chances of getting into a fine MD/PhD institution. On the contrary, keep your chin up and think positive.

Trust me, the colleagues here who are getting 10+ interviews and multiple acceptances are extremely rare cases. Furthermore, even if some of these colleagues of ours end up getting accepted at all those institutions, he/she will only end up going to ONE school and will give up spots at other places.

It seems logical and only fair that MD/PhD programs are trying to attract the most qualified applicants early in their cycle, and thus only the same people seem to be invited at all schools. However, I know (from some good sources I might add) that there are only about 50-80 superb applicants all the schools are competing for. As these applicants get interviewed everywhere and decide where to attend and where to withdraw, A LOT of interview spots as well as acceptance spots will open up at majority of MD/PhD institutions, and many more new applicants will be interviewed.

I know it is an uneasy feeling not to have the same caliber of success in the application process as some of the colleagues on this board, but I would not start worrying about backup plans or anything like that.

Does it matter if you get into a school X in Dec. or in March?? Not in my books. So everyone who posted their worries (and those who never posted), remember that you guys are the norm (myself included) and the colleagues here are the rare exceptions! Do not doubt yourself for applying for MD/PhD.

Chef
 
Original,

I bet you will have no problem getting accepted to WashU. That would be a tough choice between Duke and WashU. I didnt apply to Duke so I cant relate to your problem of choosing between them.

I'm definitely going back to the WashU second look. It seems like I remember that you can either choose to go with the group of applicants (which is what I want to do) or if you cant attend on that date they will even set it up for just you to come on your own. Thats pretty cool of them to be so flexible.

Good luck man I'm sure you wont need it though.
 
Hey Chef,

I'm with you all the way!
 
Hey!

Thanks for the feedback guys...I've decided to go ahead with my Hopkins MSTP interview.

For those of you who have gone to HOPKINS...did you STAY with a STUDENT? My letter from Hopkins does not give any information on how to contact current students.

Also, about HARVARD...I finally receive an email confirming that my application was complete last week. I remember submitting my stuff in early Oct. I called the office and confirmed that my MSTP app was also complete.

MaPKiNKSTeR
 
Map,

They already had the student host set up for me when I went to Hopkins. He/she will meet you in the MD/PhD library after your interviews are over on the first day.

Good luck.
 
Originally posted by baylor21:
•Map,

They already had the student host set up for me when I went to Hopkins. He/she will meet you in the MD/PhD library after your interviews are over on the first day.

Good luck.•••

BaYLoR-

Thanks for the info. Library just for MD/PhDs? Hmmmm...SHE? That would be interesting but my gf would probably flip. 🙂

MaPKiNKSTeR
Click to expand...
 
Map,

oops sorry i wasnt sure what your gender is.

when I say library, its not some huge place. Its just a single room with a couple of tables, journal racks and probably 5 bookcases.

But its still would be a good place to study nonetheless.
 
"SHE? my gf would flip"

haha, try being a female in this process! i've been hosted by a guy twice so far 🙂 i think that there just arne't enough women to go around sometimes as hosts! it seemed weird the first time but not at all the 2nd.

-s

sonic - i'm home! of course i am supposed to be working so i'm wasting time here. aghgh. have fun @ yale (? maybe it was somewhere else, i forget). i loved uchic by the way (but you already knew that).
 
Hey Guys!!

Just got back from UofC... I loved Jose. Sarah, I just got back a couple of hours ago.. traveling to the westcoast is always exhausting!

MAPK, are you going to be at Hopkins on 13-14 Dec, interview dates? I'm gonna be there at that time. Maybe we can meet?

Also, Bernadine managed to hook me up with a former Stanford student at Hopkins, so I'm staying with him. I'm curious, what do you think about Cornell? I really liked their research, and I think in our field (signal-transduction), nobody can beat the quality of research between rockefeller and SKI... even my prof's tell me that it should be a sure choice. But I also really liked Wash.U and Yale.. It's getting really tough now.

I'm thinking of dropping my UPENN interview, and wrapping things up with Columbia.

Take care guys!

Sonic

p.s. : Stephen, yeah Rekka is hot! 🙂
 
Originally posted by SonicHedgehog:
•p.s. : Stephen, yeah Rekka is hot! 🙂 •••

Yep Sonic I told ya! But we have to use more objective and meaningful criteria in deciding where to matriculate. I discovered that there are hot girls all over the place. I got a lap dance from a hot 1st year MSTP at WashU. It was a nice experience 😀 . I was thrilled by WashU. The students are really happy; the school's endowment is enourmous; Brian and Andrew are the nicest guys on the Earth's surface. They are a really valueable asset to the program. You have 20 other MSTPs in your class (I think that is priceless). Barnes-Jewish Hospital is a 5 star place with some of the best clinical training possible. I would say Duke is still kicking ass at the top of my list; but WashU has come so close after my visit that the 2 schools are virtually indistinguishable for me right now. It could go either way. The students at WashU are extemely nice, enthusiastic, idealistic, and smart people. It would be nice to go there. We'll see!
Click to expand...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
MSTP vs. NYU MD-only
Replies
10
Views
2K
ophthoaspirant
O
MDPhDseeker23
What is going on with the NYU MSTP?
2
Replies
60
Views
23K
Maebea
M
Lyn101
Should applications be worried about MSTP offers being rescinded?
Replies
1
Views
2K
Fencer
Fencer
captain_kirk
$400 million in federal funds cancelled for Columbia (including the MSTP?)
Replies
4
Views
3K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
J
MSTP Grant Scores?
Replies
6
Views
3K
tr
tr
Top