MSTP essay- advice needed

[treetrunk]

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[GeneGoddess]

I'd talk about research, but I'd not make it dry. I'll be more than happy to critique it.

 

[milliardo_L]

Research should be an important part of it, but you must convince that you want to do medicine. It depends on the program you apply how much of each aspect to include. I guess a save bet would be to strongly emphasize why you want to take care of people and relate it to research. Then you will have the secondaries and other to explain in detail your research, and in the post-secondary experiences...

 

[treetrunk]

Hey guys,

Thanks for your help. I think, though, that milliardo_L thought that my question was about the AMCAS essay. I am asking about the essay in secondaries that asks about research experience. Can any current MSTP-ers help me out with this one?

😕

 

[treetrunk]

any help from the pros? 😕

 

[Newquagmire]

i spent an absurd amount of time last cycle trying to make it not dry. in the end, i submitted a very very dry copy. i think the lag time (in some cases, several months) hurt me.

if you can find a way to make it not dry, tell me. if not, dont waste time trying.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Mainly talk about your research and your involvement in the projects. Then segue how it made you excited about doing science. Ultimately, you need to make it convincing as to why you want to become a "physician-scientist". This is especially important because if you just want to become a scientist, they'll wonder why you didn't apply to straight PhD programs. On the other hand, if you want to be a clinician, they will ask why you're not applying to straight MD programs. You don't need to know exactly how you see yourself in 20 years BUT you need to impart onto the readers the impression that you are interested in being a physician-scientist. What does this mean to people? Buzz phrases include: "transitional research" and making a connection between the "bench and bedside".

I too am happy to read and comment on your essay if you want to PM it to me. I've been doing MD/PhD stuff for 6 years now and I've seen good essays and bad essays from applicants (my PhD adviser who interviews candidate showed some of them to me while I was working in his lab).

 

[hockebob]

treetrunk,

many of the secondary applications that i filled out had two separate sections: 1) why md/phd or what are your goals as a physician scientist? and 2) describe your research experience. i found that treating these topics separately (at least, at first) was easier than immediately trying to combine them into one long md/phd essay. with these two shorter essays in hand i was then able to cut/paste and revise my work into the cohesive md/phd statement that some secondary applications require. perhaps approaching it from along those lines will help you to overcome writer's block because, as newquagmire correctly pointed out, time really is of the essence.

specifics:
for my research description, i clearly stated the problem, the hypothesis and the research plan/methodology. then i described the results and the various possible conclusions given those results, including any potential issues or nuances for a particular conclusion. finally, i suggested other work that could be done and/or how the results fit in to the larger problem in science.

for why md/phd, i just described how i developed an interest in becoming a physician scientist and tried to tie it in to specific examples from my research experience. then, rather openly, i stated my long-term career goals and how md/phd was an important step in achieving them.

you can probably see that there are several areas of contact between the two topics which facilitate a fairly seemless integration into the larger md/phd statement.

well, feel free to pm me a draft when you have it done. but give me at least two days to get back to you.

good luck,
aaron

 

[leverp2000]

For these MD/PhD essays, how detailed are we expected to cover the research. I could describe my research in a paragraph, a page, or 5 pages. How much detail is a good amount without going overboard?

leverp2000

 

[Newquagmire]

For these MD/PhD essays, how detailed are we expected to cover the research. I could describe my research in a paragraph, a page, or 5 pages. How much detail is a good amount without going overboard?

leverp2000

dont they give you suggested guidelines? i think my longest was 2 pages single-spaced.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

a good topic to write about is if you thought of something about a project on your own (a new idea, a new approach, a unique way of thinking about the research problem) and this influenced the direction of the project. you can tell how the thought process was cool and something that really revved you up. just a thought as i'm reading this thread and reflecting on my previous research experiences.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Hey journeyman, i got your PM regarding your request to have your essay read. I tried PMing you but your account isn't accepting them. Just figured I let you know 🙂

 

[huxley]

Hi,
I was just curious whether people covered why they are applying to Cornell, specifically, in the MSTP personal statement essay. For example, should we mention why we want to go there (faculty research interests, etc.).

 

[Habari]

I was just curious whether people covered why they are applying to Cornell, specifically, in the MSTP personal statement essay. For example, should we mention why we want to go there (faculty research interests, etc.).

I personally added something specific about each school (very small 'modular' section) for all schools. I _briefly_ mentioned what about the Tri-Institutional was particularly suited to my interests, but I'm not sure how crucial it is (many people send the exact same essay everywhere, and do just fine). The people who read the applications say that ones essay about why md/phd is the most important aspect, and as a result should be as substantive as possible.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Hi,
I was just curious whether people covered why they are applying to Cornell, specifically, in the MSTP personal statement essay. For example, should we mention why we want to go there (faculty research interests, etc.).

I made my MSTP essay specific to Cornell by adding just a little bit regarding the whole Tri-Institutional stuff. I also mentioned the researchers at Rockefeller and CUMC whose research fit well with my research interests. I think they appreciated that because when they made up my interview schedule, they made it such that I got to meet with almost all of them.

At some point during this process, some schools will request that you provide names of people you would like to meet at your interviews. Granted, you will have some interviews with MSTP adcom people, but a bigger chunk will be more casual meetings between you and the faculty you indicated. This was the case at UMichigan, UWashington, UCSF (I think), and I'm sure other schools.