their mstp section asks you to list the other md/phd programs for which you are applying. i don't see how this question helps evaluate the applicant's merits. should I just put down harvard, columbia, washington u, & duke? or does this type of question really merit an honest answer?
i think this question is kinda out of line - i don't know what they hope to glean from it. i just put down schools that are of the same caliber if there is space for just a few. the max i would list is 10 there is unlimited space. they can find out may15 along with everyone else.
Yeah, I remember thinking the same thing. Maybe they want to evaluate how good you think you are. That's the only purpose I could come up with. But, if you think that question is silly, just wait until you interview in their ridiculous panel thing and they ask questions like, "If you could invite one person from history to dinner, who would it be and why?" Because other students are there they can't ask anything really personal or get to know you. On a side note, I really didn't like Northwestern. I thought I would, because it's an awsome location, but I thought the research was really weak there, especially when compared to other places in the region: U of Wisconsin, Michigan, Wash U, Iowa, etc. Anyhow, good luck with the application stuff, Adam
yeah - i actually scratched it off my list after taking an in depth look at the research there. though there are selected things i am interested, it doesn't look like a hotbed of colloborative research in my field. uchicago is representin for the area i dig that school. then again, i'm diggin about 20 schools
Oh, yeah...add U of C to that list. I forgot to mention it, but as far as I know it's an awsome place. Good luck, Adam
What made you think the research at NW is weak? I am working as a research tech here, at NW. Although I haven't yet submitted applications, i consider it a school I am likely to be attending (it seems good, and I have reasonable chances of acceptances). I am extremely impressed at the amount of faculty they have, so i consider it good for research. And, there are several faculty with good funding. Are considering research in a specific topic? Sonya
The purpose of the question "where else are you applying" has mostly to do with interview scheduling. You will surprised to know how closely MD/PhD programs are in touch with each other... especially their administrators. This way, they can ensure that you are scheduled on a date at which you do not have any conflicting interviews with other schools. This actually happened to me, because I lied to a med school and I told them that I couldn't do that day (for my interview) because I had an interview at Medschool X.... The person on the phone told me, "But our records show that your interview at Medschool X has been scheduled for such-and-such a day...."... The next time I heard this kind of thing was when deciding on acceptances. I held a place for me at Wash.U. and accepted Hopkins' MSTP offer. I got a phone call from Wash.U two days later, asking if I still wanted to hold the spot, because they know that I accepted a spot at Hopkins.... So in questionsa like this, just be honest and tell them where' you're applying....
haha doh! note to self: don't try to lie to a school about another. well i guess i could always say i added schools thanks for the info though sonic - makes sense.
