Q for Current MD/PhD'ers

[Cognition]

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In hindsight, what is the most important factor in choosing a program? Mentor? Research opportunities? Quality of Life? State? Weather? MSTP vs. MD/PhD? Close to family? Reputation (unlikely)? Stipend? Women? Men? Both?

For those of us who are lucky enough to have to choose between schools, are there one or more factors that you recommend to us pre-frosh MD/PhD’ers to weigh more highly in our decisions?

Thanks

 

[Rustico]

In hindsight, what is the most important factor in choosing a program? Mentor? Research opportunities? Quality of Life? State? Weather? MSTP vs. MD/PhD? Close to family? Reputation (unlikely)? Stipend? Women? Men? Both?

For those of us who are lucky enough to have to choose between schools, are there one or more factors that you recommend to us pre-frosh MD/PhD’ers to weigh more highly in our decisions?

Thanks

The most important deciding factor for me was the students that were already in the MSTP. I truly enjoyed interacting with them on my interview and I thought "I can spend 8 years with these people"! When I matriculated in a new city, far away from home, I immediately had 55+ new friends.

This may seem a trivial factor, but I promise it is not. I'm at the end of the road now and I cannot even express how grateful I am for the support I have received over the years from my student colleagues. Wherever you go, you will be able to reach the basic goal of getting dual degrees...but don't forget about the other parts of your life (having a good social life/support will often offset the despair you may sometimes feel during the long road ahead of you).

 

[fantasty]

For me, the biggest factors were the research opportunities (I'd say potential mentors because I didn't know who I wanted to work with specifically but I had some idea), the med school curriculum, and the educational attitude of the MSTP (clinical connections, grand rounds, etc).

Lesser but still important were the Quality of Life / City / Stipend compared to cost-of-living factors.

 

[Neuronix]

For me it was the variety and strength of research opportunities in my area. I'm glad I picked based on that, as my first few research choices fell through and I got interested in a closely related, though separate field I hadn't thought about. This school is strong in so many different areas. The other school I strongly considered has nowhere near the amount of options for biomedical research, and I couldn't be doing the type of research I am now.

The other consideration was location. I wouldn't be as happy, at least in this stage of my lfie, outside of a major urban center.

 

[lynnier79]

ive gotta go with research possibilities, but the feeling that i 'belonged' with these people was a close second. some programs really just didnt click with me, no matter how prestigeous, advanced, etc they curriculum and research was.

not to mention another important thing -- the way the administration pays attention to each student. MD/PhD at Utah is small, and i think it works out for the best because each of us feels very taken care of. no one gets lost in the cracks here.

 

[beary]

For me, the biggest factors were the research opportunities (I'd say potential mentors because I didn't know who I wanted to work with specifically but I had some idea), the med school curriculum, and the educational attitude of the MSTP (clinical connections, grand rounds, etc).

Lesser but still important were the Quality of Life / City / Stipend compared to cost-of-living factors.

I agree.

Except for the clinical connections part. 😉

 

[dfsdiego]

starting the application process with a variety of interests i set myself up for a tough decision between quite different programs...since i don't know exactly where i want to focus my research, its hard to base my decision on the strenght of a department...hopefully ill get a better feel for the student body at revists and get a better feel for where I could actually live (and adapt to after being in san diego for six years)

any current nyu students who were intrigued by new york and the program there and chose new york over other places around the country? any strenghts or weaknesses (or even just little things that make you happy or frustrated) that have come to your attention since you've been there?