shameless gossip-Stanford

[solitude]

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shameless gossip time--I heard through the grapevine that Stanford MSTP lost its grant and is only accepting two students this year? Anybody know if this is true? This info could ease the sting of rejection for some of the applicants out there 🙁.

 

[StIGMA]

This is the link to their main MSTP grant from the NIGMS.

http://projectreporter.nih.gov/project_info_details.cfm?aid=7630144&icde=2536442

They have been funded since 1976, and it is doubtful that they lost this grant. Institutional support usually funds the majority of MSTP dollars, so it is possible that they lost some institutional support.

 

[harvman11]

Not to promote rumors about schools that rejected me😳, but I've heard this a couple of times on the interview trail. No one really had any details other than they might be losing their NIH grant, so who knows really.

 

[fastrandstrongr]

this would shock me beyond belief. i can't believe it's true... but would love to hear more! (love me some shameless gossip)

 

[alacast]

When I interviewed there, this was asked. They said they had not be rejected. However, when the NIH reviewed their program a year or two ago, there were some significant suggestions for improvement.

I don't recall how much of that answer came from the directors and how much from the current students, though. It wouldn't be crazy for them to have lost some institutional support, however.

 

[z31]

what! wow. if true, specific reasons?

 

[achamess]

Any stanford MSTP students out there?

 

[wordswordswords]

I also heard this while interviewing from someone who worked at Stanford/had connections to the MSTP. I had also heard from several other people that Stanford was giving out very few MSTP interviews, and instead inviting a lot of people to MD-only interviews. I don't think it was sour grapes on their part. I ended up withdrawing, though part of that was because I didn't want to finish their secondary.

 

[alacast]

One thing that was definitely told to me by a student is that Stanford admitted very few students last year (Only 5 as compared to a historical 10+, which you can verify from the MSTP website). The reason for this was that the admissions committee stuffed up their strategy. They used no waitlist, sent out N offers, and N-5 students went elsewhere. Oops! Given last year's fumble, the committee is being more careful about what they do this year.

There were also recent changes in leadership in the program, which has caused some strategy wiggling as well.

 

[Shifty B]

I doubt that it is related to loss of the NIH grant, but funding could be an issue in a decision to take fewer students. If their list of students on the web site is to be trusted (http://mstp.stanford.edu/students.html), there are 7 students in their 9th year (2001) and 1 each in their 10th (2000) and 11th (1999) years.

Depending on how their MSTP funding is distributed, it is possible that these 9 people are occupying some funding spots that might otherwise have gone to accept new students. If this is the case, it's not really a big deal because sooner or later these people are going to finish. There will probably be a large graduating class this year that will free up a bunch of the spots.

 

[echod]

I doubt that it is related to loss of the NIH grant, but funding could be an issue in a decision to take fewer students. If their list of students on the web site is to be trusted (http://mstp.stanford.edu/students.html), there are 7 students in their 9th year (2001) and 1 each in their 10th (2000) and 11th (1999) years.

Depending on how their MSTP funding is distributed, it is possible that these 9 people are occupying some funding spots that might otherwise have gone to accept new students. If this is the case, it's not really a big deal because sooner or later these people are going to finish. There will probably be a large graduating class this year that will free up a bunch of the spots.

It almost seems that their average graduation time is >9 years.

 

[Shifty B]

That thought (about 9+ year average in the Stanford MSTP) had occurred to me as well. Although, I don't think too much should be made of it. Almost every program will have oscillations where people stick around a little longer and then all graduate at once.

I've long thought that programs should not even mention 7 year graduation times (http://mstp.stanford.edu/structure.html), because it's pretty much an anomaly these days. Finishing is 7 years is a rarity, and for every one that finishes in 7 years there will be one or two who stick around for 9-11 years. Just take a look at some of the student lists out there and it is obvious.

All you entering students out there: Plan on 8 years, and be aware that a small percentage of people take longer. Absolutely do not choose a program because they advertise a shorter graduation time.

 

[echod]

That thought (about 9+ year average in the Stanford MSTP) had occurred to me as well. Although, I don't think too much should be made of it. Almost every program will have oscillations where people stick around a little longer and then all graduate at once.

I've long thought that programs should not even mention 7 year graduation times (http://mstp.stanford.edu/structure.html), because it's pretty much an anomaly these days. Finishing is 7 years is a rarity, and for every one that finishes in 7 years there will be one or two who stick around for 9-11 years. Just take a look at some of the student lists out there and it is obvious.

All you entering students out there: Plan on 8 years, and be aware that a small percentage of people take longer. Absolutely do not choose a program because they advertise a shorter graduation time.

I like that Stanford puts a picture of the beach to go along with "the middle" PhD years.