"Sleeper" MSTPs

[yeastfan21]

---

Members do not see this ad.

If you were to compile a list of what you thought the best MD-PhD programs/MSTPs were (interpret "best" in whatever way you think makes sense), would the order differ much from the regular med-school rankings (say, U.S. News rankings for research quality)?

Are there any consensus "sleeper" picks---i.e., med schools outside the top 20 that stand out for having a particularly good MSTP (well-organized, good research opportunities, strong curriculum for medical scientist trainees)? Alternatively, are there any prestigious med schools whose MD-PhD program seems notably lacking?

Btw, if this has already been covered by another (recent) thread, feel free to just link me. I was too lazy to do a thorough search.

 

[decal]

I've pimped us here before, but it can't hurt to do it again. 😉 The program at UT-Houston offers a lot of unique opportunities. Many people do their graduate work at MD Anderson, and the research within the medical school is getting better and better. There's also funding available for doing research outside of the health science center (opening up Baylor, Rice & UH). On top of that you have the option of doing your research after third year, and there's little classwork required outside of the regular med school stuff.

 

[JHopRevisit]

1) Well, the USNews rankings are based on NIH funding, so while they're totally useless for medical schools, they make some minor sense for MD-PhD rankings.

2) Based on my experience, when people pass along gossip about schools on this site, it's often wrong. I wouldn't trust too much stuff you read here, just pick a good array of schools based on ranking and location and go to interviews and revisits to see for yourself.

3) All that being said, I've heard good things about Vandy. 😀 Have some classmates from college that are happy there, it's just Southern enough for a northern boy like me (and there's nothing wrong with good food and sundresses), and the program seems well put together. I'm not sure if it qualifies as a sleeper or not, but I think its worth applying and checking it out for those of us from the Northeast or Cali who generally don't apply outside our region.

 

[orrghead16]

it's just Southern enough for a northern boy like me (and there's nothing wrong with good food and sundresses)

This is something that I have thought about tremendously when trying to decide which schools to apply to this year. For some reason I am inherently scared of the deep south... Who knows if it will be true or not. I am trying to force myself to apply to a few schools in the South to try and break my stereotype.

 

[Neuronix]

For some reason I am inherently scared of the deep south... Who knows if it will be true or not. I am trying to force myself to apply to a few schools in the South to try and break my stereotype.

The schools themselves are typically very liberal and the areas around them, if not most of the larger cities these schools tend to be in, are also very progressive.

 

[britishmafia]

Agreed.

As an example, there is a reason why Nashville is known as the Athens of the South.

 

[Shifty B]

Also, take it from me: Tennessee girls are H-O-T.

 

[decal]

Also, take it from me: Tennessee girls are H-O-T.

Definitely.

 

[vargovia]

Yea the south gets a bad rep. Im going to WVU so i spend most of my time convincing people that Morgantown isnt a bunch of moonshiners but honestly, its a really good program and i couldnt be happier

 

[potatoplease]

lol how does that link prove the point that TN girls are hot?

 

[witness23]

lol how does that link prove the point that TN girls are hot?

hahahahah i was wondering this too