Stanford Waitlist

[wolfiemd]

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Catching a plane to San Jose right now...so hopefully I'll have answer by this Friday 🙂

will we be finding you in dah club bottle full of bub?

 

[mdeast]

will we be finding you in dah club bottle full of bub?

Oh wolfie. I will miss this thread once this cycle is all said and done.

 

[Naijaba]

Still waiting bump!

 

[oze]

why so quiet

must not let this thread die.

 

[wolfiemd]

i'm still here oze! But, my hope is flickering

 

[mdeast]

There's *potential* there will be a spot opening up tomorrow. I'm going through the final phases of my decision process...and to be honest it could go either way at this point....but I need to decide by tomorrow, so I'll be talking things over with the parents tonight and I'll relay it once I decide. I keep flip-flopping to be honest.

Here's some thoughts, that might be relevant to other waitlisted students, especially if financial aid is an issue:

I guess, I'm somewhat upset with the financial aid changes and I just feel like Stanford needs to adopt a way less complicated system after going over the office with it. I just don't really get the point of having to pay any tuition when you're doing research full time (even if it gets covered by some sort of grant). Why not just give everyone a stipend and leave it at that? They've also structured it so that Med Scholars becomes essentially way less useful unless you absolutely take a 5th year (in which case, it just gives you stipend money for that year, no benefit in reducing tuition later on).

I've been going over it with the office, and say...you want to do research between MS1 and MS2. Under the new structure, you have to pay for that first quarter of 100% Med Scholars. So it's full tuition (15k) + living expenses. Med Scholars will cover the tuition (full 15k), and give you a 2k living stipend (which, yes, isn't enough to cover your living expenses for 10 weeks in Palo Alto).

Some people will qualify for additional aid from the school if they also qualified for Stanford University grants. But, if you didn't (like me), it means you have to take out more loans over the MS1 summer to cover living expenses.

Stanford... basically one of the best medical schools in the country for research, makes it students take out loans to support their time doing research over the summer after MS1? Even my undergrad college gave my 4k/summer to do research. Ugh, it's just little things like this that are really bugging me. It's just such a complicated system it's so difficult to make sense of what you're actually going to pay in the end.

 

[jbz24]

There's *potential* there will be a spot opening up tomorrow. I'm going through the final phases of my decision process...and to be honest it could go either way at this point....but I need to decide by tomorrow, so I'll be talking things over with the parents tonight and I'll relay it once I decide. I keep flip-flopping to be honest.

Here's some thoughts, that might be relevant to other waitlisted students, especially if financial aid is an issue:

I guess, I'm somewhat upset with the financial aid changes and I just feel like Stanford needs to adopt a way less complicated system after going over the office with it. I just don't really get the point of having to pay any tuition when you're doing research full time (even if it gets covered by some sort of grant). Why not just give everyone a stipend and leave it at that? They've also structured it so that Med Scholars becomes essentially way less useful unless you absolutely take a 5th year (in which case, it just gives you stipend money for that year, no benefit in reducing tuition later on).

I've been going over it with the office, and say...you want to do research between MS1 and MS2. Under the new structure, you have to pay for that first quarter of 100% Med Scholars. So it's full tuition (15k) + living expenses. Med Scholars will cover the tuition (full 15k), and give you a 2k living stipend (which, yes, isn't enough to cover your living expenses for 10 weeks in Palo Alto).

Some people will qualify for additional aid from the school if they also qualified for Stanford University grants. But, if you didn't (like me), it means you have to take out more loans over the MS1 summer to cover living expenses.

Stanford... basically one of the best medical schools in the country for research, makes it students take out loans to support their time doing research over the summer after MS1? Even my undergrad college gave my 4k/summer to do research. Ugh, it's just little things like this that are really bugging me. It's just such a complicated system it's so difficult to make sense of what you're actually going to pay in the end.

How was your trip to Stanford?

 

[mdeast]

How was your trip to Stanford?

Pretty good actually. Definitely informative. I PMed you about it.

 

[wolfiemd]

Pretty good actually. Definitely informative. I PMed you about it.

what did you learn?

 

[deleted297751]

From what I've heard about financial aid, it does seem that research through the med scholars program is no longer a good way to offset loans, as it was in the past. Now, the most direct ways involve being a research assistant or being a teaching assistant, both of which pay large amounts of money for tuition reduction. After the MS1 summer, you are essentially funded to do research, but I do agree that the MS1 summer is particularly tricky to fund, though I do believe there are a lot of external grants that can help fund that summer, and unlike undergrad, competing for these grants in medical school tends to look at the total amount that you will be paying for medical school in the future as opposed to how much your parents make, making Stanford students good candidates for getting them. I still feel even with their new more confusing system that doesn't on-face show a cheap tuition, it's not impossible to find funding to decrease the loans, though yes it will take some work.

 

[mdeast]

From what I've heard about financial aid, it does seem that research through the med scholars program is no longer a good way to offset loans, as it was in the past. Now, the most direct ways involve being a research assistant or being a teaching assistant, both of which pay large amounts of money for tuition reduction. After the MS1 summer, you are essentially funded to do research, but I do agree that the MS1 summer is particularly tricky to fund, though I do believe there are a lot of external grants that can help fund that summer, and unlike undergrad, competing for these grants in medical school tends to look at the total amount that you will be paying for medical school in the future as opposed to how much your parents make, making Stanford students good candidates for getting them. I still feel even with their new more confusing system that doesn't on-face show a cheap tuition, it's not impossible to find funding to decrease the loans, though yes it will take some work.

Are you a Stanford student...or soon-to-be student?

And wolfie...it was mainly just like personal questions I had. Everyone there is super nice about answering questions. It definitely is a very friendly place.

 

[jbz24]

How does it work exactly? Tuition is broken down into quarters and you pay tuition for the summer? Why don't they just not charge for the quarter or just charge for semesters instead?

Edit: Nevermind you said how it works in your PM to me. Sinai makes you charge for living expenses too (can't tell about tuition because there's no summer "quarter"), although it's a guaranteed 3k if you decide to do research for the summer. How much is tuition for that quarter? I'm sure overall though the differences are negligible.

 

[mdeast]

How does it work exactly? Tuition is broken down into quarters and you pay tuition for the summer? Why don't they just not charge for the quarter or just charge for semesters instead?

It's a super complicated system.

That's what I think they should do! Just not charge for that summer. I think you can still take classes though, if you want. It's a very bizarre system. You're not charged by year...you're charged by quarter. This can potentially work out in your last year though. So...instead of doing rotations, you can say...spend a quarter during full time research in which you don't pay any tuition and get a stipend. You just need 13 quarters to graduate. So, technically...between the first year (+summer), and the next two full years...you have 12.

Stanford only has 15 months of required clinical clerkships and electives...so you could potentially even do two quarters of research your last year (maybe it's clinical, maybe it isn't)...and only pay 15k in tuition for your entire fourth year (which is only 3 quarters because you end in May).

It's such a game though...and I think the quarter system should be gotten rid of. I'd rather there was a standard tuition charge each year. It just makes things so complicated.

 

[jbz24]

It's a super complicated system.

That's what I think they should do! Just not charge for that summer. I think you can still take classes then if you want. It's a very bizarre system. You're not charged by year...you're charged by quarter. This can potentially work out in your last year though. So...instead of doing rotations, you can say...spend a quarter during full time research in which you don't pay any tuition and get a stipend. You just need 13 quarters to graduate. So, technically...between the first year (+summer), and the next two full years...you have 12.

Stanford only has 15 months of required clinical clerkships and electives...so you could potentially just two quarters of research your last year (maybe it's clinical, maybe it isn't)...and only pay 15k in tuition for your entire fourth year.

It's such a game though....

Ah I see. Well it's pretty cool that they do that so you can potentially save money 4th year. I guess it depends what field you're applying into. More competitive specialties you have to do more rotations/electives (especially aways) but if you're applying to a less competitive field you can save 15k which really is pretty good. Also, do you have to determine in advance that you're taking a quarter off to do research? Not sure how schedule choosing works at Stanford, but it might be difficult to set aside multiple consecutive months for research.

 

[deleted297751]

I'm not a current student but talked extensively to current students and the financial aid office to figure this out. You pay most for the first year, and every year after that is less expensive through the TAing and RAing and applying for scholarships.

 

[Penguin4]

This is my first post but I've been an avid stalker ever since I got on the wait list in January. I received the phone from Dr. Garcia at 5:35 PM PDT and I'm in the Bay Area, so I'm going to pick up the acceptance packet tomorrow. I started losing little bits and pieces of hope, but I just wanted to let all of you know that there still is hope!!

I do plan to matriculate in the fall and I did write a letter of intent in April.

 

[oze]

This is my first post but I've been an avid stalker ever since I got on the wait list in January. I received the phone from Dr. Garcia at 5:35 PM PDT and I'm in the Bay Area, so I'm going to pick up the acceptance packet tomorrow. I started losing little bits and pieces of hope, but I just wanted to let all of you know that there still is hope!!

I do plan to matriculate in the fall and I did write a letter of intent in April.

congratulations dude/dudette!

 

[oze]

in a somewhat related note - I'm out of the country right now - what happens if I get *the* call and I don't even know?

 

[TheFreak]

This is my first post but I've been an avid stalker ever since I got on the wait list in January. I received the phone from Dr. Garcia at 5:35 PM PDT and I'm in the Bay Area, so I'm going to pick up the acceptance packet tomorrow. I started losing little bits and pieces of hope, but I just wanted to let all of you know that there still is hope!!

I do plan to matriculate in the fall and I did write a letter of intent in April.

nice congratulations man. ive been losing bits and pieces of hope myself.

 

[wolfiemd]

in a somewhat related note - I'm out of the country right now - what happens if I get *the* call and I don't even know?

where are ya oze?

 

[mdeast]

Official enrolled today at Stanford. Was a really hard decision, but I couldn't turn down the beautiful weather for four years and novelty of living on a new coast.

I still love you Sinai, hardest email I've ever had to write.

 

[Otiose]

👍👍👍👍👍 congratulations mdeast! 👍👍👍👍👍

 

[mdeast]

👍👍👍👍👍 congratulations mdeast! 👍👍👍👍👍

Gracias! Congrats on Penn! (right?) I'm gonna miss Philly terribly.

 

[jbz24]

Official enrolled today at Stanford. Was a really hard decision, but I couldn't turn down the beautiful weather for four years and novelty of living on a new coast.

I still love you Sinai, hardest email I've ever had to write.

Congrats on your decision, now enjoy your summer 🙂

 

[oze]

where are ya oze?

home in mexico - I needed this.

 

[neuronc]

Official enrolled today at Stanford. Was a really hard decision, but I couldn't turn down the beautiful weather for four years and novelty of living on a new coast.

I still love you Sinai, hardest email I've ever had to write.

Congrats! Are you officially done or will you be sticking it out with Penn and Cornell still?

 

[Naijaba]

I guess the situation is looking rather bleak for the rest of us, it seems that everyone who was excepted last week is going to Stanford. Congratulations to everyone that's attending, but I hope that there are still spots left. : \

 

[jbz24]

I guess the situation is looking rather bleak for the rest of us, it seems that everyone who was excepted last week is going to Stanford. Congratulations to everyone that's attending, but I hope that there are still spots left. : \

Keep up the hope, but regardless, you're still attending a great school and will be an MD/PhD when it's all said and done.

 

[premad]

Official enrolled today at Stanford. Was a really hard decision, but I couldn't turn down the beautiful weather for four years and novelty of living on a new coast.

I still love you Sinai, hardest email I've ever had to write.

mdwest congrats!

 

[mdeast]

mdwest congrats!

Let's get one thing straight. Mdeast (despite his physical location) will always be a die hard East Coaster. Go Philly!

 

[oze]

Let's get one thing straight. Mdeast (despite his physical location) will always be a die hard East Coaster. Go Philly!

lets see how you feel after one winter over here while your family is scraping ice off their eyelids.

 

[mdeast]

lets see how you feel after one winter over here while your family is scraping ice off their eyelids.

Ugh. You West Coasters. Snow can be fun! I will most those snowy evenings in the city, when everyone ventures out to their neighborhood bar to get drunk. Seriously, great times.

 

[jbz24]

mdeast will come back as a tan, surfer-dude.

 

[mdeast]

mdeast will come back as a tan, surfer-dude.

Jbz that's socal not norcal.

 

[jbz24]

Jbz that's socal not norcal.

And that's why I can count the number of times I've been to California on one hand haha.

 

[chadwick]

mdeast will come back as a tan, surfer-dude.

If the weather is anything like it has been so far this year, mdeast will go back to Philly soggy and cold 🙂

 

[oze]

If the weather is anything like it has been so far this year, mdeast will go back to Philly soggy and cold 🙂

"The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco."

Granted, Palo Alto doesn't exactly have the same weather as SF

 

[Stanfordplease]

So what happened to the Facebook group? Is it still there? I can't see it. How many people are attending, do you think, MDeast (or other folks who are going)? Thanks! 🙂

 

[mdeast]

So what happened to the Facebook group? Is it still there? I can't see it. How many people are attending, do you think, MDeast (or other folks who are going)? Thanks! 🙂

75 students in the facebook group as of now. Not all '14ers though. And maybe some others? I saw pre-mad had posted on there in the past. Although she's going the H-way.

 

[premad]

"The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco."

Granted, Palo Alto doesn't exactly have the same weather as SF

Yeah, Palo Alto is sunny paradise. And I think there is surfing to be had not too far away, no? And, mdeast/west, I think California has converted many a die-hard east coaster. 🙂 I myself am from Colorado, and so hold no strong allegiance to either ocean-adjacent part of the country.

 

[jbz24]

Yeah, Palo Alto is sunny paradise. And I think there is surfing to be had not too far away, no? And, mdeast/west, I think California has converted many a die-hard east coaster. 🙂 I myself am from Colorado, and so hold no strong allegiance to either ocean-adjacent part of the country.

Sadly, I don't think the winters in Boston are going to win you over 🙂 It's bad enough in NYC.

 

[premad]

Sadly, I don't think the winters in Boston are going to win you over 🙂 It's bad enough in NYC.

Yeah, I lived in Boston for 2 years. Ugh. New England Winters. I got used to it, but man, Denver is not cold like that, the snow melts quickly because we have a little thing called sunshine. And the whole rain on top of snow on top of hail thing. Sigh. So much to look forward to. Please send sunshine, Stanford peeps.

 

[mdeast]

Sadly, I don't think the winters in Boston are going to win you over 🙂 It's bad enough in NYC.

Oh my....Boston winters.....Brrrrrrrr....I remember interviewing at BU in October and thinking it was already too cold then.

Though to be honest...09-10 was pretty terrible for everyone in the NE. I think it was actually the first time in my Philly history that I got sick of snow. But, I did appreciate the snow days away from work.

 

[wolfiemd]

sent an email to Dr. Garcia and got an automated response. He's out of reach until June 10th..which means there probably won't be any movement this week...if the class isn't already full

EDIT: Actually it say he is out until "Friday June 10th" but Friday is the 11th..so..

 

[mdeast]

Yeah, I lived in Boston for 2 years. Ugh. New England Winters. I got used to it, but man, Denver is not cold like that, the snow melts quickly because we have a little thing called sunshine. And the whole rain on top of snow on top of hail thing. Sigh. So much to look forward to. Please send sunshine, Stanford peeps.

Boston's a great city though. One of the few awesome American college towns. I think you'll be OK, and that Harvard degree at the end shouldn't be too shabby either. 🙂

 

[oze]

soooo.....

 

[jbz24]

soooo.....

What is this thread of which you speak?

 

[Feef]

soooo.....

Sigh... I think its safe to say the class is full. It was nice knowing you all, I will take my revenge on match day ...

Best of luck!

 

[oze]

What is this thread of which you speak?

Thats the kind of grammar that will get you into a place like Stanford

 

[oze]

Sigh... I think its safe to say the class is full. It was nice knowing you all, I will take my revenge on match day ...

Best of luck!

Feef nooooooooo