UCLA/Caltech

[eklope2000]

I have two questions about UCLA/Caltech MSTP for any veterans who've interviewed/been accepted there or have done some research about this program.

1. It seems to me that this program would rank among the top MSTP programs in the country, considering that Caltech is a number one graduate school for most sciences and UCLA medical school is among the top in funding and highly regarded. Do you have any idea how people in academic medicine would compare the strength of this program to that of other top MSTPs like Harvard/MIT, UCSF, WashU, Hopkins? Are there any differences prestige-wise in academic medicine?

2. Do you know anything about in-house admissions (IE applying to UCLA/Caltech MSTP as a UCLA MS1 or MS2)? Considering how there are only two seats offered per year for the Caltech option, would in-house candidates have to rely on one of these two people dropping the program, or is there some flexibility with regard to adding on another well-qualified student to the program? This seems somewhat problematic to me, since a MS1 applying in-house is effectively applying for an MSTP class that was already chosen in the previous year's application cycle. My gut feeling is that UCLA/UCLA (UCLA PhD) would be more flexible in adding a UCLA medical student to the MSTP program, since there are both more positions (and more chance of cahdidates dropping out) and it's UCLA's call and doesn't involve a second institution which may have its own limitations/requirements. I know this is a specific question about a specific program--but any tangential advice about this is welcome... even in regard to in-house admissions in general or at other MSTPs.

Thanks!

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[Trashino]

I interviewed with the UCLA/Caltech program, and talked with a few current students while I was there. To answer your first question, yes, this is one of the top in the country (based upon the quality of students, PIs and funding). I met people there who turned down a couple of the other programs you mentioned in favor of UCLA/Caltech. I would say one of the disadvantages it might have over some other top programs is the very small class size. You pretty much would be going it alone at Caltech as far as an MSTP class. In addition, the two campuses are far enough apart that one has to move between medical and graduate years, and then back again for rotations, unless you can put up with a horrendous commute. As with other top basic science programs, Caltech can take several years for the completion of the PhD, so your time in the program could stretch in comparison to places that have the PhD/MD more closely tied.

I don't know about in house admissions to the Caltech/UCLA program, but I have heard of some UCLA students being in-house admits to the UCLA MSTP. I hope some of this rambling was helpful. If you have more question, feel free to pm me. I also was down there for the USC/Caltech program, so I can give some comments on that as well.