Washington University
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I got an email from them asking for an electronic copy of my AMCAS to speed up the review process but that's it. I think a few other people have received a book from them listing the faculty available for interviews.
I got the book along with a letter saying that my MSTP application is complete a little while back. It made it sound like everyone gets the book once the app is done. Keeping the fingers crossed on this one.
I also got the e-mail about sending a copy of my AMCAS to the MSTP program; anybody know how to transform AMCAS into a *.pdf or Word document in order to send it on? I can save it as an *.html, but I'm having trouble doing anything more with it...
I couldn't figure this out either, so I just sent the .html file as an attachment since it preserves all of the original formatting. I didn't get a response saying they couldn't open the file, so I'm assuming it worked. 😕
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Don't worry, they already know. Often they will ask you at interviews. Be honest, if they want to know, they can find out easily.
I have heard stories of several administrators from different programs talking to each other about where some star students will end up - e.g. will she pick hopkins over harvard? Will he stay midwest in St. Louis or try out east coast U Penn?
The 'superstars' end up being well known amongst the schools.
As for the rest of us, lets just hope we end up somewhere decent!
The 'superstars' end up being well known amongst the schools.
As for the rest of us, lets just hope we end up somewhere decent!
They do communicate.
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probably
Northwestern actually asks on their supplementary application for a listing of all the other programs you've applied to...
Ok, here it is from the horse's mouth. As far as I am aware, MD/PhD programs do not communicate with one another during the admissions season about applicants. How do I know this? Well, I've been involved with a MD/PhD program since most of you were doing your first Science Fair projects. When programs do communicate with one another, it is to coordinate travel arrangements or inquire about admissions numbers. We do not ever notify other programs of our admissions actions or tell them what we think of applicants before all applicants have made a final decision. In June, programs submit matriculation lists, and these are compiled into a report which is distributed to all programs. Please note that this is done after applicants have made their final decision, and therefore has no bearing whatsoever on admissions decisions made by programs. (In July, many programs directors and administrators attend a meeting in Colorado where we do gossip about specific applicants, particularly the jerky ones.)
I do have to say however, that we do get information from AMCAS beginning in March on something called the Multiple Acceptance List. The way it works is this: if you have accepted offers from Yale, Iowa, and UCSD, beginning in March your name will appear on the MAL that is distributed to each of those schools. The list Yale gets will show that you have accepted offers from Iowa & UCSD, the list given Iowa will show you holding acceptances at Yale & Ucsd, etc. Your name appears on this list only if you have accepted offers at more than one school, and only the schools that you have accepted offers from are notified of that fact. So if you are waitlisted or decision pending at WashU, the folks at WashU have no idea that you have accepted offers from Yale, Iowa & UCSD. Thus, your chances at Wash U are in no way affected by your decision to accept offers from other schools. Offers that you have declined or have not acted on are not shown on the list.
Some of you guys need to take a deep breath, put aside premed paranoia, and chill out for the next 6-7 months. We are not here to tortue you or make your life miserable; we aren't evil or sadistic (for the most part). We are working to train you to be the next generation of leaders in biomedical research and patient care. Give us a little bit of credit, okay?
Best of luck to all of you who will be interviewing this year.
I do have to say however, that we do get information from AMCAS beginning in March on something called the Multiple Acceptance List. The way it works is this: if you have accepted offers from Yale, Iowa, and UCSD, beginning in March your name will appear on the MAL that is distributed to each of those schools. The list Yale gets will show that you have accepted offers from Iowa & UCSD, the list given Iowa will show you holding acceptances at Yale & Ucsd, etc. Your name appears on this list only if you have accepted offers at more than one school, and only the schools that you have accepted offers from are notified of that fact. So if you are waitlisted or decision pending at WashU, the folks at WashU have no idea that you have accepted offers from Yale, Iowa & UCSD. Thus, your chances at Wash U are in no way affected by your decision to accept offers from other schools. Offers that you have declined or have not acted on are not shown on the list.
Some of you guys need to take a deep breath, put aside premed paranoia, and chill out for the next 6-7 months. We are not here to tortue you or make your life miserable; we aren't evil or sadistic (for the most part). We are working to train you to be the next generation of leaders in biomedical research and patient care. Give us a little bit of credit, okay?
Best of luck to all of you who will be interviewing this year.
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If they are going to reject me, I would rather they reject me now, then in May. I want to know, I can't stand it any more. I have been in review at Wash U since july, and I have not heard anything from them. At least they could classify applicants into groups by now, and let the poor people know what it is going on.
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Chill. Or the next 8 months of your life are going to be horrible. Waitlists tend to move a lot with MSTPs. You may end up with more spots than you know what to do with. Just relax and have fun if you've already turned in all your applications (which I most certainly have not).
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While I agree with quagmire, I'd say to wait about another month. If you still have no answer, I would call them and ask your status. If you are on "hold for interview", it is very unlikely you will receive an interview. WashU and Hopkins are both notorious for this and they don't typically tell the applicants this information unless they call and ask.
Note: This does not mean you are already on hold. They may just not be done making their initial interview decisions (Penn isn't!).
Good luck!
Note: This does not mean you are already on hold. They may just not be done making their initial interview decisions (Penn isn't!).
Good luck!
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I was killing some time in the library when I read this post, so I went downstairs to the Wash u MSTP office to ask them about this issue. (It was fortuitous that I did because they gave me a whole pizza they had left from lunch! No cookin' tonight for me
) Brian told me that applications that pass an initial screening (about 230 out of the 400 that they receive) are reviewed by members of the MSTP committee, who decide whether to recommend an interview. Typically, 200 applicants are recommended for interview. Since there are only 100 or so interview spots, the MSTP co-directors pick which applicants will be interviewed. Because interview decisions are made on a rolling basis, there are some applicants who are put on hold, and will be considered for an interview later, usually after all applications are reviewed.
Last year, there were 30 applicants put on hold; 5 of them were eventually interviewed. Most of the rest on hold were rejected at the beginning of January. Rejections are made throughout the admissions season, so once a decision is made you are notified. Brian said that deciding who to interview is a very inexact art, and many strong applicants are never taken off the hold list. It sounds like this is what happened to Neuronix.
Brian told me that they've received 180 applications so far this year; 16 have been scheduled for interview, 50 have been rejected, 25 are under review, 12 are on hold, and the rest have not yet been completed. He said that the applications on hold will be revisited periodically. So Fritz, if you are on hold, then you still have a chance at an interview. He said that they review applications on the hold list periodically, but you may not be notified until some time in January. Waiting like this sucks, but at least there is still a chance for you (unlike those unlucky 50 who have already received the "Dear John" letter).
I imagine the story at Hopkins is similar; maybe a SDNer at that program can check in with Thommie Williams and get the story.
Well, it is time to go catch the Bears & Packers and have some pizza & beer. Does life get any better than this?
) Brian told me that applications that pass an initial screening (about 230 out of the 400 that they receive) are reviewed by members of the MSTP committee, who decide whether to recommend an interview. Typically, 200 applicants are recommended for interview. Since there are only 100 or so interview spots, the MSTP co-directors pick which applicants will be interviewed. Because interview decisions are made on a rolling basis, there are some applicants who are put on hold, and will be considered for an interview later, usually after all applications are reviewed. Last year, there were 30 applicants put on hold; 5 of them were eventually interviewed. Most of the rest on hold were rejected at the beginning of January. Rejections are made throughout the admissions season, so once a decision is made you are notified. Brian said that deciding who to interview is a very inexact art, and many strong applicants are never taken off the hold list. It sounds like this is what happened to Neuronix.
Brian told me that they've received 180 applications so far this year; 16 have been scheduled for interview, 50 have been rejected, 25 are under review, 12 are on hold, and the rest have not yet been completed. He said that the applications on hold will be revisited periodically. So Fritz, if you are on hold, then you still have a chance at an interview. He said that they review applications on the hold list periodically, but you may not be notified until some time in January. Waiting like this sucks, but at least there is still a chance for you (unlike those unlucky 50 who have already received the "Dear John" letter).
I imagine the story at Hopkins is similar; maybe a SDNer at that program can check in with Thommie Williams and get the story.
Well, it is time to go catch the Bears & Packers and have some pizza & beer. Does life get any better than this?
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Thanks for the information, it made me feel a little better. Sometimes, the wait is killing me. I wish I would have enough courage to pick up the phone and call them, but I guess I don't. I don't want to bother them.
But your answers really made me feel better. Thanks.
But your answers really made me feel better. Thanks.
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I've also been in review at WashU since late July. It would definately be nice if they updated you on status through a website. But then, some programs just pretend to have a status website... like UCLA... they haven't posted my rec letters that arrived there a whole month ago. "We're running a little slow, it'll be up in a couple of days" they say..
Just so you know I am a second year at Wash U in the MSTP program. If any of you have questions please feel free to PM me. I will try to get back to you. Hopefully the email notification will work since I am not so good at checking the site.
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I see a big fat rejection ( or rather really slim envelope) coming from Wash U. They have not contacted me yet with any information. Not even a catalog from where you pick the scientists you want to talk to. So my guess right now is they really don't want me. I guess it is just my numbers, they are a little bit below the average of what Wash U accepts. They propably don't care about my 3 years of research experience, full time position in academic research. Well it was nice to try, I'll post it on my first rejection thread as soon as it comes in.
Good luck to everyone applying!
Good luck to everyone applying!
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Hey Fritz it's best not to take these things personally. I said the same sorts of things when they rejected me. I bet you'll get in somewhere great. Who wants to be in St. Louis anyways (sorry WashU people)? 😀
I'm coming to the defense of a sister institution because I think it is important to set the record straight on what MD/PhD programs are looking for. If your MCAT is slightly below their average, I am pretty sure that it had nothing to do with Wash U's decision. MD/PhD programs are more tolerant of pedestrian MCATs than MD admissions committees. A lower MCAT (i.e. 30) will not doom your application. Two years ago, Wash U's MSTP admitted an applicant who had a 25 MCAT. I know this because our school admitted this same person. (For those of you who may be thinking that this applicant must have been a minority or the progeny of some rich or famous person, I am happy to say that that was not the case.) Our school has rejected applicants with 4.0 from Stanford and 40 MCATs; I'm sure Wash U and other MD/PhD programs have done the same. MD/PhD programs look at your potential to be a researcher, as evidenced by the quality of your previous research experience and the letters of recommendation from you PIs. So if there is a problem with your application, it is probably in that area. Maybe your letters of recommendation are not as strong as they might be or maybe your research experience is not as compelling as that of other applicants.
I notice that you have not posted on the interviews scheduled thread, so unless WashU is the only place that you completed an application to, other programs are probably having the same take on your application. That is not to say that you will not get interviews, I'm sure you will, it is just that your application is not knocking anybody's socks off at this time. Schools tend to go after the hottest applicants first, then turn their attention to the merely excellent applicants. If your research experience is good and you are not a world-class misanthrope, you will almost certainly get accepted by a MD/PhD program.
Neuronix is right, the next several months will be full of twists and turns, so you need to keep on an even keel emotionally and not take the rejection personally. Just remember that the programs have to deal with rejection as well; with a few exceptions, programs receive more declines than acceptances of offers every year. You may get 5 rejections this year; some programs will get 7 or 8 times that number. (And they get it year after year.) I'm not trying to make light of your apprehension or disappointment, but you need to keep it in perspective. Next year at this time you will be reeking of phenol and trying to memorize every nerve in the human body: talk about misery...
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I have only applied to 4 schools for MSTP, Wash U was my first choice. My secondary just completed processing for two of the other programs, and I have been in review at my 4th choice for about 2 weeks. So I'd better not be getting 5 rejections because I have only 4 schools.
I really don't think that there is anything wrong with my application because I know that my recommenders have written very strong letters for me, they actually had absolutely nothing to complain about. Plus, I don't believe that any of the undergrads applying can equal my research experience. I can't tell you where I work because that would mean giving myself out, and I don't want to do that, but I can say that this company is very careful when they hire people. I was one of the very few individuals hired right after graduation. I had to send in my transcript and I had to give a talk on my research, so this is not your average biotech company. I worked on some very high profile projects. I have a wealth of knowledge of a lot of lab techniques, which one can only get with experience; in any case, one cannot get that experience working part time in the lab in undergrad. Anyway, I don't want to seem arogant; but I know what qualities and what knowledge I posses and what knowledge I don't posses.
So I really don't think is anything wrong with my application. I believe is either the numbers or the fact that I am a slightly older applicant, with family, etc, and the school might think that taking care of a family would take time away from lab work. This whole process is a gamble anyway.
But I'll make sure to let you know when I get my rejection.
I really don't think that there is anything wrong with my application because I know that my recommenders have written very strong letters for me, they actually had absolutely nothing to complain about. Plus, I don't believe that any of the undergrads applying can equal my research experience. I can't tell you where I work because that would mean giving myself out, and I don't want to do that, but I can say that this company is very careful when they hire people. I was one of the very few individuals hired right after graduation. I had to send in my transcript and I had to give a talk on my research, so this is not your average biotech company. I worked on some very high profile projects. I have a wealth of knowledge of a lot of lab techniques, which one can only get with experience; in any case, one cannot get that experience working part time in the lab in undergrad. Anyway, I don't want to seem arogant; but I know what qualities and what knowledge I posses and what knowledge I don't posses.
So I really don't think is anything wrong with my application. I believe is either the numbers or the fact that I am a slightly older applicant, with family, etc, and the school might think that taking care of a family would take time away from lab work. This whole process is a gamble anyway.
But I'll make sure to let you know when I get my rejection.
