Who pays for MSTP Interviews?

[izibo]

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Most schools pay for PhD interview expenses (travel, accomodations, etc) while no MD programs (that I know of) pay for those expenses.

So, who the heck pays when you are interviewing MSTP?

 

[tedrik]

Most schools pay for PhD interview expenses (travel, accomodations, etc) while no MD programs (that I know of) pay for those expenses.

So, who the heck pays when you are interviewing MSTP?

The applicant will pick up the tab for most interviews. Some schools will pay for a part of your travel expenses, or will put you up in a hotel, but stay with a student host if you have the option. For the most part, schools on the coasts will make you pay for most -if not all- of the expenses while the Midwest schools will tend to help you out more.

 

[Reimat]

The applicant will pick up the tab for most interviews.

Why do you think that is? Is it because there is a greater volume of MSTP applicants to programs than PhD applicants? I think I'm just beginning to realize how expensive this whole process is going to be. I know if it results in admission to a funded MSTP it'll be worth it, but for the sake of my present bank account- yikes

 

[tedrik]

Why do you think that is? Is it because there is a greater volume of MSTP applicants to programs than PhD applicants? I think I'm just beginning to realize how expensive this whole process is going to be. I know if it results in admission to a funded MSTP it'll be worth it, but for the sake of my present bank account- yikes

I totally feel your frustration, I am just now starting to recover from all the money I spent on applying last cyle.

I guess that the issue of paying for interviews has to do with where the money is coming from. Once you become a student, your funding is going to be coming from an MD/PhD grant, like the MSTP. Maybe schools aren't allowed to use NIH money for recruiting purposes, or maybe there just isn't enough of it to go around. That would mean that the school itself would be picking up the tab. They are already spending a lot of money on recruitment after choosing who they want to accept (during 2nd looks) and paying for travel and hotel expenses for 100 interviewees would be a huge financial and logistical burden.

If paying for the interview is going to set you back farther than you are willing to go, then contact the school and let them know that you are really interested in them, but fliying out would be too expensive for you. You can at least try to see if they will help you out, but I wouldn't suggest this for any of your top choices. I've never personally known anyone who has done this, but I bet if a school wanted you bad enough and thoughr you might matriculate, then it could happen.

start saving those pennies!

 

[microTAS]

For lodging, every school I applied to had either student hosts or hotel. There was almost always free food. Don't ride taxis because there's almost always a mass transit route from the airport to the school or at least a shuttle.

Umich, WashU, and UWash pay for travel.

i usually got my tickets on www.studentuniverse.com. Don't rule out train either. You can force yourself to do a lot of homework on the train b/c they have ac outlets for the laptop and well, there's nothing better to do anyways. Just don't sit next to someone who wants to convert you to their religion/political cause/stupid philosophy arghhhh 😡

 

[tedrik]

Just don't sit next to someone who wants to convert you to their religion/political cause/stupid philosophy arghhhh 😡

 

[mdphd2b]

Back when I was interviewing, I knew that Tufts and Vandy paid for travel. Also, Pitt and Maryland both paid for my Second Look.

 

[invt]

Duke will reimburse for travel expenses too. All of the schools I interviewed at provided housing (some at a hotel, others at a student host's place). Interviewing is expensive though--less expensive than MD, but still a chunk of change. Revisits were nice, though. Most schools (at least all of the ones I visited) will pay for all of revisit (travel, lodging, entertainment, etc.).

 

[lynnier79]

other schools that paid for travel include:

Utah (reimbursed me for $300 plus set up hotel, activities etc)
Colorado Health Sciences (paid for all denver based stuff -- hotel, shuttles, etc, but not for airfare, i dont think)
Univ of Illinois at Chicago (reimbursed airfare, paid hotel, some meals, etc)
Northwestern (paid hotel, meals, etc, not airfare)
UMASS (paid for hotel both interview and second look -- and i didnt need airfare)

personally, i did not enjoy staying with students. it was hard for me to be a guest at someone's home. i oftem felt like i had to socialize a lot the night before, when i was nervous, so that was hard. i chose to stay in hotels in some cases but i picked up the tab myself. that was mostly when i was saving money by not driving.

 

[Reimat]

How much time is there between an interview notification and the actual interview? I wonder because in my experience most flights are relatively inexpensive if you book 2 months in advance, but sharply increase in price the closer you get to the actual date. Probably a little early for me to be worrying about this.. 😉

 

[microTAS]

"How much time is there between an interview notification and the actual interview?"

I'm not 100% sure on this one, but I remember 2 weeks was the minimum and ~ 1.5 month was the median for me. You can always call them and try to rearrange your interview to another date.

 

[gwang]

How much time is there between an interview notification and the actual interview?

Usually a month for me.

Staying with a student isn't that bad. I found it to be very relaxing to chat with an insider the night before. All my hosts were very nice, they understood that I needed rest and would ask if I wanted to go to sleep early or talk for a while. They can tell you about your interviewers, warn you if a particular interviewer might come off as intimidating, and tell you about life in general in that school/city. The next morning they would drop you off at the school, so you don't have to worry about getting lost or stuck in traffic. And it definitely saves money!