Summary of Experience:
AE's MSTP program is very unique, with a very heavy emphasis on research. Although it is a great program, I knew coming out of the interview that I did not match the program well. Rejection did not surprise me in the least.
Summary of Experience:
UNC is a charming campus with a lot of people dressed in sky blue. It is a true college town/city, with a great location. The program boasts some of the highest F-grant yields (there is a bootcamp dedicated to grant writing that all MSTP students must attend), and two directors oversee the translational and basic sciences. Overall a great program, with one of the more relaxed interview weekend experiences.
Summary of Experience:
One of my more complicated interview experiences - one interviewer was a no show, and another assumed I wanted to do research in Cancer Bio, which wasn't entirely correct. Still, an awesome program, with a fantastic leadership team. Atlanta's great and the university is beautiful.
Summary of Experience:
I really enjoyed Rochester - it was among my favorite interviews overall, and the director is a great guy. I probably would have enjoyed Rochester (with the exception of the winter), but after receiving an acceptance to UCSD, I decided to withdraw my application.
Long School of Medicine - University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio
Applying for combined PhD/MSTP? Yes
Submitted: Yes
Secondary Completed: Yes
Interview Invite: Yes
Interview Attended: Yes
Waitlisted: No
Accepted: Yes
Rejected: No
Summary of Experience:
San Antonio's program has a lot to offer, and I suspect, in the coming years it will grow quite a bit. The medical side of the program was in a bit of danger a few years back, so the curriculum has been revamped to match what is commonly seen in the UC system. Research wise, this school had some amazingly large lab spaces (bigger is always better in Texas), and the director is very fatherly. I feel like this program is great if applicants are planning to start families, as it is very supportive and family-like in nature.
Summary of Experience:
USC's MD/PhD program is joint with Caltech, which makes this a very unique program. All USC applicants get to interview at Caltech (which is not true for UCLA, where only some of the MSTP applicants interview for Caltech). Caltech is perhaps one of the most interesting universities I have visited. USC, as well, has a top tier medical program. Their new cancer facilities were quite amazing.
Summary of Experience:
I'm absolutely ecstatic. This was a top choice for me, and I'm very honored to have had the opportunity to interview. UCSD is known for its neuroscience program, and so I really do think this is the best fit for me. Professors were awesome, and the entire experience seemed less like an interview and more like an academic conference.
