Brief Profile:
I will give a much more detailed account of my journey at a later point in time. For now, I will say that I took a very round-about approach during my application cycle. At first, I was first an MD-only applicant who loved research. However, after submitting my applications and receiving my final MCAT score, I decided to apply MSTP. This began a long process of contacting all my schools to switch my application. Abbreviations: MD: MD program-related MSTP: MD/PhD program-related SR: secondary received (many times I first received my MD secondary before my MSTP secondary) SS: secondary submitted SC: secondary complete (as marked by the school) LoRs: Letters of Recommendation (because I needed additional letters for my MSTP application, I often had to wait until schools received new letters to mark my MSTP application complete) R: rejection (specific to MD, MSTP, or both) W: withdrew my application
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 08/16/2011
Undergraduate college: Cornell College
Undergraduate Area of study: Biological/Life Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 520
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 130,
C/P 130,
CARS 130
Overall GPA: 3.64
Science GPA: 3.48
Applied, Withdrew
Michigan State University
Applying for combined PhD/MSTP? No
Submitted: Yes
Secondary Completed: No
Interview Invite: No
Interview Attended: No
Waitlisted: No
Accepted: No
Rejected: No
Summary of Experience:
I initially applied MD only on AMCAS.
MD SR: 09/21/2011
Once I received the secondary, I decided the average graduate indebtedness is too high (~$173,000) and lost interest in applying.
Summary of Experience:
I initially applied MD only on AMCAS.
MD SR: 09/29/2011
Once I received the secondary, I found out that Brown does not accept external MSTP applicants. So, in order to attend Brown as an MSTP student, one must first matriculate into the MD program, then reapply during medical school. This ended my interest in the school.
Summary of Experience:
I have worked on Emory University\'s campus from 10/26/2010 until the time I applied. Also, I initially applied MD only on AMCAS.
I met with one of the MSTP co-directors, Dr. Horton, to discuss the MSTP program: 09/16/2011
Summary of Experience:
I initially applied MD only on AMCAS. But, I knew I wanted to apply MSTP at this school. I had the HARDEST time contacted this school and getting responses. Phone calls were never answered, emails were never responded to. I tried to contact MSSM from 09/21/2011-10/13/2011 about applying MSTP instead of MD only. Because I couldn\'t get ahold of them, this lead to tons of problems for me which I will describe below.
MD SR: 10/05/2011
MD SC: 10/05/2011
MSTP SR: 10/18/2011
Because I didn\'t get the MSSM admissions office to switch my application earlier, I had to resubmit my application more than half a month after I first completed it.
MSTP SC: 10/25/2011
However, even though I submitted my MSTP secondary at the end of October, it wasn\'t verified until 12/01/2011. I think this is a very poor turn around on behalf of the school, and I\'m very disappointed with MSSM in terms of communicating with applicants who put a lot of effort into contacting them.
Don\'t know what happened here. I was rejected from both the MD and MSTP programs before my LoRs even made it there. A medical student from UMich consoled me by telling me that UChic is \"where fun goes to die.\" It worked.
Summary of Experience:
I initially applied MD only on AMCAS.
MD/MSTP SR: 09/21/2011
Once I received the secondary, I switched my DU application on AMCAS to MD/PhD and completed the MSTP portion of the secondary as both program\'s secondaries were included.
MD/MSTP SS/SC: 09/30/2011
I contacted DU to make them aware of the change. They were very hard to get ahold of, but eventually they were relatively nice about helping me.
LORs received: 10/07/2011
MD/MSTP R: Received Wednesday, 11/30/2011 @ 4:40pm EST.
The MSTP was nice enough to reject me via email. The MD never contacted me to let me know I was rejected. When I asked them to make sure I was rejected from both programs, they were kind of rude about it.
MSTP R: 11/13 - I submitted my MSTP application too late. I didn\\\'t know that Pittsburgh ends its MSTP interview season really early (November!). I am still eligible for the MD program.
Summary of Experience:
I initially applied to only the UT track on AMCAS.
MD/MSTP SR: 09/20/2011
Once I received the secondary, I switched my CWRU application on AMCAS to MD/PhD and completed the MSTP portion of the secondary as both program\'s secondaries are included.
MD/MSTP SS: 09/28/2011
I contacted CWRU to make them aware of the change. They were very kind.
MD/MSTP SC: 09/30/2011
CWRU marked my application complete as soon as the minimum # of LORs were met. If you want all of your letters considered, get them to CWRU at the same time... preferably before you submit your secondary.
LORs complete: 10/06/2011
II: Received Tuesday, 12/12/2011 @ 8:24am EST. Scheduled for 01/16-17.
01/22/2011: I think I might not attend this interview. It\'s the last one in my season, and I\'m getting tired. Also, they don\'t pay for airfare!
Summary of Experience:
I initially appled MD only on AMCAS.
MD/\"MSTP\" SR: 09/21/2011
The program here is not NIH-funded, and is not a true \"MSTP\".
MD/\"MSTP\" SC: 10/03/2011
LORs Received: 10/10/2011
Pooled: 10/15/2011
II: Received Thursday, 12/08/2011 @ 5:38pm CST. I initially scheduled for 01/05-06/2012; however, a conflict arose and I rescheduled for 02/02-03/2012. This was AFTER all flight and hotel arrangements had been made. But, Carol Knapp was absolutely fantastic and she was so kind throughout the scheduling process. It\'s 01/22/2012, and I would have cancelled my interview by now except for Carol\'s generosity.
Summary of Experience:
I initially applied MD only on AMCAS.
MD/MSTP SR: 09/27/2011
Once I received the secondary, I switched my JMC application on AMCAS to MD/PhD and completed the \"MSTP\" portion of the secondary as the secondary is very simple (no essays!). The program at Jefferson is not NIH-funded, therefore it is not a true \"MSTP\".
MD/\"MSTP\" SC: 10/04/2011
II: Received Tuesday, 11/15/2011 @ 4:46pm EST. Scheduled for 11/29-30/2011.
The admissions people were very nice and worked around previous commitments to get me an interview date.
The interview agenda itself was nice. The school is nestled in a very historic part of Philadelphia, so it had a more traditional feeling. The students were nice, but I did not feel a deep love for their school. The non-MSTP status of this program puts it at a disadvantage in my mind, and on top of the stiff and rather cold East coast feeling, I did not leave this experience in love with JMC.
Interview format: One interviewer at a time, open file with access to MCAT and GPA, MD/PhD day: 3 faculty interviews @ ~40 minutes MD day: 1 faculty interview @ 1 hour, 1 student interview @ 30 minutes I liked the fact that JMC included a tour of research/core facilities during the interview day. Length of day: 11/29=1:00pm-8:30pm 11/30=9:30am-4:00pm
MD/MSTP \"High Priority\" Waitlist: Received Friday, 12/23/2011 @ 8:33am EST.
The atmosphere at this school blew me away. The staff were so welcoming, the students were so enthusiastic about their school, and the medical center is adding so many new buildings that I left this interview really wanting to attend this school. Since it is my first interview, I\'m trying to keep an open mind. BUT, I did email the director of the MSTP program in order to ask if I could submit a post-deadline MSTP application. He agreed so I really hope I make it because this is a great school.
Interview format: One interviewer at a time, open file but no MCAT score or GPA, faculty interview=30 minutes, student interview=~20 minutes Most of the day was spent listening to lectures, touring, and speaking with students Highlights: new curriculum that gets students involved clinically within the first month, new medical center, cranberry hummus pita wrap for lunch. Length of day: 9:45-3:00
