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- Sep 14, 2016
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Hi everyone -- In case anyone remembers me, I first want to write a heartfelt thank you to the support I received last September at the start of my interview process. I applied late due to a July MCAT date and spending a bit too much time on secondaries, and I'm happy and relieved to say that I had multiple interviews at top programs and currently have 3 MSTP offers. I'm very very grateful to be in this position!
I'm writing today to ask about one offer that I'm finding hard to turn down. It's an MD-only, unfunded offer from Stanford. It's a dream of mine to do an MD/PhD at Stanford, especially given my interests in computational neuroscience and neural engineering. Stanford's pedigree speaks for itself. If the offer had been for the MSTP, I would have accepted it on day one.
I've spoken to Stanford MSTP students that applied via the internal MSTP route, and they said that it is feasible to matriculate as an MD candidate with the intention of completing a PhD, and then apply for the funding and the position in the first or second year of medical school. However, neither the funding nor the PhD admission are guaranteed, and there is a financial burden involved in covering the first 1-2 years of medical school. Additionally, I would have to carve out a substantial amount of time during my first 1-2 med years to do focused research with a potential PhD mentor. Essentially, I might be sacrificing my peace of mind and tens of thousands of dollars during those first two years for the potential reward of earning an MD/PhD from Stanford.
On the flip side, I am considering three amazing MSTP offers: Wash U, U Chicago, and UCLA. The no-brainer answer is to take one of these offers, but I'm having a tough time considering these three at face value without having ruled out Stanford first. I'm planning to visit Stanford and speak to the MSTP office to sort out the details of the internal candidacy route, but I'm wondering how far I can push there: is there any chance they could "fast track" me to an MSTP position, and is it reasonable to ask them about this possibility? Is there any precedent for such a thing?
I'm wary of sounding like I am complaining when in this position -- I'd just really value some input on the benefits and disadvantages of considering the MD offer as someone who knows he wants to complete an MD/PhD and has other funded offers in hand. (It doesn't help that all four of these schools are holding their revisits during the same weekend in April.)
Thank you in advance for your input. I would sincerely appreciate it!
Take the funded MSTP position at Wash U. That's your best option overall (from a science/medicine standpoint). Glad to chat with you at length if you want more inputHi everyone -- In case anyone remembers me, I first want to write a heartfelt thank you to the support I received last September at the start of my interview process. I applied late due to a July MCAT date and spending a bit too much time on secondaries, and I'm happy and relieved to say that I had multiple interviews at top programs and currently have 3 MSTP offers. I'm very very grateful to be in this position!
I'm writing today to ask about one offer that I'm finding hard to turn down. It's an MD-only, unfunded offer from Stanford. It's a dream of mine to do an MD/PhD at Stanford, especially given my interests in computational neuroscience and neural engineering. Stanford's pedigree speaks for itself. If the offer had been for the MSTP, I would have accepted it on day one.
I've spoken to Stanford MSTP students that applied via the internal MSTP route, and they said that it is feasible to matriculate as an MD candidate with the intention of completing a PhD, and then apply for the funding and the position in the first or second year of medical school. However, neither the funding nor the PhD admission are guaranteed, and there is a financial burden involved in covering the first 1-2 years of medical school. Additionally, I would have to carve out a substantial amount of time during my first 1-2 med years to do focused research with a potential PhD mentor. Essentially, I might be sacrificing my peace of mind and tens of thousands of dollars during those first two years for the potential reward of earning an MD/PhD from Stanford.
On the flip side, I am considering three amazing MSTP offers: Wash U, U Chicago, and UCLA. The no-brainer answer is to take one of these offers, but I'm having a tough time considering these three at face value without having ruled out Stanford first. I'm planning to visit Stanford and speak to the MSTP office to sort out the details of the internal candidacy route, but I'm wondering how far I can push there: is there any chance they could "fast track" me to an MSTP position, and is it reasonable to ask them about this possibility? Is there any precedent for such a thing?
I'm wary of sounding like I am complaining when in this position -- I'd just really value some input on the benefits and disadvantages of considering the MD offer as someone who knows he wants to complete an MD/PhD and has other funded offers in hand. (It doesn't help that all four of these schools are holding their revisits during the same weekend in April.)
Thank you in advance for your input. I would sincerely appreciate it!