[2013 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results]

Undergrad Institution: Medical school in the middle east
Overall GPA: 4.00
Position in Class: 1st out of 50
Type of Student: International, male
GRE Scores (revised/old version):
Q: 170 (99%)
V: 157 (73%)
W: 3.5 (30%)


TOEFL Total: 108
Research Experience:

• Working in neuroscience research for more than a year
• 2 publications in peer-reviewed journals (2nd author, 6th author)
• Presented my research in an international medical student conference +travel grant + best poster presentation award.
• A 2-week research fellowship in a prestigious institute in Netherlands

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Few clinical electives in Europe, the latest was in University College London. Accepted for 2 more clinical electives at UAB and at Oxford University.


Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where: Cornell, Einstein, Rutgers, VCU, Baylor College, Emory, Vanderbilt, WUSTL, Utah, Hawaii

[Anyone Want To Make Bets On Where Other People Will Get In?]

Hello,

I am a medical graduate from a developing country. I have applied in many places in US and Europe. My credentials are:

• MBBCh degree, with honors, and an expected cumulative score around 90% (Excellent grade)
• Rank in class: 1st out of 50
• GRE scores: Q170, V157, AW3.5
• 1 year research experience in Neuroscience
• 2 publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Presented my research in an international medical student conference, got the best poster presentation award + travel grant for the conference
• A research fellowship in Netherlands
• Few clinical electives in Europe, the last one was in University College London.
• Acceped for 2 more clinical electives in 2013: one in Alabama and the 2nd in Oxford University.

Applied to: Cornell, Einstein, Rutgers, VCU, Baylor College, Emory, Vanderbilt, WUSTL, Utah, Hawaii.

 

I am disappointed because it seems that my applications are not being reviewed favorably. I just saw the posts of other applicants to Emory, Washington University in St. Louis, and Vanderbilt saying that interview invitations have already been sent.

[Reluctant to accept an offer from Germany]

Hello,

I am a medical graduate from a developing country. I have applied in many places in US and Europe. My credentials are:

• MBBCh degree, with honors, and an expected cumulative score around 90% (Excellent grade)
  
• Rank in class: 1st out of 50
  
• GRE scores: Q170 and V157.
  
• Working in neuroscience research for more than a year
  
• 2 publications in peer-reviewed journals
  
• Presented my research in an international medical student conference, got the best poster presentation award.
  
• Travel grant to attend this conference
  
• A research fellowship in Netherlands
  
• Few clinical electives in Europe, the last one was in University College London.
  
• Acceped for 2 more clinical electives in 2013: one in Alabama and the 2nd in Oxford University.
  
  I got my first offer from Wurzburg graduate school of life science (which belongs to the German cluster of Excellence). They asked me to give a decision asap and I am reluctant because I feel I will probably get other offers from more prestigious universities, if I wait.
  In my opinion, the pros are:
  • Very reasonable tax-free stipend (1,500 euros/month).
    
  • I will be awarded an MD/PhD since I am a medical graduate
    
  • Average time to get an MD/PhD is 3-4 years (compared to an average of 5.5 for a PhD in US)
    
  • Travelling to all european countries whether for scientific meetings or for vacations will be easy since I won't need to apply for visas
    

  The cons:

  [*]LANGUAGE !

  [*]Germany is not as open as US.

  [*]The University is not very highly ranked (unlike Charite' for example)

  [*]Not sure about the quality of a PhD in Germany. Is it comparable to US?

  [*]Not sure if I will have any postdoc opportunities in US afterwards, especially in top ranked Universities

  Can anybody help me decide? Are there any factors that I haven't considered? What about the quality of a PhD in Germany and its career prospects?

  Thanks for any help in advance!

  Cheers

[Neuroscience: chances for an international medical graduate]

I am a final year medical student from a developing country. I would like to ask about my chances of getting accepted in a Neuroscience program in US, and which programs will I have good chances in:

• My GRE scores are Q170 and V157.
  
• TOEFL iBT 108
  
• My medical program is 6 year. My cumulative GPA is 4.0. I kept the 1st rank for 5 years.
  
• I have done some Neuroscience research, submitted a paper that is currently being reviewed in a very high impact journal.
  
• Presented my research in an international medical student conference, got the best poster presentation award in Neurology.
  
• Travel grant to attend this conference
  
• A research fellowship in Netherlands
  
• Few clinical electives in Europe, the last one was in University College London.
  
• Acceped for 2 more clinical electives in 2013: one in Alabama and the 2nd in Oxford University.
  

I understand that getting into an Ivy league is extremely competitive. So, I am thinking of Pittsburg, SUNY buffalo, Utah and Vanderbilt. I have no clue if I have any chances in these