MSP Interview Day Packet
This information is for applicants that have been invited to interview
for admission to the MSP.
Instructions/Reminders for Interviewees
You will receive your interview day
schedule electronically via email, several days before
your interview. We will send additional information if
you will be staying with an MSP student during your
visit.
Remember to email the MSP Assistant Dean, Amanda Cuevas,
the names of the faculty members that you would like to meet
with during your interview day immediately after you
schedule your interview. The departmental web sites are your
best source of information on faculty members and their
research interests.
Make sure that you have submitted all materials required
to complete your MSP application, including three letters
of recommendation and all official transcripts.
If you have not done so already, make sure that you
submit your Supplemental Application to the University of
Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. If you have not
received a Supplemental Application, please contact Amanda Cuevas
immediately.
Travel Directions to the MSP
Traveling
to Campus – check out this University of Illinois web site
that provides links to airline, train, and bus alternatives for
traveling
to Urbana-Champaign.
FROM CHICAGO'S O'HARE AIRPORT
Leave O'Hare on I-190 East for a few miles to I-294 South and head
south for 35 miles to I-80 West (paying four, 40 cent tolls on I-294).
Take I-80 West (toward Iowa) two miles then exit from the left lane
to I-57 South. Continue on I-57 south to I-74 East at Champaign-Urbana
(about 90 miles).
Go east on I-74 to the Lincoln Avenue Exit; turn right (South) on
Lincoln and continue a few miles to Green Street (6th traffic signal).
Turn right on Green Street to the next traffic signal at Goodwin
Avenue.
Turn left onto Goodwin for one block just past Illinois Street (on
the left) and turn right into the driveway of Lot D-14. (If you pass
the Krannert Center of the Performing Arts on the left, you've gone
too far.) Immediately on your right you will see spaces 13-16 reserved
for the College of Medicine where you can park.
The back entrance to the Medical Sciences Building is at the far
(West) end of the parking area. Enter the MSB, turn right and then
left, and walk out through the triple doors to the vestibule. The
MSP office suite is on the right, Room 125.
From I-70 East or the Airport, take I-465 North about 5 miles to
I-74 West to Urbana (about 110 miles), and the Lincoln Avenue Exit;
turn South (left) on Lincoln and continue a few miles to Green Street
(7th traffic signal).
Turn right on Green Street to the next traffic signal at Goodwin
Avenue.
Turn left onto Goodwin for one block just past Illinois Street (on
the left) and turn right into the driveway of Lot D-14. (If you pass
the Krannert Center of the Performing Arts on the left, you've gone
too far.) Immediately on your right you will see spaces 13-16 reserved
for the College of Medicine where you can park.
The back entrance to the Medical Sciences Building is at the far
(West) end of the parking area. Enter the MSB, turn right and then
left, and walk out through the triple doors to the vestibule. The
MSP office suite is on the right, Room 125.
Take I-70 East to I-57 North in Illinois.
Take I-57 North to I-74 East in Champaign and take I-74 three miles
to the Lincoln Avenue exit.
Turn South (right) on Lincoln and continue a few miles to Green Street
(6th traffic signal).
Turn right on Green Street to the next traffic signal at Goodwin
Avenue.
Turn left onto Goodwin for one block just past Illinois Street (on
the left) and turn right into the driveway of Lot D-14. (If you pass
the Krannert Center of the Performing Arts on the left, you've gone
too far.) Immediately on your right you will see spaces 13-16 reserved
for the College of Medicine where you can park.
The back entrance to the Medical Sciences Building is at the far
(West) end of the parking area. Enter the MSB, turn right and then
left, and walk out through the triple doors to the vestibule. The
MSP office suite is on the right, Room 125.
Shuttle Service
The MTD Air
Bus operates between Willard Airport and the Illini Union
(approximately a block away from the Medical Sciences Building) Monday
through Saturday.
A number of companies offer shuttle service between nearby major airports
and the U of I including:
- Greyhound Bus Lines (800) 231-2222
- D-Tour Charter Bus Services, Inc. (217) 369-6693
- Lincolnland Express (217) 352-6682
AMTRAK also provides train service to Urbana-Champaign. For more information, call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).
Hotels
Although the Medical Scholars Program would be happy to
arrange for you stay with one of our current MSP students
during your interview visit, we recognize that some
applicants may prefer to stay at a local hotel despite the
personal expense. The first two listed below are located
close to campus:
- Illini Union –
located on the UIUC Quad within easy walking distance of the
Medical Scholars Program Office in the Medical Sciences
Building.
-
Hampton Inn –
located on University Avenue, approximately four blocks from
the Medical Sciences Building.
Restaurants
Local
Restaurants – this site will give you the names of excellent
campus, as well as Champaign-Urbana, restaurants.
Typical MSP Interview Day
An important part of the MSP interview day is the opportunity for
candidates to meet with graduate faculty members. When you call to
set your interview
date, please be prepared to give the MSP Assistant Dean the names
of several faculty members whose research is of interest to you with
respect to your future plans. We will try to arrange for you to meet
with these faculty for approximately ½-hour each. You will also
have an opportunity to meet briefly with either the Assistant Dean
for
Academic Student Affairs or the Regional Dean of the
College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign. Your day will conclude with
a wrap-up session with the MSP Director, which will provide you an
opportunity to ask questions.
Example of Interview Day
| 8:00-8:30 a.m. |
MSP interview |
| 8:45-9:15 |
Meet with graduate faculty member |
| 9:30-10:00 |
Meet with graduate faculty member |
| 10:15-10:45 |
Meet with graduate faculty member |
| 11:00-11:30 |
Meet with Regional Dean of the College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign |
| 11:40-11:50 |
Tour of the College of Medicine |
| 12:00-1:15 |
Lunch with other candidates and current MSP students |
| 1:30-2:00 |
Meet with graduate faculty member |
| 2:15-2:45 |
Meet with graduate faculty member |
| 3:00-3:30 |
Meet with graduate faculty member |
| 3:45-4:30 |
Wrap-up session with MSP Program Director |
Interview Day FAQs
Will I be able to meet with all the faculty
members that I indicated an interest in meeting with on my interview
day?
The MSP does its best to schedule as many appointments
with faculty members as possible. However, it is likely that one or
more of the faculty members that you indicated an interest in will
be out of town or unavailable on your interview date. In those cases,
we
strongly suggest that you e-mail the faculty members after your interview
date to let them know of your interest in their work.
Since many flights are cheaper if they include
a Saturday night stay-over, would it be all right if I extend my stay
with my MSP student host for more than one night?
This is not a problem at all. Please just indicate
to the MSP Assistant Dean, Amanda Cuevas, how many nights you would like
to
stay during your visit and she will arrange a host for your entire
stay.
Does the MSP reimburse applicants for travel
expenses?
Unfortunately, the MSP does not have a budget to cover
applicant travel expenses. Occasionally departments will reimburse
candidates
for travel expenses, but this is (unfortunately) not the norm.
How many people serve on the MSP interview?
The actual MSP interview panel will consist of four
people. Usually the panel is comprised of the MSP Director, Administrative
Director, and two faculty members drawn from the MSP Admissions Committee.
The interview will only last for 30 minutes.
Will I also need to do a separate interview
for the College of Medicine?
No, the MSP interview also serves as your official interview
for the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine.
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