Recruitment season is (virtually) right around the corner! Prospective students will have all kinds of questions, so the CAMB newsletter team compiled some of the most frequent ones so you’re ready for them come interview and visit time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did you pick Penn for your PhD?
What do you like about CAMB/Penn/Philly?
What do you not like about CAMB/Penn/Philly?
Are you happy at Penn?
Do you feel adequately supported by Penn/BGS/CAMB?
Do you feel CAMB is more community-focused or competitive as a research environment?
Do you feel you benefitted from being in an umbrella program like CAMB?
How should I best prepare for interviews?
When should I reach out to start looking for rotations? Is it competitive to get a rotation slot?
Is everyone able to find a lab they are happy with, or are lab slots limited?
How was the balance between classes and rotations in the first year?
Are you able to maintain a healthy work-life balance?
Do you feel the stipend is livable? Do you need to have roommates? Can you afford hobbies and
fun activities?
What do you do for fun in Philly?
Do you feel safe in Philly?
How hard is it to find an apartment?
Do you need a car? Is it difficult to have a car?
Some topics to highlight about CAMB that may differ from other programs
Coverage of both medical and dental insurance
No TA requirement
Stipend-to-cost of living ratio is pretty good, particularly for an East Coast city of this size
Access to labs/mentors from three acclaimed institutions:
1) University of Pennsylvania
2) The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
3) The Wistar Institute
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