Alekhya Parvathaneni
As an M2 currently in Phase 1, I usually start my day off by attending morning lectures. After classes are over for the day, I often study on campus with some classmates. On campus I like to study in the student lounge rooms in the FLTC or the Becker Library. Sometimes I’ll work off campus at some of the great coffee shops around the city, including Quarrelsome Coffee, Protagonist Cafe and La Finca. After knocking out some Anki or working through some lectures, I’ll head back home to finish any studying I have left and to have some free time to exercise, hang out with friends, etc.
While free time varies from module to module, I’ve always been able to spend a solid amount of time with friends most weeks. Earlier on in Phase 1, my MSTP cohort would host weekly rotating get-togethers at each of our places, which was a great way to get to know each other and see more of the Central West End and the Grove. I’m also part of an intramural volleyball team that our MSTP cohort put together (one of the 2023 spring league champions, even if it was the just-for-fun league)! As we’ve gotten busier, I’ve enjoyed having more casual get-togethers with my friends to cook dinner or bake, or to check out some new places. Some of my favorite places to grab a bite in STL include Cube Tea and Chili Spot on Olive Boulevard, Union Loafers on Tower Grove and Chao Baan in the Grove!
One of the things that I really like about St. Louis is that there seems to be some kind of fun event happening most weekends. The Tower Grove Farmers Market on Saturday mornings is a great place to check out local vendors, and I also highly recommend the annual Festival of Nations (so much delicious food!). That being said, there’s just as much stuff to do on campus. The MSTP hosts a weekly Thursday seminar, which features some really cool faculty talks about their lab’s research or their career paths, as well as student research updates. They also host a winter dinner, summer picnic and a retreat. So far, the winter dinner has been my favorite — it was held in the planetarium at the Science Center and included a star show!
There are also a ton of student groups to get involved with, ranging from specialty interest groups to affinity groups and hobby groups. I’m a NICU Cuddler and a co-lead for Cardiovascular Interest Group, the student group for those interested in cardiothoracic surgery. I have also loved working with the Young Scientist Program and the ACCESS program, both of which have summer programs that respectively help high school students and undergraduates gain research experience and mentorship.