*** 2019-2020 MD/PhD cycle - Questions, Comments, and other things ***

[Fencer]

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Some institutions (particularly higher ranked ones) make decisions without communicating to trainees and place applicants into the Rejected category based upon desired academic benchmarks. The seeking group is a set of applicants whose best outcome has been: 1) no action, 2) interviewed, 3) alternate, 4) hold (for any reason) and 5) request secondary. It is unfortunate that only a small group of schools utilize all of the codes effectively, for example, only about 250 applicants have been "interview" as per the system despite that at least 900 applicants interviewed in MD/PhD programs. Most often, early on, applicants transition from the "No Action" category to the "1st MD/PhD acceptance" without being placed in intermediate steps (i.e.: request secondary, interviewed). Part of the reason is that the AMCAS primary users in schools tend to be within the SOM UME office, while interviews and offers are coordinated at the MD/PhD program level without intermediate changes in the AMCAS profiles of applicants. Furthermore, the present cycle was very unusual. There were a very high number of applicants in the rejected category in January and February (see my prior posts) and then schools have to broaden and go deeper into their waitlist/interviewed applicants.

 

[eqb]

Update on 2020 Cycle - as of 05/09/2020 (overnight sync to 5/10)

This is the BEST MD/PhD result for each individual applicant (WA or AC is better than Active/Looking, which is better than Rejected - PW, PR, RJ).

	May 10, 2020
Total Applicants	1792 (0)
Withdrawn Before Acceptance (WB)	11 (+2)
Rejected (Prelim Rj, Passive Withdrawal, RJ)	966 (-26)
Active in the cycle (not rejected)	791 (+20)
At least 1 MD/PhD Acceptance (AC, DF, WA)	772 (+31)
Defer to a later application cycle (DF)	8 (+1)
Withdrawal After Acceptance (WA)	78 (+15)
Currently Accepted for MD/PhD (AC)	686 (+15)
Seeking a position (NA, HO, RS, AL, IN)	43 (-7)

For the 2019 matriculation cycle, we had 803 applicants receiving at least 1 MD/PhD acceptance, and 708 first-year MD/PhD matriculants. Our 2020 admission process is moving forward and likely will end with a smaller class despite a slightly larger number of applicants. I predict that the class enrolling in 2020 will have around 690 MD/PhD matriculants with 800 applicants receiving at least one MD/PhD acceptance (revised estimates). As in prior years, we will have about 20 DFs and 80-90 WA (into MD only). Over the next week, the musical chairs will still be moving with a domino effect from highly to lesser competitive programs. The waitlist movement is happening and will continue until early May. Historically, most positions will be settled down by next week. However, this is not a typical historical year. If you interviewed and haven't been officially rejected, there is still HOPE for a MD/PhD Acceptance but start working toward a re-application.

is it likely to see ~T20 waitlist movement still?

 

[Fencer]

Less likely at T20 ... more likely in the lower side of the spectrum (domino effect goes from T10-->T30-->T50-->T100, but geography, fit, strengths and other factors play into the equation. Nevertheless, there are opportunities at several MSTPs this coming week. Reach out to your waitlisted programs with an email of interest.

 

[CleoChem]

Things seem very quiet. @Fencer do you think any movement still taking place? Looking back on past years, I would expect things are done. However, since this year is so strange I don't know.

 

[Seihai]

Things seem very quiet. @Fencer do you think any movement still taking place? Looking back on past years, I would expect things are done. However, since this year is so strange I don't know.

To be frank, my school has told us they're done with waitlist movement. The one school I was on the waitlist for (and withdrew from, but for some reason they still sent me an email releasing me two weeks later) told all applicants that they were closing their waitlist. My friends at peer MD-PhD programs have told me that their institutions also told them that their current class had basically been confirmed.

I think there are definitely a few schools further down the rung that are still having dominoes fall, though I would be prepared at this point to reapply if you haven't gotten an acceptance yet, sadly.

 

[CaliforniaAsian]

Just from my impressions, but there didn't seem to be a significant amount of waitlist movement this year. Or at least, not more than historical precedent.

 

[Fencer]

That is not entirely correct (there is a normal slowdown in new offers for the 2nd vs 1st week of May) .... Some institutions over-enroll knowing that attrition will be happening (with their occasional surprise that most want to stay), other institutions can't do that and have steady offers along the process. Since last Friday, 10 applicants have received their first MD/PhD offer.

 

[CleoChem]

Thank you for the response @Fencer. Would you say that now lists are completely done? Or as you mentioned, are some programs that must limit their offers due to fears of over-enrollment still proceeding at a trickle through waitlists? I know that personally through this process your information has helped tremendously, I imagine many other applicants feel the same way, thank you!

 

[Fencer]

Update on 2020 Cycle - as of 05/19/2020 (overnight sync to 5/20)

This is the BEST MD/PhD result for each individual applicant (WA or AC is better than Active/Looking, which is better than Rejected - PW, PR, RJ).

	May 20, 2020
Total Applicants	1792 (0)
Withdrawn Before Acceptance (WB)	8 (-3)
Rejected (Prelim Rj, Passive Withdrawal, RJ)	950 (-16)
Active in the cycle (not rejected)	834 (+19)
At least 1 MD/PhD Acceptance (AC, DF, WA)	795 (+23)
Defer to a later application cycle (DF)	11 (+3)
Withdrawal After Acceptance (WA)	79 (+1)
Currently Accepted for MD/PhD (AC)	705 (+19)
Seeking a position (NA, HO, RS, AL, IN)	39 (-4)

For the 2019 matriculation cycle, we had 803 applicants receiving at least 1 MD/PhD acceptance, and 708 first-year MD/PhD matriculants. Our 2020 admission process is moving forward and likely will end at about the same size of national class. As in prior years, we will have about 20 DFs and 80-90 WA (into MD only). To get you perspective, by 5/15, 19 out of the 23 newly accepted were already given. Historically, most positions will be settled down by now. However, this is not a typical historical year. It is time to start working toward a re-application.

PM me if you want to discuss your application prior to submission.

 

[tulap]

I'm guessing WL movement for mdphd programs at this point is highly unlikely?

 

[CleoChem]

AFAIK, effectively all lists will be done at this point. While it is still possible, it is so unlikely I would move forward with the expectation that offers are done. That being said, there have been some MD only programs that have acknowledged that while they have filled their classes, there is a small chance that some students may have to withdraw last minute due to Coronavirus. Given the small sizes of MD/PhD classes, the chances for a given program to have someone back out on their offer last minute seems very low.

For those who have not received offers, I am sorry, this process is emotionally grueling. You are certainly not alone, more than half of folks fail to get in. I wish that this process were better. The long waits, lack of transparency and feedback all conspire to drain applicants. I have the utmost respect for the directors who make an effort to increase transparency and to improve outcomes for the national MD/PhD applicant pool. I wish we had more directors like Fencer who care deeply about not only their incoming classes, but the overall community.

 

[tulap]

I received several offers but have been holding on to the possibility of a WL acceptance but now it is definitely time to mentally move on, I agree

 

[deleted993768]

Question: So once you are enrolled into an MD-PhD program, are you labeled as an MD-PhD student or candidate? Wasn't sure if MD-PhD underwent the same naming convention as PhDs where you aren't a candidate until you submit a successful thesis proposal.

 

[larynxlady]

Notified that I was put on interview hold list for Mayo MSTP. Does anyone have any specific knowledge what a pre-II hold means at Mayo? Mayo would be my number 1 choice (very near immediate family / hometown as well), so my plan is to stay on hold and send a substantive update soon. Any advice would be appreciated!

They also gave me the option to choose to switch over to MD-only and take myself out of MSTP consideration, but I'm committed to the MSTP option (unless it seems unlikely I'll get an II here after being put on hold).

I know this is old, but when you submitted your secondary did you check the box to also be considered for MD only? Or did you say you only wanted MD-PhD and they offered switching to MD only anyways?