Apply as MD/PhD and drop it?

[ubermu]

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Can I apply to medical schools in the MD/PhD program, get in, and drop the PhD portion of it? Will I owe them the money for my MD years? Is it easier or harder to get into this program? What extra steps need to be taken for this?

 

[mchou]

Can I apply to medical schools in the MD/PhD program, get in, and drop the PhD portion of it? Will I owe them the money for my MD years? Is it easier or harder to get into this program? What extra steps need to be taken for this?

MUCH HARDER to get in MD PHD. there are just so many less spots, ie, 10% of each entering class is MD PHD, the rest are MD.

If you want to do MD PHD, by all means apply, but don't apply to it just because you want to do MD and drop the PhD later.

 

[Thundrstorm]

Don't apply MD/PhD knowing you intend to drop the PhD. 1. It's unethical. 2. It's unfair to the many sincere MD/PhD applicants who aren't accepted. 3. The adcoms and interviewers will see right through you. 4. You suck.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

Don't apply MD/PhD unless you're absolutely sure you want to do that. It's a much more brutal application process, and even thought its less expensive as they (the schools) will pay for your interview costs, its quite tough: 5-6 interviews/school, faculty panels, tough discussions of past research, etc... It's not for the faint of heart, I'll just leave it at that.

 

[kupono3]

much, much more difficult.
plus, everywhere i applied, getting into md/phd was contigent upon getting into md alone.

 

[wendywellesley]

Can I apply to medical schools in the MD/PhD program, get in, and drop the PhD portion of it? Will I owe them the money for my MD years? Is it easier or harder to get into this program? What extra steps need to be taken for this?

like everyone said, this is a silly idea.
at some schools you can, however, apply MD then apply to the PhD program in your first or second year of med school. i think this is a better idea if you aren't sure you want to do MD/PhD, there are also a lot of ways to do research in medical school, you don't HAVE to do a PhD but still get a lot of research done.

 

[Bluntman]

Can I apply to medical schools in the MD/PhD program, get in, and drop the PhD portion of it? Will I owe them the money for my MD years?

To answer your question tho: No, there are no payback penalties for MSTP programs if you drop them. But the most you could get is 2 free years since you start your PhD after that. Non-MSTP MD/PhD programs are a different story, and often make you pay them back.

But yea I agree with the others: 👎

 

[Doctor&Geek]

You do this, and I will stick you with my ultrasonicator and douse you with phenol.

 

[nocturnalraj]

Don't apply MD/PhD knowing you intend to drop the PhD. 1. It's unethical. 2. It's unfair to the many sincere MD/PhD applicants who aren't accepted. 3. The adcoms and interviewers will see right through you. 4. You suck.

point number one should mean a lot to you, considering the profession to plan to pursue.

 

[dajimmers]

I have no real evidence for this, but I could see a school getting mad at you for dropping their MSTP program, especially if it seemed you did it for $ reasons. A small email sent to your clinical preceptors or some slight editing of your Dean's Letter, and you'll pay for it dearly in residency chances.

 

[foofish]

much, much more difficult.
plus, everywhere i applied, getting into md/phd was contigent upon getting into md alone.

Right...what makes it more difficult is, aside from there being fewer spots, you need to be accepted by BOTH the PhD and MD programs separately to get in at all.

 

[brianwilson]

My sister did this: Applied to MDPhd at Baylor thinking she was into research. Did the first two years MD, got funded for only year 2 because for who knows what reasons, then dropped the PhD portion. Ended up with only 68000 loans!

 

[Reimat]

Don't apply MD/PhD knowing you intend to drop the PhD. 1. It's unethical. 2. It's unfair to the many sincere MD/PhD applicants who aren't accepted. 3. The adcoms and interviewers will see right through you. 4. You suck.

Additionally - it's not worth the extra work, stress, and possible bad marks on your records. I applied MD/PhD and luckily realized at the end of it all that it wasn't right for me. I would've been happy in a program, but I'll be happier just doing an MD I've realized. If I could apply all over again, I would do MD only in a heartbeat! I would've saved myself so much work and stress...

Plus, most committees can easily see through someone who is just in it for the 2 free years - particular if you apply MD at some school and MD/PhD at others. Do MD/PhD if your heart is in it. Otherwise, just do MD.

 

[Reimat]

My sister did this: Applied to MDPhd at Baylor thinking she was into research. Did the first two years MD, got funded for only year 2 because for who knows what reasons, then dropped the PhD portion. Ended up with only 68000 loans!

It's different if you start a program thinking you really want to be an MD/PhD than if 2 free years of school is your motivation.

Also, you usually can't get into a program anymore just because you "think" you want to do research. You have to show proven experience to be seriously considered.

 

[Scalpellum]

Can I apply to medical schools in the MD/PhD program, get in, and drop the PhD portion of it? Will I owe them the money for my MD years? Is it easier or harder to get into this program? What extra steps need to be taken for this?

What kind of doctor will you be if you have to misrepresent yourself to get into medical school? Good luck to you and I am glad to say that I will not be one of your patients.

 

[Callogician]

At drexel, I know for a fact that if you do not complete both the MD and the PhD, you lose your scholarship and must pay the full cost of previous years.

 

[OddNath]

Right...what makes it more difficult is, aside from there being fewer spots, you need to be accepted by BOTH the PhD and MD programs separately to get in at all.

Depends on the program-- there are some MD/PhD programs that have control over a certain number of med school seats. So, it's possible that you could get an MD-only acceptance while they put you on the waiting list for the combined program. This did happen for me at one school where I never would've had a chance for MD-only (I was out of state), since my application was very research-heavy but with average numbers. With MD/PhD, nobody cares what state you're from, and this can open some doors.

However, not all programs work like this. Many do require that you get an MD-only acceptance (the normal way) before they'll let you in. And..applying MD/PhD can be quite a bit more work. And...even in the situation I described, you'd have to convince 5-10 interviewers that you're really in for the MD/PhD. Not worth it. If you're leaning towards MD-only..just apply for that. It's much less work.

Now, matriculating into an MD/PhD program, doing 2 years of med school for free, and *then* dropping out would just be plain wrong. And it would look bad.

 

[Scottish Chap]

Can I apply to medical schools in the MD/PhD program, get in, and drop the PhD portion of it? Will I owe them the money for my MD years? Is it easier or harder to get into this program? What extra steps need to be taken for this?

Schools get very angry with you if you do that since they will have given you a stipend for several years (MD years 1 and 2 and any part of graduate school you attempt). Also, they can ask for that money back since you will be signing a contract with them. More importantly, there's nothing more damaging to a professional career than not honoring a commitment made so your Dean's letter might not look too favorable at the end of medical school......

 

[Bluntman]

Also, they can ask for that money back since you will be signing a contract with them.

MSTP schools cannot ask for the money back. Institutional MD/PhD programs are the only ones that can.