Applying for MD/PhD and MD simultaneously...

[Scienceyesplease]

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Hello,

I was wondering if you can apply for MD and MD/PhD at the same institution simultaneously for the AAMC application? Anybody have any insight on this topic?

 

[Patros]

This is something you can easily find out by looking at the admissions websites of the medical schools you are interested in. Each school has its own policy on this. Basically, you will find that schools do one of a few options:
1) MD/PhD and MD committees simultaneously consider your application for their own respective programs. On your interview day, you are interviewing for both programs. Columbia comes to mind.
2a) MD/PhD considers you first, and if not offered an II or an acceptance, your application is automatically forwarded to the MD committee. Most schools do this.
2b) MD/PhD considers you first, and will notify you if you are rejected. You must then send a written request to be considered by the MD program. Cornell Tri-I does this.
3) A rejection from the MD/PhD is permanent. Johns Hopkins for example, or UMass if you're not a Mass resident.

As an anecdote, you will be at a severe disadvantage if transferred from MD/PhD to the MD programs. I was rejected from 5 MSTP programs, and was very quickly (within 3 weeks) rejected from the MD programs at the same schools. So you might want to consider applying MD only if you have doubts about your application.

 

[pipettequeen]

To answer your first question: you are only able to select one designation (MD/PhD or MD only) on AMCAS. I would figure out what you really want before applying. If you are serious about MD/PhD, then MD only is a last resort. Personally, I would rather reapply MD/PhD than take an MD only slot.

 

[Scienceyesplease]

Aahh I see. Hmmm....thanks to both responders. I guess another question to ask admissions is how likely is it that rejected md/phd applicants get offered the md. Yea im not sure at this point.

 

[mynameistoolong]

You are only able to select one designation *per school*, e.g. you can designate MD/PhD at school X, but MD at school Y. I had to do this for many schools because I'm international and not eligible for many MD/PhD programs; I couldn't afford to make MD-only a 'last resort' thing.

The likelihood of getting MD-invite after MD/PhD reject varies between schools (which allow dual consideration). I personally got an MD invite at WashU after the MSTP reject and I've seen many people in past threads getting one at Harvard MD.

 

[JetsSBXLIII]

It's been a while, but I can remember getting a few MD-only invites after being rejected from MD/PhD, as well as full out rejections from both so I think it is program specific. This may or may not be specific to my program, but there have been instances where a student or two has entered the MD/PhD program after MS1 (meaning they applied MD only, and decided a year in that they wanted to do MD/PhD). So all hope may not be lost if you get into an MD-only program. HOWEVER, as the other posters mentioned, you have to be SURE that you want to do the combined program. It's a loooong journey, you get **** on sometimes, and you have to be ready and willing to accept this. I would advise against applying to both MD and MD/PhD programs if only to show the program directors that you are fully committed to this program, and you are not just in it for the free ride.

I just want to make sure I can get into a program

This is the message you portray when you apply for both. It looks very bad for the program if students don't complete the entire program, and I can imagine that program directors will be weeding out applicants who don't convey the message that they really want this and they know what they're in for. In the end, however, you have to make the decision you are most comfortable with.

 

[regeneration]

If you are reasonably competitive, I would recommend applying only MD/PhD. It's difficult to gauge how well you'll do during the cycle, and schools vary quite a bit in what type of student they're looking for. One of my first MSTP interview invites was to a school where I was thinking of applying MD-only simply because I thought I wouldn't be competitive enough (luckily a mentor encouraged me to apply MD/PhD for everything). Many schools will consider your application for MD-only even if you've been rejected from MSTP: I've been rejected by some MD programs, perhaps partially due to how late I was in the cycle when I was transferred, but I've also received MD invitations to two of my top choices.

In any case, as other posters have said, I would recommend going into the application season with an all-in MD/PhD mentality, even if you end up applying to some schools MD or aren't fully sure at this point. Many MD programs are open to MD/PhD type goals.

 

[Scienceyesplease]

Thanks everybody.