Can I apply MD/PhD at some schools while MD-only at others?

[Gogogirl]

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Dear all,

I am wondering if I can apply to some schools as a MD/PhD applicant and as a MD-only applicant to the other schools...will they let you choose on the AMCAS application? Can some of the MD/PhD schools find out if you are applying MD-only to the other schools?...thanks in advance🙂

 

[tortuga87]

yes

no

 

[Neuronix]

They'll only find out if they ask you if you applied only MD/PhD. Not sure how common a question that is nowadays. If you can help it, I wouldn't let either side know you're applying to both programs, as you'll look uncommitted to both. There are some reasons why this can be justified, like strong desire to be in one specific area or borderline application. Though here on SDN we seem to mostly get posts from very qualified applicants who THINK they have borderline applications, so I wouldn't call yourself borderline until you've run your stats/research experience through us.

 

[Gogogirl]

They'll only find out if they ask you if you applied only MD/PhD. Not sure how common a question that is nowadays. If you can help it, I wouldn't let either side know you're applying to both programs, as you'll look uncommitted to both. There are some reasons why this can be justified, like strong desire to be in one specific area or borderline application. Though here on SDN we seem to mostly get posts from very qualified applicants who THINK they have borderline applications, so I wouldn't call yourself borderline until you've run your stats/research experience through us.

Hey thanks Neuronix...
Here are my stats:
MCAT: 40S (15/15/10...10 for VR..)
GPA: 4.0
Research: 2 years and 2 summers on one project about colon cancer, just my PI and me
Volunteering: 400 hours so far, mostly patient contact hours (Oncology and Renal wing), American Red Cross (50 hours), Beijing Olympics translator (2 weeks), some other stuff...
Shadowing: about 25 hours (3 specialties..family practice, GI surgeon and radiologist)
Publication: none, but one in preparation (1st author)
Presentations: ASBMB and ACS (won the ASBMB undergrad poster competition)
Abstracts: 3 abstracts published somewhere, one in my undergrad institute Honor Research Abstract Book
Awards: some...don't wanna get into specifics...the normal stuff
Clubs: president of Student Affiliates of American Chemical Society, VP of undergrad pre-med club, secretary of tri-beta, etc..
I don't think I am borderline...but coming from a southern liberal arts college that is less than wellknown, I have to admit that I am kinda paranoid...😛...well...millions thanks in advance

 

[Neuronix]

but coming from a southern liberal arts college that is less than wellknown, I have to admit that I am kinda paranoid...😛

This is a non-issue. You will do extremely well applying MD/PhD with that application. If you want MD/PhD there is absolutely no reason to apply MD except to waste your money.

 

[Gogogirl]

This is a non-issue. You will do extremely well applying MD/PhD with that application. If you want MD/PhD there is absolutely no reason to apply MD except to waste your money.

Thanks Neuronix!

 

[Caristra]

I applied to both. I ended up at a really good MD/PhD program.

In fact since I wanted MD-PhD my application had a whole lot of research on it and the MD only schools were probably wondering why I did MD only. Some of my interviewers even asked if I had heard of MD/PhD programs since I seemed like such a good fit for them. That being said, having an MD acceptance made me a lot more relaxed on some of my MD/PhD interviews.

If you are going to apply to both make sure you are really organized and prioritize secondaries and interviews appropriately.

 

[Gogogirl]

I applied to both because I thought I was borderline since I came from a no name undergrad and had no publications. I ended up at a really good MD/PhD program. So I now readily admit that I was paranoid but at the time I was convinced I was a terrible applicant.

In fact since I wanted MD-PhD my application had a whole lot of research on it and the MD only schools were probably wondering why I did MD only. Some of my interviewers even asked if I had heard of MD/PhD programs since I seemed like such a good fit for them. That being said, having an MD acceptance made me a lot more relaxed on some of my MD/PhD interviews.

If you are going to apply to both make sure you are really organized and prioritize secondaries and interviews appropriately.

Thank you so much...you were in a similar situation that I am in right now..,If I end up applying to both, I will definitely get everything organized..I definitely think having some MD acceptance in hand will ease my nerves a lot...