Can MD/PhD Applicant still get accepted MD?

[Medison]

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Does this happen to people out there?
Any experience with this and insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Cleveland]

Depends on the school. Some schools will consider applicants for MD if MD/PhD doesn't work out. Others may pitch you all together if you can't land MD/PhD. I am not really sure how big of a transition would be for a person seriously considering MD/PhD to switch to a regular MD. The MD/PhDs I know seem very set on their paths and I couldn't really see them pursuing the solo MD route.

 

[harvman11]

You can generally mark if you'd like to be considered for MD-only admission on your secondary application. Most schools allow this, and some will automatically consider you, but there's a few that don't, and some have a convoluted process (for example, at UT Southwestern to be considered for MD-only you need to also fill out the TMDAS, but for only MD/PhD you just submit AMCAS).

Personally though, I feel like if you would be ok with MD only, you'd want to consider if the MD/PhD is really right for you. If you do plan to do basic research with just an MD (and you certainly can), then go right ahead, just know you'll need some strong research training after your residency. If instead you feel you want to do more translational research or would be happy with no research, the MD is probably better suited to your goals. Not everyone will agree with this, but just my 2 cents.

 

[Medison]

Wow, thank you Cleveland and especially harvman11 for a solid response,
The only thing I fear is if I start getting rejected by all MD/PhD programs, I don't want to get rejected like entirely and have to reapply the next cycle simply because I didn't even get any MD acceptances?

Does such a circumstance happen or have you heard of such a case? All MD/Phd rejections and have to reapply entirely next cycle because no MD acceptances?

Thanks.

 

[harvman11]

I'm sure there have been plenty of such cases, and the MD-only route is a decent way to go about this. One way to look at it is that most programs will accept one or two M1 students into their MD/PhD programs. Its not a given that you'll get in, but this is definitely one route to consider if you don't get in MD/PhD right at the start. You should definitely discuss this possibility with the program directors to see if you'd be a good candidate for this type of acceptance before you decide to go straight MD. I feel like this is really confusingly worded, so let me know if I need to clarify anything.

 

[EaglesPA]

One way to look at it is to ask yourself this question: "if there was no MD/PhD route and you could only do either an MD or a PhD, which would you choose?
If the answer is MD, then ask to be considered for the MD-only option as well. Plus at some med schools, you can still apply to the MD/PhD program during your first or second year of med school.
If your answer is PhD, then maybe you don't want to be considered for the MD-only option and may decide to apply PhD-only if you don't get any MD/PhD acceptances.

 

[Naijaba]

I chose to be considered for MD-only at schools whose medical doctorate programs were notable for high research quality. I also considered in-state (California) schools for MD-only because I could apply for the MD/PhD programs during my next two years, without incurring a huge debt during my preclinical years.

 

[Freak]

I concur, depends on the school. I know that (circa 2002) many actually did have a fall-through mechanism in the application process, in that if you were rejected from the MD/PhD, you could get put in the MD applicant pile.

In some schools, you can actually get into the medical school because of the PhD part (depends on what your relative strengths are as an MD and an MD/PhD).

You have to ask yourself though, do your career plans require an MD/PhD, or could they be served equally as well by a post-doctoral fellowship (this is the choose MD vs. choose PhD question in disguise).

If this is for the money ... think through the following at 65yrs old. You will have 4 yrs of less salary. Taking a median salary of 180K/yr, that means there is a delta of 150K (assuming a generous 30K MSTP salary) ... at 65, your MD friend is ahead by 600K. So, taking into account their loans, ~200K ... but lets double it to make sure we deal w/ interest ... so 400K repayment, the MD is still ahead by 200K.

Finally consider that you are training for a position as an academic physician as opposed to private practice (so that is a delta of normally 80K/yr) and you can see how the monetary equation (of stipend starts to crumble.

 

[neuro raqs]

short answer is yes-bsolutey. It varies from program to program. At UChicago you can do MD->MSTP where you are first evaluated for the MD if you're accepted then they consider you for their mstp. Whatever happens with the mstp you're set for the md. It's a nice bit of security. Wash U will consider you for MD only as well if you ask. Some schools automatically consider you for MD if you don't get MD/PhD, Johns Hopkins does it, maybe Stanford (you can def look it up or call to ask). Some schools absolutely won't like UPenn (if you're dying to be at Penn that's something to consider).


Oi at the money calculations! They're true I suppose, but I hope no one would go into academic medicine for the $$. Sure you'll be behind you're MD counterparts and have limited flossin' ability, but as long as you're enjoying what you do and can be comfortable, I think it's not too big a deal. Or I could just marry a rich doctor/ibanker/shady career having guy to make up the difference lol😉