Dartmouth MSTP?

[chessodoc]

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I just discovered this subforum!!!!

So I am filling out the Dartmouth MSTP application...a little too late, hence I need opinion whether I should actually submit it. Short list of my stats (and i did look at the "what are my chances" thread.

GPA - 3.4 (last two years 3.7)
MCATs - 33 (11BS, 14PS, 8VR - English second language)
Hospital/Free Clinic Volunteering

4+ years of research --> 2nd author, Nature journal publication.
To be honest, I am putting all my hopes on my research experience to pull me through and I do realize my GPA/MCAT are very subpar by MD/PhD standards...are my hopes in vain?

Should I submit the secondary or save the 85 dollars? Do I stand a chance?

Thanks!

PS: I also heard in some cases MD PhD competition might be weaker because of a small applicant pool. Is this true?

 

[standard101]

DEFINITELY go for it. I'm guessing Dartmouth doesn't have large of an applicant pool as some other schools so you should be fine even if it's a little late. Also, MSTP admissions committees put a heavey emphasis on your research experience and letter, less so on grades.

 

[ecoli]

if your research experiences don't make up for your other stats, then I don't stand a chance. Go for it!

 

[JHopRevisit]

It all depends. Obviously, Nature publications are impressive, so if you can back up your second authorship with a command of the field and your project, as well as articulate why you want to do MD-PhD as opposed to something else, you have a good chance. I think people underestimate the value of these intangible aspects of an applicants, don't get me wrong, numbers and pubs are really important, but they lose value if they're not "backed up" at the interview.

And your numbers aren't terrible. They look "bad" at first glance, but with an upward trend and an imbalance in verbal like that you're not on bad ground (especially with English as a second language). It's not an asset, but it shouldn't hurt you too much, IMHO.

I'm assuming you applied to other places as well, right? Or are you just taking a shot at Dartmouth this late in the game and that's it? A one shot app in November is not a good idea, but if you're just adding Dartmouth you have a good shot.

MD-PhD apps aren't really weaker or stronger. They require more research experience (obviously), usually slightly better numbers (on average, but you're definitely not dead, though disadvantaged), and less "I save babies in Africa" stuff. I think the top applicants for med school and MD-PhD are both amazing, but the "weaker" applicants for MD-PhD tend to be better prepared than their "weak" med school counterparts (that's a total opinion thing, don't have much to back that up besides opinion), so if anything I'd say MD-PhDs are harder to get into, but on the whole they're just different.

 

[chessodoc]

Oh, wow, Thanks for the replies. I have mulling over this application for like 3 weeks now, I am submitting it tomorrow, thanks for the push!

Most of the schools I applied to are MD, except two, I just added MD/PhD. I applied to only Temple, UMASS, MD/PhD, don't ask me why 😳. And no I am not counting on Dartmouth, I liked their program and decided to apply. I have a couple or so of MD interviews. I have an interview at Tufts so my application can't suck THAT much right? 😳

PS: I am stuck on the...tell us more about you essay. lol.

 

[JHopRevisit]

See, that's actually more concerning to me than the GPA. You don't know why you applied MD-PhD? That's a problem. You should figure out if you want to do it, that's much more important than whether you get in or not.

And it's funny, with the research experience you seem more competitive for MD-PhD.

 

[chessodoc]

See, that's actually more concerning to me than the GPA. You don't know why you applied MD-PhD? That's a problem. You should figure out if you want to do it, that's much more important than whether you get in or not.

And it's funny, with the research experience you seem more competitive for MD-PhD.

This has been haunting me ever since I sent in my applications. I was afraid that if I do MD/PhD I might be too long under review, and not get interviews for the MD programs in case I don't make it into MD/PhD. I am a re applicant hence double that fear. This is why I was asking whether its easier to be interviewed when applying MD/PhD instead of MD - at least in my case. I am really hoping I would hear something from UMASS though.

I really, really love doing research, but I want to be a physician more than a scientist.

 

[Jorje286]

Definitely go for it. Dartmouth isn't an MSTP anyway, so I assume their applicant stats are a little lower than the top tier programs. The most important thing is research experience, and a letter of rec by a renowned PI can make or break your application.