• Practice your interview with the new SDN AI Interview Coach. Choose a school, answer by voice or typing, and receive a personalized feedback report. Available now to all SDN members. Try the AI Interview Coach.

Fencer's corner

Started by Fencer
Online Master's Degrees in Medical Sciences
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
You are mixing issues (and making incorrect assumptions) in your reasoning. 1) The number of MSTP T32 training slots, 2) the enrollment into the MD/PhD program described in the T32 grant application, and 3) the actual enrollment (number of first-year trainees) into the program are three different and separate issues.

The first is determined by NIGMS funding decisions and might vary some years based on performance. For the most part, the NIGMS program officers follow the recommendation from the study section. However, some times, they give extra slots if available, as justified in prior RPPR, and in the end, if there is an availability of funds (for example, less available during continuing resolution due to Congressional decisions or lack of them).

Second, the program should describe variability from their proposed program enrollment in their annual RPPR to NIH. The explanation might impact funding decisions.

Third, matriculation into a MSTP and selecting who is funded for a year with a T32 slot are two separate decisions. The MSTP T32 only supports up to 25% of trainees in a given year (but the T32 only funds 60-80% of that cost), and that is for a program at steady-state. Some programs have a 3-year average target of enrollment, some programs only offer their target number of acceptances, and move from waitlist to AC as applicants withdraw after acceptance. Most programs use institutional funds to cover the difference, with some programs having endowments and/or other sources of support.

Some additional rules of MSTP T32s:
MSTP training slots support training for a student for one academic year (July-June), and can be used at any time along the 7-9 year of training. Having said that, programs mostly use them to cover for medical school years, as they ask PhD mentors to pay a research graduate assistant stipend (and tuition) from their R01s and other federal funds. A trainee can not be supported for more than 6 years by a combination of T32 and/or F30/F31. In general, I try to make sure that every trainee in my program is supported by a T32 training slot for at least one year. However, regardless of whether they were supported by the T32, every single trainee is considered MSTP trainee in our T32 MSTP outcomes, letters of recommendation, or Dean's letter (i.e.: MSPE).
 
Hello Fencer! It is now five days past the CYMS deadline. I was wondering if you could give us some updates on the numbers of accepted people, and whether most programs are having a full cohort? I was also wondering if you could give us some advice on whether waitlist still tends to move a week after the CYMS deadline or does it mainly just move on 5/1 and 5/2 and largely stop after that? This information will be very valuable as we decide when to commit to our current top choice offer and start planning the summer accordingly as many programs tend to have different start dates. Thanks a lot for your help!
 
As of last night, there are 787 applicants who have received at least one MD/PhD acceptance with 749 holding current MD/PhD acceptances. While we are close to capacity for the national MD/PhD training class, I still expect about 15-20 applicants to make the decision of just pursuing a MD and/or deferring to a future class. There is still some room, but most people who didn't get in this year need to reflect how to be better for next cycle. I do one-on-one advising, PM me if needed. Programs begin as early as June 1. I still have applicants who haven't CTE. Our deadline is coming up in about a week.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
It seems like most schools haven't had any waitlist movement? Can you help explain what is happening and give some hope to the many of us who feel a bit in the dark right now watching all our MD peers see movement.
 
Just in the last 2 days (from 5/5 to 5/7), 15 applicants have received their first MD/PhD acceptance. We are currently at 802 applicants with at least 1 MD/PhD acceptance. My expectation is that in the next 4-5 days, we are going to be at 820, and the final numbers will be around 825-830. It took a very long time this year. People held acceptances for a couple more weeks than prior cycles.

Edit (5/8): However, the new acceptances are slowing down. From 5/7 to 5/8, only 4 additional new applicants received their first MD/PhD acceptance.
Edit (5/9): On Friday, there were 3 additional new applicants with their first MD/PhD acceptance. Now, at 809 acceptees out of 2065 applicants.
 
Last edited:
Fencer said:
Just in the last 2 days (from 5/5 to 5/7), 15 applicants have received their first MD/PhD acceptance. We are currently at 802 applicants with at least 1 MD/PhD acceptance. My expectation is that in the next 4-5 days, we are going to be at 820, and the final numbers will be around 825-830. It took a very long time this year. People held acceptances for a couple more weeks than prior cycles.

Edit (5/8): However, the new acceptances are slowing down. From 5/7 to 5/8, only 4 additional new applicants received their first MD/PhD acceptance.
Edit (5/9): On Friday, there were 3 additional new applicants with their first MD/PhD acceptance. Now, at 809 acceptees out of 2065 applicants.
Click to expand...
For those of us who are holding 1 acceptance but still holding out for our preferred school we are on the waitlist on. What are the odds of movement? I know people want to attend the school I am currently accepted at so want to open up that spot if I get into one of my top two waitlist schools.
 
Hi Fencer! Could you please provide a stats overview of how this previous cycle has gone? It would be very helpful to know! Much appreciated!
 
Fencer said:
2026 MD/PhD Application Cycle (as of 03.20.2026) - This is 5 days after all MD/PhD programs MUST have at least as many acceptances out as intended matriculants for the class. If the national class is the same as last year, there are at least 84 additional applicants needed (currently accepted 669)

Applicants - 2,074 (3% higher than 2025)
Mean cGPA - 3.71
Mean Sc GPA - 3.63
Mean Highest MCAT - 511
Mean Average MCAT - 509 (multiple takings)

Applicants w at least 1 MD/PhD AC (but only 669 currently AC, a few have withdrawn to MD-only):
Applicants - 673
Mean cGPA - 3.88
Mean Sc GPA - 3.84
Mean MCAT - 516.8

Compared to prior cycles, we are on-track for an average year in the 2026 matriculation cycle for about 810-840 applicants with at least 1 MD/PhD Acceptance and a matriculation class of 730-760 first-year trainees. Despite of all of the national research infrastructure challenges, in 2025, our national MD/PhD class had 819 applicants with at least 1 MD/PhD Acceptance and we matriculated 753 first-year MD/PhD trainees. I expect similar numbers for the 2026 cycle.
Click to expand...

2026 MD/PhD Application Cycle (as of 06.06.2026)

Matriculations are starting to show off for those programs with summer lab rotations. There are several related but not concordant systems. The admission actions system reports all applicants with MCAT and/or GPAs. Some international MD/PhD applicants do not have GPAs in the USA/Canada reported in AMCAS grades. In general, they do very poorly. Overall, in the 2026 application cycle, there were 2061 MD/PhD applicants with MCATs, 2065 MD/PhD applicants with undergraduate GPAs. This compares to 2010 and 2005 in the 2025 application cycle, respectively. The increase in the total number of MD/PhD applications in 2026 vs 2025 is 2.5% and 3.0%, respectively. Academic benchmarks are as reported previously.

In the 2026 application cycle, MD/PhD programs have given acceptances to 826 applicants (right on the middle of my prediction of 825) with 61% of them receiving multiple MD/PhD acceptances. Right now, the accepted national MD/PhD class holding a seat consists of 772 trainees, which is higher than the 2025 class of 753 trainees. Waitlist movement at this point exists but it is minimal. However, I do suspect a few additional deferrals to a future year and/or withdrawals for MD-only by time of final reports in Sep/Oct. Thus, the closeness to final numbers would be (in ranked order):
1) the total number of MD/PhD applicants, (most accurate)
2) total number of applicants with 1 MD/PhD acceptance,
3) projected total number of MD/PhD matriculating class. (least accurate)
 
Last edited:
2027 MD/PhD Application Cycle - UPDATE

The 2026 MD/PhD application cycle had a record 2,065 applicants (highest ever), accepted 830 applicants and matriculated 769 students. For the 2027 application cycle, the national pool of verified MD/PhD applications appears down by 10% as compared to the same number last year, while the overall MD application cycle is unchanged. While that might mean more opportunity, we do not know how many MD/PhD seats for first-year students will be available. As of last night, the system shows a total of 1,575 MD/PhD applicants with an average cGPA of 3.76 and average most recent MCAT of 513. These are standard academic benchmarks for the average MD/PhD applicant class.

Have you received sufficient number of invitations to MD/PhD interviews (Post-Labor Day email)?
It is time to reassess when you still have a reasonable opportunity in the 2027 application cycle. If you are not satisfied with the number of invitations to MD/PhD interviews, consider applying to 5-10 more schools. In general, you need 5 MD/PhD interviews to potentially generate ~2 MD/PhD acceptances (unless you repeat the same mistake at each interview). However, choose wisely...

Consider MSTPs that are less crowded with applications (based upon AAMC Table B-8 - make ratios of applicants per matriculant) AND those who are having Interviews in January (so there is space for an invitation). Check out the national Google MD/PhD calendar. Here is the MSTP list (please note that the list includes 3 DVM/PhD programs (CSU, UCDavis, Cornell), 1 DO/PhD program, and 55 MD/PhD programs who are partially funded with MSTP T32 awards; this list doesn't include the MSTP-AHEAD programs). Here is another list of MD/PhD programs. While adding a school for a verified AMCAS application often trigger a Secondary application within hours, programs will need to review your completed application, and that process might still take 3-4 additional weeks, just to be placed into the eligible pool for invitations to interview. This is why NOW is the time to review your current interview invitations to ensure you are on track for a successful 2027 application cycle.

My MSTP has only extended invitations to interview for only ~45% of our interview slots, but in two weeks, we will be at 57%. Every month (until late Dec.), we select a dozen applicants for invitation to interview. We also don't have a $econdary application. Many programs are already at 2/3 - 3/4 done (or higher) with interview slot selection. Selection is 4-6 weeks prior to interviews, this is why you also need to consult the national interview calendar.... PM me if needed.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.