How many MD-PhDs/MSTPs are accepted every year?

roughly 300... but I could be mistaken.

 

Oh I always thought it's 120+ For MD-PhDs, and 15000+ for MDs? But some people drop out from MD-PhD once they get to PhD phase tho, sad!

 

From mdphds.org

How competitive is it to get into these programs?

There are approximately 400-500 applicants to the ‘most-applied-to-programs’, however, this number is only increasing. From 2002 to 2003, there was a 45% increase in applicants at some schools. When there are on average 8-10 NIH funded spots at each school, these numbers may seem daunting. It is important to remember, however, that the same people tend to apply to the same schools. An administrator at a top rated MSTP program approximated that there were about 800 MSTP applicants nationwide that particular year, and about half of them were reasonably competitive. With about 350-400 MSTP funded slots available nationwide, and even more fully funded MD/PhD slots, one begins to realize that much of the application process is matching the right student with the right school. Obviously, competition will be most intense at the elite programs, but it is important to remember that all MSTP-NIH funded programs are of high quality, and worth pursuing dual degrees at.
After one applies, the largest cut is made pre-interview, and those that receive an interview invitation have a high chance (ranging from 25-66%) of admittance. Since it is a matching process for student and school, 10 available seats does not mean that there are only 10 acceptances given out. Often 2-3 times the number candidates than spots available are eventually accepted.

Sean’s Additional comments: Jeremy Cholfin (UCSF MSTP) was really right when he analyzed the admissions patterns. It doesn’t follow conventional thinking sometimes. I think it is important to point out that one should not be discouraged when one is rejected or put on the waitlist early on by a “less-competitive” school, particularly if one has many interviews.

 

That does a little high, considering there are 33 MSTP programs and the average number of funded slots is about 6-8. Of course there are non-NIH funded slots... but there can't be THAT many.

 

There's 42 NIH funded programs right now. I think a lot of those have 8-10 funded spots total, granted they all might not be from NIH money. Many places I interviewed had money for 4-6 NIH spots, but made up the rest with internal funding.

 

Hehe... It was 33 when I started....

 

Now you're just dating yourself.

 

i have crappy stats, but i had no doubt in my mind that i wanted to achieve both degrees, and i wasn't concerned about being able to pay for med school or anything like that (fortunate), so i took a look at nearly every MD/PhD program in the country. and let me tell you, there are a lot! and some, you get nearly the same stipend as MSTP-funded programs, others you get your last two years of med school paid for (makes sense considering the high drop-out rate). anyways, depending on your goals and financial background, i have seen some great programs that aren't MSTP... but of course how you come out is always up to you!

 

I don't remember that info off-hand or have it written down anywhere because I was not concerned about the money, but more about the program and whether or not the school was known for the area I want to pursue. BUT here is a list of schools with MD/PhD programs... good luck!

 

here's some more info:

The MSTP currently has 40 participating programs involving 45 degree-granting institutions with a total of 933 trainees. (There are approximately 75 medical schools that do not have NIGMS MSTP training grants but that also offer opportunities for M.D.-Ph.D. studies.)

and... here is your list of MSTP institutions

*i got this info from the NIGMS

933 trainees/7-8 years (per student) = >100 admitted to MSTP per year? that seems weird to me...

 

The number of MSTP slots have declined from 921 in 2004, to 907 in 2006.

Last year, ~1,500 individuals applied to at least one MSTP or MD-PhD program. 389 enrolled in MSTP and 184 enrolled in MD-PhD programs.

Regarding the discrepancy between MSTP slots and MSTP students, most programs support MSTP students on the training grant for only a portion of their training, and use other funds to support them the rest of the time. By leveraging MSTP grant funds with other sources, a program can increase the number of students. My program has a ratio of 3.6 students for every slot on the MSTP grant. The MSTP grant typically covers only 15 to 20% of all the costs involved in running a MD-PhD program.

 

Of those that applied but didn't matriculate into joint progams that I know or have heard about (~10 people), they all chose to do MD-only. They chose to go to a higher-ranked/school-they-prefered MD-only program over their joint acceptance(s). Many of them reapplied to their schools MD/PhD program and got in during MS1. Very limited sample though.

 

The people I know all had MSTP or MD/PhD offers. Some that turned down offers, decided to do Harvard HST instead or decided that after the process, they really didn't want to do the degrees.

I don't know of anyone that turned down MD-only to reapply MSTP. That was sorta my original plan when I started applying. My initial list of schools was small, and I was gonna check off don't even consider me for MD-only (which in retrospect would have worked, but we're talking worst case scenario). But my advisors strongly, strongly advised against this idea. To significantly improve my app, I probably couldn't just apply the next year. There's overlap between holding out hope and reapplying timelines. I'd need to take that next year to work hard on grades (weakest point), mcat, research. Plus there's no guarentee. It'd be time better spent to take whatever MD acceptance I could get, do research at that school, show my MD grades and reapply then. If I still didn't get in, my plan was to do the MD and apply for residencies/fellowships that allow significant time for research and potentially a PhD. Not getting in MSTP isn't the end of the world. You can achieve the same career goals without both degrees. In fact, some people think the MD-only way is better (but that's a whole other discussion).