How would you guys approach the possibility of applying MD only as well

[Tt1992]

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Hey guys,

as I'm considering applying to MSTP I was thinking of including some MD only schools as well. Ideally I want to do an MSTP but if that doesn't work out I'll go the research route by going through medical school and then doing a fellowship.

Is there anyway for schools to tell where else you're applying? I've heard that schools don't like it if you're applying for MD only in addition to MSTP because you're "not totally set on MSTP". Would they be able to tell I applied to MD programs as well?

 

[AGG]

As far as I'm aware, they do not know where else you've applied until after acceptances. You should feel free to apply to both MD/PhD and MD-only programs.

 

[red doctober]

They will not be able to tell if you applied to both, but this will make the wording on the primary difficult. You will not be able to say "MD/PhD" anywhere on the parts that will also be going to the MD schools. Everything on the app should point toward desiring a career as a physician scientist. It may turn off a couple non-research-oriented schools but won't kill your MD app. Choose your words and your schools wisely.

 

[Tt1992]

They will not be able to tell if you applied to both, but this will make the wording on the primary difficult. You will not be able to say "MD/PhD" anywhere on the parts that will also be going to the MD schools. Everything on the app should point toward desiring a career as a physician scientist. It may turn off a couple non-research-oriented schools but won't kill your MD app. Choose your words and your schools wisely.

One of my best LoRs is from the PI of the study I worked on and it's very focused on my curiosity, dedication, and aptitude as a researcher. I have some from doctors I've shadowed as well as from my emergency room volunteering too, though. Is there an option to send certain LoRs to certain schools? Or do you think a medical school only program would be fine with a letter praising me for my research provided I had some more clinical and academic letters too?

 

[red doctober]

One of my best LoRs is from the PI of the study I worked on and it's very focused on my curiosity, dedication, and aptitude as a researcher. I have some from doctors I've shadowed as well as from my emergency room volunteering too, though. Is there an option to send certain LoRs to certain schools? Or do you think a medical school only program would be fine with a letter praising me for my research provided I had some more clinical and academic letters too?

Yes, you can store up to 10 letters on AMCAS and you choose which letters go where. You can have doubles from a single person, one aimed toward MD programs, the other aimed toward MD/PhD. If you have a letter that says "She/He will be a wonderful addition to your MD/PhD program" or whatever, any MD-only program is going to toss your app. You could just have your letter writers write one letter each that avoid explicitly saying MD/PhD, but you really don't want to sacrifice strength of the letters in order to have one-fit-all letters.