Im confused, quick question

[nystargate]

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I know for MD/PhD application, there are 3 essays to write

1. Why MD (5300 char)
2. Why MD/PhD (3000 char)
3. Research (10,000 char)

When you fill out AMCAS and select X schools to apply MD/PhD, do you submit your 2nd and 3rd essays with the primary AMCAS application? Or, do you receive these prompts with your secondary application from the X schools to which you applied MD/PhD?

I ask because I've completed my MD statement essay and am about to complete the other two. However, I want to apply early so can I submit AMCAS w/o the other two essays? Much obliged.

 

[URHere]

All three essays are part of your AMCAS application. You need to fill them in before you submit if you want to apply MD/PhD. Many of your schools may include similar questions on their secondaries, but those are a different beast entirely.

 

[Begaster]

****! I thought those two essays were on the secondaries. Now I need to write two quick essays so I can still apply early next week. Kill me.

Wait, can I submit to the non-MSTP schools first with only the one essay, and then add MSTP schools when those two essays are done?

 

[PBandJ]

****! I thought those two essays were on the secondaries. Now I need to write two quick essays so I can still apply early next week. Kill me.

Wait, can I submit to the non-MSTP schools first with only the one essay, and then add MSTP schools when those two essays are done?

You can't add anything new to your AMCAS application once you submit it, so if you intend to apply to any MD/PhD programs, you need to have all of those essays ready to go when you submit. Yes, you can add schools later, but if you submit initially as MD-only (i.e. if you don't include those extra MD/PhD essays), you can only add schools as MD-only.

If you want to apply MD/PhD, get moving on those essays and submit to all schools together as soon as you are ready.

 

[ecoli]

You can't add anything new to your AMCAS application once you submit it, so if you intend to apply to any MD/PhD programs, you need to have all of those essays ready to go when you submit. Yes, you can add schools later, but if you submit initially as MD-only (i.e. if you don't include those extra MD/PhD essays), you can only add schools as MD-only.

If you want to apply MD/PhD, get moving on those essays and submit to all schools together as soon as you are ready.

Just as a clarification for my own purposes, can you add schools for MD/PhD if you submit all 3 essays, or do you still need to tentatively apply MD-only for those schools first?

I thought you could add completely new schools for MD/PhD, as long as you submitted the three essays??

 

[URHere]

Just as a clarification for my own purposes, can you add schools for MD/PhD if you submit all 3 essays, or do you still need to tentatively apply MD-only for those schools first?

I thought you could add completely new schools for MD/PhD, as long as you submitted the three essays??

Yes, if you complete all 3 essays before you submit, you can go back later and add as many MD/PhD schools as you want. You only run into trouble if you initially submit without filling in the MD/PhD essays.

 

[ecoli]

thanks... you got me nervous for a second.

 

[JulyMorning]

Unless AMCAS has changed their policy this year, I would say that you may submit your AMCAS application, selecting MD-only and writing only the personal statement (the 5300 character essay), then at a later date (after submission, but before you are verified!), you may go back into AMCAS, select MD/PhD for the schools you previously selected (add new schools if you wish) and paste in the other two essays. This is what I did last year, as I was still working on the significant research experience at the time I submitted AMCAS. If you choose to do this, do it at your own risk (please see the beginning of the first sentence)!

Having said this, I would highly recommend applying for MD/PhD, if you are certain you want to undertake that path. If you apply to a medical school for the MD-only path (for whatever reason), and then try saying that you really want to do MD/PhD, most programs will not like that for a very simple reason - it would sound as if you aren't sure about what you want to do. In other words, you are not committed to the MD/PhD path. The programs will only admit students that they firmly believe will remain committed to, and will finish the program.