Is it easier to get into grad programs than MD programs?

[monkeyMD]

---

Members don't see this ad.

My friends are continuing their graduate (non MD) studies at schools like Harvard, Columbia and Yale. But I have never thought they were extremely brilliant/genius type of individuals (unless they hid some extreme talent from me...I thought only "genius, super human" individuals attend such schools). And I see people who I thought were pretty brilliant get rejected from almost all of the medical schools they apply to.

This isn't a real "intelligent" sort of question...but does anyone have any input?

 

[light warrior]

My friends are continuing their graduate (non MD) studies at schools like Harvard, Columbia and Yale. But I have never thought they were extremely brilliant/genius type of individuals (unless they hid some extreme talent from me...I thought only "genius, super human" individuals attend such schools). And I see people who I thought were pretty brilliant get rejected from almost all of the medical schools they apply to.

This isn't a real "intelligent" sort of question...but does anyone have any input?

I think it IS easier to get in a PhD program that get in med school. But that doesn't mean that someone who got rejected to all the med schools he applied to would end up with a PhD program in Harvard....

 

[JESSFALLING]

I think it IS easier to get in a PhD program that get in med school. But that doesn't mean that someone who got rejected to all the med schools he applied to would end up with a PhD program in Harvard....

We should all agree to stop giving Harvard so much press... Yale is a much nicer school.

 

[Disinence2]

A competitive program is a competitive program.

From my experience, there are definitely graduate programs that are extremely competitive, however just based on sheer number/supply/demand its going to be harder to find a spot at an MD program, vs a phd program somewhere. Again dependent on your particular field.

So you can't really compare them unless you define "more competitive" is it odds of getting into your top choice program, odds of getting in anywhere, or simply some mathematical variation of available seats, and applicants.

 

[miui]

Somewhat. It's still competitive in terms of grades, GRE's, GPA, etc. Also, a lot of the programs offer stipends, which is almost like a free-ride, but that also adds to the competitiveness of the programs. And you are still battling it out in terms of the "Top20/50" schools, so the schools ranked well in undergraduate probably rank the same for grad, same will go with the difficulty of getting admitted, as they probably would have some sort of preference to their own undergraduate students.

It is a decent alternative to an MD, especially if you do not mind doing something similar to what you already have been doing in undergraduate. So if you majored in Biology, you are probably likely to be accepted into something Biology-related in grad school, so it is kind of 5+ more years of the "same".

 

[music2doc]

All depends on the program. Some fields, sure. I know clinical psych (PhD) is at least as difficult to get into as an MD program. You could say that in that field, the PsyD is like a DO (still competitive and good but not quite as good as the PhD) and their Carib is Argosy/Alliant (which charge lots of money but rarely match their students into an internship anywhere that leads to full licensure). (The average program gets about 250-500 applicants for 5-8 spots and there are usually only a few schools that you would be a good fit for. In other words, your chances are about what they would be for a typical MD program BUT very few programs would fit you because of research interests, etc.)

 

[JOHNNYCAGE]

yes.

 

[kwantiko]

Philosophy PhDs are notoriously competitive.

http://schwitzsplinters.blogspot.com/2007/09/applying-to-philosophy-phd-progams-part.html

 

[Shibbyboi182]

Really it's like comparing apples with rhinoceroses.

 

[Silverfalcon]

It depends on the area. General consensus is that PhD programs are easier to get into, but much harder to finish (i.e. if you can't get good data to publish, you are doomed) whereas medical schools, despite the tough challenge to get in, pretty much reward people with MD unless they really screw up.

 

[CoolWhipp]

It depends on the area. General consensus is that PhD programs are easier to get into, but much harder to finish (i.e. if you can't get good data to publish, you are doomed) whereas medical schools, despite the tough challenge to get in, pretty much reward people with MD unless they really screw up.

I agree with this. When you get an MD, you are pretty much set.

There are many variables in a PhD program. Are you going to get a good advisor? Is your PI going to give you a manageable project? Are you going to get scooped? Is a postdoc in the lab going to take your project? Is the subject you are studying "hot"? Do you have enough money for your work?

Easy to get into a PhD program, hard to be successful in research. My opinion.