MD-only?

[Turgenev13]

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I've gotten rejected by two MSTPs and they have both subsequently offered me MD-only interviews. I'm set on going into biomedical research and getting both degrees, so any MSTP automatically comes higher on the list than an MD-only program. How easy is it to transfer into an MSTP after matriculating as an MD student? Are the chances higher or lower of switching over after the first year of medical school as compared to applying directly for the MSTP? I'm just wondering if it is a waste of my time and money to interview for MD-only when I am set on obtaining the MD/PhD. I'm sure plenty of MD applicatants would be happy to have me forfeit the MD interviews so that they have a chance of getting such an interview.

Turgenev13

 

[Neuronix]

The answer to your question is pretty much that it varies widely depending on the program. My best advice for you is to consult with the MD/PhD people at these schools and ask them the questions you listed here.

At some schools it is pretty rare to switch from MD to MD/PhD and at some schools it happens every year. At WashU for example, they told me that about 75% of the MD students who apply to MD/PhD will get it. At Penn we had 3 switch into MD/PhD from MD last year, but I don't know what the acceptance rates are like.

Good luck!

 

[Turgenev13]

Does anyone know the percentage of MD students that switch to the MSTP after matriculation at Harvard?

 

[Bad Mojo]

Isn't it kind of a risk to try to transfer in? I'm sure a lot of us applicants are in the same boat -- being rejected by the MSTP but still considered for MD at the school of our dreams. While it may be statistically favored, it seems like a big risk. I think I'd rather take the sure thing at a good school than put it all on the table for a big-name school.

 

[Neuronix]

I agree with you Bad Mojo. Brian Sullivan at WashU told me the same thing last year before I was accepted to Penn (my first choice anyways).

 

[Turgenev13]

I agree with you guys and a sure MD/PhD acceptance is much better than just hoping to transfer over to the MSTP after a year of MD. But having not gotten any acceptances yet, I don't want to burn any bridges until I know I have other options (not that it's very likely to get accepted at Harvard and not accepted at any MSTP). I was just wondering what that stats say about transfering after a year.

Actually, Harvard isn't even my dream school (other than the fact that the Harvard name will open lots of doors for you). Currently my top choice is actually UPenn. I'm interested in researching gene therapy for genetic diseases and it seems that everyone at UPenn has at least some interest in gene therapy to one degree or another.

Thanks for your input. It's nice just to have a forum where we can ask questions and obtain confirmation for our decisions.

 

[Newquagmire]

ah the classic mstp predicament. i'll preface by saying i know one person who was accepted to almost every high profile mstp program except one that has been mentioned on this thread. this person subsequently chose the big ass name and md-only.

as others have pointed out, mstp isn't the only way to go into academic medicine (if that is your principal goal). if an mstp has a good program and research labs that interest you, why would you rather go $234235235 into debt?

unless you do research throughout med school, you may come out (a) with debt preventing you from considering relatively low-wage research work and (b) with people trained as career scientists doubting your ability to ponder research questions.

 

[Habari]

as neuronix said, the ability to transfer into the program varies in ease from place to place. however, there are some things you can do as a med student who is interested in the mstp to greatly increase your chance of being accepted to a level much higher than an average mstp applicant. if you have been accepted and matriculated in a schools medical college - they are now looking for committment to the medical science pathway in both words as well as in action. talking to the director of the program of your interest as soon as you enter the school, as well as participating in as many academic mstp events [including summer research] will make you a very likely candidate for transfer into the program. though our school does accept transfers into the program, the applicants from the med school have to show a very high level of committment to the research aspects. finally - financial constraints of the program will be the final arbiter of acceptance/funding. some schools simply do not have the funds for add in slots, though most keep space for 1 or 2 medical students.

if you have applied to the program and have been accepted straight-md - you must ask yourself why they would accept you in the next in-house round. if you can address the deficiencies in your app [which they will most liekly be happy to share with you] then you stand an excellent chance as an in-house candidate.