md/phd after first year

[Ms. Dawson DO]

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does anyone know any information about schools that allow ms-1 students to apply to their md/phd program?

 

[Neuronix]

Most schools with MD/PhD programs allow it. The more sizeable the MD/PhD program is, the more often it occurs. For more detailed information, I suggest you talk to the directors at each program. At some schools, like WashU, there are so many slots for MD/PhD and so few M1 applicants, that the acceptance rate from M1 is about 75%. At Penn, there's alot of M1 applicants, and I think we took 3 out of 5 applicants this year. The thing is that it's historically hard to predict because if you get a rough year you could be competing for a couple spots with 10 people. Or, if you get an easy year, you could be the only one asking for one available spot at a given school.

You can also apply MD/PhD out of second year, though then you're missing out on tuition for two years. Some schools prefer it this way, as then less comes out of their pockets.

If you're really considering doing this, I would definately suggest applying to the MSTP schools (all the top ranked schools unfortunately) and choose a program based partially on this opportunity. If you're already in med school, the combined degree offices are always happy to talk to you about these things.

Good luck!

 

[xanthines]

NIH supported MSTP programs also require a minimum amount of students per year. If not enough come from the pre-MS1 apps, then they start to recruit heavily from the MS1 people. I heard it from a director from an MSTP program.

-X

 

[Neuronix]

Considering the number of applicants, I really doubt this happens. Remember, the acceptance rate at every school I can think of us well under 10%. The only way I could imagine it happening is if a school shot themselves in the foot by rejecting too many too soon and running out the waitlist pool.

 

[xanthines]

I wouldn't have thought so either, but it does happen occasionally. Apparently it gets pretty close fairly often, though. If a school accepts about 10 applicants, they may have a waitlist of about 22. I've heard "my" school has gone through half the waitlist in one day! Of course, not many schools are probably willing to admit this...

It's juss what ah herd...


-X

 

[xanthines]

Oh yeah, if a school goes through a waitlist, it doesnt send a letter to the people they rejected. If you're rejected, that's it for you, even if the waitlist is exhausted. I guess you could appeal, though...

-X

 

[Neuronix]

Yeah I bet you're right. I'm pretty sure Penn dug deep into its waitlist in this past class. I've noticed that WashU, Hopkins, and Harvard all keep a large reserve of people on "hold for interview" until fairly late for this reason. Duke and Penn seem to waitlist everyone they interview and other programs also want to procrastinate as long as possible so they don't screw themselves.

Oh, and it has happened that MD programs have sent acceptances to rejected applicants. I've never heard of it for MD/PhD though. Funny stuff!

 

[xanthines]

I've never heard of MD/PhD programs reversing their decision either. I was told the the MSTP programs are basically fighting for the same pool of desirable students. So when applicants find out they've been accepted to their top choice, they withdraw. The school then find out that half of their acceptances and half their waitlist has done the same. Seems very inefficient to me...

-X

 

[Ms. Dawson DO]

so who is getting rejected outright? i agree the process doesn't seem very efficient. I basically didn't go that route outright because i was worried my stats were not high enough....whst you are saying makes me believe i might have had a chance lol. (stats 3.4, 36...not many research experiences because not many opportunities).

 

[xanthines]

So I had wanted to apply to MD/PhD programs but I don't think my numbers would get me to the interview stage.

Anyways, is it a good idea to mention that I will be applying to the MD/PhD after the 1st year (if i get into a medical school with MSTP program, that is) during MD-only interviews? Or will that hurt my chances, knowling I'll "defect"? I'm thinking it would be better not to mention it and just do it if i get in. Opine, please!

Just curious...

-X

 

[Neuronix]

xanthines, absolutely not! Tell them you aspire to become a researcher or academic physician and they'll eat that sort of thing up. Most of your interviewers will be academic physicians or basic science researchers and there's that "I wanna be just like you" factor. Besides, students who go into MD/PhD programs are anything but lost to a MD program. In fact, here at Penn, they seem to be very open to having first years join the MD/PhD after their first year and they have interest meetings to this effect.

Remember, prestigious programs get their prestige from the quality of the research that goes on there. Students only contribute to that.

Good luck!