MD PhD application Strategy

[mhamblin]

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Hello,
I am currently a junior determined to apply to MD/PhD programs not this upcoming cycle but the next. I met with my advisor to discuss application strategies for the first time and she told me I would need to apply to 20 programs, and throw in some MD only applications. I also have a location bias to cities and she basically told me to throw away any biases. I was pretty shocked at her saying 20 schools is normal, and what she recommends for everyone. I am wondering from current or accepted MD/PhD students how many schools you applied to and if you had any certain strategy, and if 20 schools is really normal or just spreading my efforts and money for fees thin? Thank you in advance!

 

[Lucca]

I have heard that fifteen schools is pretty typical but twenty may be overkill, especially if it is financially restricting. MD/PhD applicants from my school who I have spoken to have typically applied to 12-17 schools and been successful but did not complete secondaries for some programs or have withdrawn from schools pre-interview once the interviews and acceptances from other programs start rolling in. As I make my list for the same cycle as you I have about 20 programs in my head but I want to narrow it to about 15 for financial and effort reasons.

 

[Datypicalpremed]

The general impression I got this cycle, from my own personal experiences and from talking with those "high-up" on the adcoms, was that MD/PhD programs (scratch that, all MD programs) have become more competitive. If you are a solid applicant, sending out 15-20 applications should get you at least an acceptance from somewhere assuming you apply broadly (i.e. don't send your 20 applications to the top 20 schools). If you are a borderline applicant like me, you might want to consider applying to more (say, 30+) if you really don't want to risk becoming a re applicant.

My view on how many schools I applied to was similar to my view on insurance. The more I paid in premiums (or in this case, the more I paid on application fees and effort on secondaries), the better coverage I had in case something terrible happened (in this case, reapplying the next cycle). I ended up applying to WAY more schools than the average applicant. But as you'll eventually find out, applying to medical school is a very stressful experience and getting a lot of interview invites due to the sheer number of applications I sent out helped me relax as I waited for my first acceptances to roll in (which took months, by the way). Personally, I don't regret it.

Of course, not everyone can afford such premiums. I was only able to pull it off due to a combination of saving money from summer fellowships, ramen noodle diets and other unsavory methods. My advice is to just apply to a number of schools that you find reasonable, balancing the resources you currently have and your worries of having to reapply.

 

[Neuronix]

It depends on how strong an applicant you are. 20+ programs plus MD backups is how I would advise a borderline applicant. You'll need to post your stats for more concrete advice here.

 

[Fencer]

As indicated by Neuronix, it depends on the strengths and weaknesses of your application and career path.

 

[VlLLVGE]

Hello,
I am currently a junior determined to apply to MD/PhD programs not this upcoming cycle but the next. I met with my advisor to discuss application strategies for the first time and she told me I would need to apply to 20 programs, and throw in some MD only applications. I also have a location bias to cities and she basically told me to throw away any biases. I was pretty shocked at her saying 20 schools is normal, and what she recommends for everyone. I am wondering from current or accepted MD/PhD students how many schools you applied to and if you had any certain strategy, and if 20 schools is really normal or just spreading my efforts and money for fees thin? Thank you in advance!

Hi there. Some of my stats would be considered borderline and I applied to 11 schools and the OxCam program, many of them far reaches because I have an excellent research background. I was accepted to 3 MD/PhDs, one of which is an MSTP, and I've been waitlisted to the OxCam program with a 3.5 gpa, 38 MCAT, and two first-author publications, 4 years of research (2 UG, 1 postbac at UG, 1 postbac at NIH).

Throughout the cycle, until my first acceptance, I felt very uneasy about how few schools I applied to - so I think 20+ isn't unreasonable for a borderline applicant. I believe my research-heavy background saved my application for some schools, while others wouldn't look past my average clinical exposure. While I'm a clear example of the fact that stats don't mean everything, they do play a considerable role in selecting your school list/size, as well as your strengths/weaknesses.

 

[mhamblin]

Thank you for the responses everyone they are really helpful! As for my stats:
3.9 cGPA, same sGPA (State school)
No MCAT score yet, taking it this fall
2 years UG research - multiple posters, presentations and 2 likely first author publications (Hoping that how productive my work has been will make up for only having 2 years)
Planning on a 3rd year post-bac of research
100+ hours hospital volunteering (by the time I apply, and also looking for any more clinical volunteering I can get during my post-bac year)
Shadowing experience
Multiple EC's, one is co-president of a pre-health org

 

[Fencer]

On track... no need from more clinical or extracurricular experiences except for keep doing research, kill the MCAT, get outstanding LORs, and write compelling essays that show a passion for a career as clinician scientist.