Tinker said:
Please ignore this posting. I'm creating the post so I can find an earlier posting on mine.
I found the earlier post I was looking for.
The distinction I would like to add to the earlier post is the reference made by an earlier poster about those programs that require the MD program to accept the applicant before he/she can be considered for the MD/PHD program. These program by design do not exclude MD/PHD candidates from the MD only program. They may use a different admission standards for the MD only and MD/PHD only applicants.
From my experience, applying to the PHD/MD program significantly affects the probability of being accepted into a MD only program. I am writing from the perspective of a parent of an MD/PHD student. My son's general qualifications were 35 MCAT, 3.9 GPA, Molecular Biology focus, three years research during undergrad.
He applied to approximately 12 schools, accepted directly in one MD/PHD program, waitlisted at 5 or 6, and rejected directly by the remaining. The acceptance was at one of his top choices so he withdrew from all of the waitlisted schools. I have no idea how the waitlists move.
He was accepted to only one MD only program and waitlisted at 1.
I strongly suspect he would have had much more success being admitted to medical only programs if he hadnt been involved with the MD/PHD program. With an over supply of qualified candidates, why should a medical school admissions program bother to even deal with the added complexity of admitting a student who has made it clear that medical school only is a second choice. I would certainly select the qualified candidate who is most likely to accept.
Keep in mind that the acceptance process for MD and MD/PHD extends all the way into the summer. After the May 15 date, the ripple affect of candidates changing schools extends for quite some time. Anecdotal information indicates that this can extend into August.
Are you ready to deal with this kind of uncertainty? There are several studies that have been referred to in this forum dealing with the acceptance into MD/PHD programs. I believe the information distills into the simple fact that only 1 MD/PHD applicant out of 4 matriculates into a program.
This is one of the most important processes you may ever participate in. If I were advising my next child, I would STRONGLY suggest that he keep two separate application processes one for MD and another for MD/PHD programs.
