MSTP vs Medical Only

[maestrohuang]

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I posted this in the osteopathic forum because this mstp program is for an osteopathic school that I applied to, but it was suggested that since there are very few osteo mstps, that it would be better to get the perspective from the allo thread.

I recently interviewed for an mstp position, but I am still battling with the idea that I may not want to research/teach for the rest of my life. I would be very happy practicing for the rest of my life, but I am not sure how long I would enjoy research.

In addition to this internal dilemma, my significant other is also going to attend the school, but only for the medical program. I would very much like to follow the same path since we will be engaged soon, or at least that is the plan.

If I were to be accepted into the mstp program and choose to forgo it to pursue solely the medical program at the same school, will this be an issue to the administration and the professors? The director of the mstp program is a professor there and I do not want to cause problems because I intend on attending this school mstp or not.

 

[LizzyM]

I posted this in the osteopathic forum because this mstp program is for an osteopathic school that I applied to, but it was suggested that since there are very few osteo mstps, that it would be better to get the perspective from the allo thread.

I recently interviewed for an mstp position, but I am still battling with the idea that I may not want to research/teach for the rest of my life. I would be very happy practicing for the rest of my life, but I am not sure how long I would enjoy research.

In addition to this internal dilemma, my significant other is also going to attend the school, but only for the medical program. I would very much like to follow the same path since we will be engaged soon, or at least that is the plan.

If I were to be accepted into the mstp program and choose to forgo it to pursue solely the medical program at the same school, will this be an issue to the administration and the professors? The director of the mstp program is a professor there and I do not want to cause problems because I intend on attending this school mstp or not.

If you matriculate in the MSTP program and leave after a few days/weeks/months then you will have taken a spot from someone who would have completed the program and you will damage the reputation of the program (future funding hinges on the degree completion rate and the career trajectories of the program's graduates). So, don't matriculate into the program unless you intend to follow through. If you get an offer of admission to the MSTP and don't want to do the PhD, it would be best to ask if you can accept the offer for DO only. If you were good enough for MSTP you should be good enough for DO only and here's hoping they can fit you in plus an additional MSTP from their waitlist.

 

[NickNaylor]

I posted this in the osteopathic forum because this mstp program is for an osteopathic school that I applied to, but it was suggested that since there are very few osteo mstps, that it would be better to get the perspective from the allo thread.

I recently interviewed for an mstp position, but I am still battling with the idea that I may not want to research/teach for the rest of my life. I would be very happy practicing for the rest of my life, but I am not sure how long I would enjoy research.

In addition to this internal dilemma, my significant other is also going to attend the school, but only for the medical program. I would very much like to follow the same path since we will be engaged soon, or at least that is the plan.

If I were to be accepted into the mstp program and choose to forgo it to pursue solely the medical program at the same school, will this be an issue to the administration and the professors? The director of the mstp program is a professor there and I do not want to cause problems because I intend on attending this school mstp or not.

More importantly you might be liable for paying back your "scholarship" - I don't know what the particular terms are for the MSTP program, but these programs usually have clauses like that that require repayment if you fail to complete the program.

You shouldn't matriculate if you don't know that you don't want to do research. That's a waste of your time and a waste of the school's resources. As you might imagine the school will probably be less than pleased.

(sent from my phone)

 

[kami333]

I know one guy who did something similar, he was accepted MD/PhD then went MD only and he ended up getting off the waitlist somewhere else and ended up not even attending the first school.

He had to have a meeting with the Dean of the MD/PhD program before they let him forgo the PhD part, I heard he got grilled on what made him change his mind. There was a lot of grumbling all around when he went to the other school, but ultimately you have to do what's right for you.

 

[thesauce]

Which DO schools have an MSTP program?

OP: Don't go this track unless you're absolutely sure it's what you want to do. It's a long road (often much longer than an additional 3 years) and will put you years behind your fiancée with no real upside if you choose not to pursue research. You might be slightly more competitive in the match, but that's about it.

 

[kami333]

Which DO schools have an MSTP program?

OP: Don't go this track unless you're absolutely sure it's what you want to do. It's a long road (often much longer than an additional 3 years) and will put you years behind your fiancée with no real upside if you choose not to pursue research. You might be slightly more competitive in the match, but that's about it.

None that I know of, but there are several like PCOM, OUHCOM, TCOM, EVCOM, MSUCOM that have DO/PhD programs with varying levels of financial support.

 

[thesauce]

None that I know of, but there are several like PCOM, OUHCOM, TCOM, EVCOM, MSUCOM that have DO/PhD programs with varying levels of financial support.

Then what is this thread about?

 

[Marika11]

Then what is this thread about?

He is referring to DO/PhD programs, which exist. I thought that DO/PhD, as well as MD/PhD, qualify as MSTP programs.

 

[NickNaylor]

He is referring to DO/PhD programs, which exist. I thought that DO/PhD, as well as MD/PhD, qualify as MSTP programs.

All MSTP programs are dual-degree PhD programs. Not all dual-degree PhD programs are MSTP.

 

[thesauce]

He is referring to DO/PhD programs, which exist. I thought that DO/PhD, as well as MD/PhD, qualify as MSTP programs.

No. All MSTP programs are MD/PhD but not all MD/PhD programs are MSTPs.

MSTP programs are NIH funded and the structure can be very different than internally funded dual degree programs. One big difference is that, in the case of MSTP programs, it is to the PI's benefit (financially) to delay your graduation because they are getting paid as long as you are there. In internally funded programs, they want to get you through quickly because it's money out of their pocket to keep you there. This is just one of many differences.

OP's question is unanswerable for internally funded programs because they each have their own structure and politics. We would have to know the specific program.

 

[thesauce]

All MSTP programs are dual-degree PhD programs. Not all dual-degree PhD programs are MSTP.

You beat me to it!

 

[maestrohuang]

Thanks for the replies. This is the worry that I had and I think I will speak with the director before anything else continues. This is an MSTP program that does give financial support and that was one of the reasons why I was so drawn towards it, but I realize that if I am not completely motivated, I may be taking away a spot from someone else who would do better than I would.

 

[thesauce]

Thanks for the replies. This is the worry that I had and I think I will speak with the director before anything else continues. This is an MSTP program that does give financial support and that was one of the reasons why I was so drawn towards it, but I realize that if I am not completely motivated, I may be taking away a spot from someone else who would do better than I would.

All MSTP programs give financial support.

BTW, there are no DO schools with an MSTP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_Scientist_Training_Program)

 

[maestrohuang]

All MSTP programs give financial support.

BTW, there are no DO schools with an MSTP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_Scientist_Training_Program)

Huh, I didn't quite read into the little debate you guys had so I didn't know, but now I see what you're saying. That's interesting. Yeah, this is not an MSTP then. They called it a PSTP, so this must solely be a DO/PhD dual degree with internal funding.

Even so, this seems to be worse because this is internal funding and I do not want to waste their money and a spot for a more motivated and appreciative student if I end up not truly enjoying what I am doing.

 

[Marika11]

All MSTP programs are dual-degree PhD programs. Not all dual-degree PhD programs are MSTP.

No. All MSTP programs are MD/PhD but not all MD/PhD programs are MSTPs.

Ok, that makes sense. Thanks for the clarifications.