OK, I have a good one!
Many schools highlight unique components of their curriculum or structure—whether it’s an unusual educational model, a dual-degree option, or more selective sub-cohorts like Columbia-Bassett or the UCSF-Berkeley Joint Medical Program. If there’s a strong mission or academic fit with one of these programs, is it generally advisable to express direct interest, even if the program is more competitive than the general MD admissions pool? In other words, is it worth the potential risk of being considered among a smaller, more selective group if the alignment is genuine?
Similarly, for schools like Harvard that offer optional essays for both Pathways and HST, is there any strategic value in applying to HST just to take advantage of the additional space to explain one’s background and goals—especially if both committees will read everything regardless?
