Yeah....so I was applying to UIC anyways...regular MD Amanda Cuevas sent me an e-mail about the program. I am actually applying to a few MD/PhD programs because I have a ton of research experience and honestly even with great grades and MCAT scores the only way I am getting into Wisconsin or Minnesota is by playing up my research experience. I submitted the medical scholars application to UIUC cause I figured what the heck, from what I have heard it is true they have had difficulty in the past filling all 25 or so slots (which is a ridiculous number of MD/PhD slots given they aren't NIH MSTP...which makes me wonder were the money is coming from cuz covering 25 students tuition and stipend has to be over a million bucks per class...albeit im sure the JD/MD and MPH/MD folks are paying their own way). I suppose if the process is going rough for you it might be an easy way to gain an acceptance...but if you don't really want that PhD you are going to hate your life once all your MSI and MSII friends hit their residencies and your stuck in some lab in Champaigne doing something you'd rather not be...just a thought.
