x

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

You don't wanna do the PhD, you have your answer. You can drop the PhD, but it's dishonest and wrong to start the program knowing you don't want the PhD. Morally, Penn should not be an option for you. Somebody who wants to do the MSTP should be given that spot.

It is a huge headache for everybody to have an MSTP drop-out. You could maybe consider emailing the school and seeing if there's a way to only do the MD program from the beginning, but I doubt it. Probably wouldn't hurt to ask, though.
 
Your support system is in Philadelphia if you live in Boston. That's not really inconvenient compared to living west of the Mississippi River. You are on the same time zone. Acela should still work for you.

I agree that you should decline the MSTP spot if you could keep the MD spot at Penn. Give someone else who wants that path the chance.