<p>I'd like to apply to both MD/PhD and PhD at some schools but I'm not sure if it's allowed. I know they don't allow MD/PhD and MD applications, but their web sites say nothing about PhD. I asked this question on Yahoo Answers but didn't get any satisfactory answers and there was some confusion. To clarify, I'd be happy in both programs but have a very small chance of getting into MD/PhD, and I'd rather do PhD right after college than take a gap year and apply again. I'd like to have a PhD application as a "backup plan" (though I hate to use that term for PhD programs of their caliber). Here's the yahoo answers thread in case anyone wants more information about my situation: Can</a> I apply for MD/PhD and PhD? - Yahoo! Answers</p>
<p>If anyone has an answer, I'd really appreciate it!</p>
<p>It’s actually more unusual to apply for MD/PhD and PhD programs. There are people who apply to both MD/PhD and MD programs. In fact, for some MD/PhD programs, you have to get accepted to their MD program first. It’s far rarer to see prospective PhD candidates apply via the MD/PhD route because you have to take the MCAT and go through med school admissions, which is not for the faint of heart. I think people will question why you even want to go through medical school and residency if you have PhD programs as a backup. Why not just do a research career? Medical school and residency is a lot of work. If you’re not planning to do residency and at least some clinical work, then your MD/PhD salary won’t be much better than a post-doc’s.</p>
<p>My decision was made because of several conversations I had with people within my company. First, they mentioned that while MD/PhD took 8 years, they look for PhDs with at least 2 years of post-doc experience so the time commitment evens out. Also, while the MD/PhD salary may not be much greater than a post doc, the former gets more attention as far as research direction and leadership, due to his more integrated knowledge of systems biology. To be honest, I want that knowledge more than the degree, and I’m willing to put in the work for the application process even though I know I won’t get in. Worst case scenario is I get more practice for my subject GREs in the fall.</p>
<p>How can people apply to MD and MD/PhD? No program I looked at allowed that.</p>
<p>For some MD/PhD programs, you could get rejected for MD/PhD and still be considered for the MD programs. For other applicants, they’ll apply MD to certain schools and MD/PhD to other schools. Still other med schools will accept you as a MD student and you can actually apply to the MD/PhD program as a first year med student. My med school allowed his and a guy did just that. There are quite a few options if you are willing to do MD vs. MD/PhD. But, it’s far far rarer to see people applying MD/PhD vs. PhD at the same time, probably because I suspect the GPA required for PhD programs is a lot lower than the GPA required for MD/PhD programs. </p>
<p>While the MD/PhD program is 7-8 years, it’s a lot longer once you throw in a 3-7 year residency. You could choose not to do residency or clinical practice at all, which then brings us back to the point of whether you want to endure 4 years of med school just to have a purely research career.</p>
<p>Question on this thread. I was actually thinking the same thing because I would like to do clinical and translational research. More and more PhD are doing this now, but an MD/PhD still has an advantage right? Also, if anyone can comment on how applying to MD/PhD affected the PhD application, that would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!</p>