<p>I'm pretty set on going to medical school, but I'm also interested in going to grad school. However, I'm not really that keen on MD/PhD since I want to have a life by the time I'm in my early 30's. Given that I may not make it into med school, but still would be happy in grad school, I'm thinking of taking the GRE as well and applying to both, that way I can choose which route to take if I get both. So in a way PhD is something of a safety, although I know it's not exactly something you would consider a saftey. </p>
<p>So my question is, will that be seen as a negative if I'm applying to both types of schools? This is important for me since the school I'm shooting for has both medical and graduate schools, and is where I'd almost certainly go if I got in.</p>
<p>Decide between the two. The two are both extremely time-intensive and highly competitive (<50% admissions rates for both and you’re up against the best and brightest – far moreso than when applying to HYPS at the UG-level) and going for both at the same time is most likely to result in failure in both.
(As for it being a red flag, well yeah… it definitely would be IF you were to tell the schools about each other but why would you do that?!?)</p>
<p>FYI, many Ph.D. programs are *more**competitive than med school, not less. Your plan is simply impractical.</p>
<p>It just seems to me that my application may be better suited for grad school, at least the way it looks right now. I’m improving on stuff, but my grades just aren’t quite what they should be for med school, and I’ve heard how grad school is much more about your passion and dedication than the GPA that med schools love so dearly. Not to say GPA is irrelevant, but that it’s not the cornerstone of your application like med school applications. </p>
<p>So while I would rather go to med school, I feel like I’ve got a better shot at grad school, and I’m pretty sure I’d be happy with either one.</p>
<p>Whoever told you “grad school is more about your passion and dedication” than is med school is full of crap. Sorry. Graduate programs want your dedication but a poor GPA won’t get you in, nor will a lackluster GRE, any more than would a mediocre GPA or MCAT for med school. GPA requirements vary by grad school but most will toss an app at the graduate school admissions dept admin asst’s desk (i.e., long before it would have been sent to the actual graduate program) if <3.0 and most Ph.D. programs aren’t going to invite you for an interview with <3.3-3.6 (obviously depends upon what the program you’re going for is). Ph.D. programs also want to see a lot of research experience and potential. In addition, while med schools want “fit,” “match” is far less crucial than for a Ph.D. program. Match is what makes Ph.D. apps so utterly time-consuming. Unlike med school where people often “play the lottery” by applying to “safeties” and such (like in UG admissions), you can have a 3.8 GPA/1400 (>90th percentile) GRE and apply to a low-ranking, weak/no-name program (say… Fuller Theological Seminary’s Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology) and if your interests don’t “match” those of a faculty member specifically looking for an applicant like you who has funding (i.e., a grant) and you’re not his and the dept’s top choice for that spot… you don’t get in.</p>
<p>The two processes are simply very different in their requirements and it would be stupid to try and apply to both and then end up as a reapplicant next year (which drastically lowers your chances the second time through) simply because you tried to do everything at once!</p>