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I think you don't do the programs justice. The ratio of "name" schools to "no-name" programs in MD/PhD seems to about the same as straight MD or PhD. Just glancing at the list, I saw plenty of well-known programs (Cal Tech, GTown, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Harvard, Michigan).</p>
<p>I mean, are the majority of medical schools "name" programs?
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<p>But that's not the point. The point is that you can't make a blanket statement that all MD/PhD programs are 'incredibly difficult to get into'. They don't seem to be, at least, not in comparison to normal MD admissions. Some MD programs are easier to get into than others. Simliarly, some MD/PhD programs are easier to get into than others.</p>
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And, looking at most of the top programs, the average admitted GPAs were 3.7+, with science MCATs being in the 12+ range. That doesn't sound far off from regular MD admissions to me.
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<p>Again, not the point. Plenty of people with stellar grades and MCAT scores nonetheless don't get into any med-schools. The reasons usually have to do with an inability to present clinical medical experience, or personal skills in the interview, or whatever it is. </p>
<p>However, these sorts of things tend to matter less when it comes to MD/PhD admissions, as those admissions usually tend to emphasize research skills to a far greater degree.</p>
<p>The point is that some people will actually find it EASIER to get into an MD/PhD program than an MD program. In particular, a genius researcher who has relatively weak social skills will almost certainly find it easier to get into an MD/PhD program than into a MD program. I'm sure that in our lives we've all encountered geniuses who don't have strong social skills. You know the kind of person I'm talking about.</p>