<p>I'm sorry, but you made me laugh when you told me I don't understand how the process works. I assure you I do, as my hunband is now finishing med school and we have actually been through the process for both MD and MD/PhD. And the first round isn't JUST a numbers game - you plenty of other information, such as personal statement AND apps. All medical schools use the AMCAT application, although many ask you to fill out a supplimentary application, which is also considered "first round" as you r application at each school will not be considered complete without it.</p>
<p>When you apply for an MD/PhD program, you mark on the app that you are intersted in both. Your information much first be deemed acceptable for an interview by the med school, then the PhD program must decide the same. If only one of the programs finds you acceptable, you are invitied for an interview for just that program. If both find you an interesting candidate, you are invited to interview with both. Unlike grad schools, the med school interview is no guarantee of a spot, nor is the PhD portion. If both still find you attractive and have a spot for you after the interview, you are accepted. More often than not you are accepted to the MD but not the PhD, as there are very few spots and the people that apply for them self-select to a high degree (they already have killer stats, or they wouldn't have even gotten an interview). And just because it is a COMBINED committee does not mean the MD doesn't have a chance to ding you. It means that there are representatives from each program on one committee who interview together.</p>
<p>Everything else is NOT quibbling. You're describing a fantasyland of MD/PhD admissions that doesn't exist that you contrived from a paragraph on a website about a program you have no personal experience with. I'm correcting the misconception, as I've seen it in action.</p>