MD/PhD admissions in relation to grad school

Graduate School
1

<p>I keep hearing about how much harder/selective MD/PhD admissions are compared to normal MD admissions, but I haven't heard anything about how it compares to "regular" biomedical PhD admissions.</p>

<p>In other words, taking away the MD component of the MD/PhD applicant's application, how do they compare to the applications of PhD-only applicants? Is there a generalization?</p>

2

<p>That's a good question; it depends on what institution ones applies to. I can speak from experience because I have applied to a number of MD/PhD schools for 2008. It's extremely tough and even more so selective than regular MD admissions.</p>

<p>Okay, most schools have the MD/PhD program under MSTP (Medical-Scientist Training Program), which basically means the committee reviews your application to both the medical school in question and to the PhD program. In most cases, there is only one application to fill out, and that is the primary application via AAMC and the secondary from the designated medical school. </p>

<p>Other MD/PhD schools require TWO sets of application forms: one set for the medical school and another set for the designated area of graduate study. This is absolutely the biggest pain in the arse. Each application requires of course separate LORs and you have to spend a lot on fees.</p>

<p>Medical schools are the most competitive, while graduate programs, in general, are less so. MD/PhD are even more so b/c out of, let's say, a common matriculating medical school class of about 180, only 5 to 10 percent of them will be accepted to the MD/PhD program.</p>

<p>The criteria for admission are strict too: To be considered 'strong' you should have at least a 35 + on the MCAT, science GPA of at least above a 3.70, and about 2-3 years of undergraduate research, plus volunteering and the lot.</p>

<p>In general, most medical schools require a 3.6 or above GPA and 30 MCAT, so the 'hardest' part of it is gaining entrance to the medical school. With people who apply to the MD/PhD program with those 'strong' GPAs and scores and experience, it's rather easy to get into the graduate portion of it.</p>

<p>Hopefully that makes sense.</p>