<p>I'm a sophomore and I am interested in the MTSP (Md/PhD) program, I have tried to look for information online regarding this but I can't find any. I currently have a 3.6 and I hope to get a MCAT score around 37. And as for extracurricular, I have shadowed a pediatrician for 40 hours, and I have a summer internship doing research. Also during the school year I have assisted people with their research. </p>
<p>I plan on doing more research, I'm taking a year off to work full time as a scientific researcher, and then I will apply. As well, as my junior-senior summer.</p>
<p>You’re on the right route. But any speculation about what your MCAT is likely to be is very, very premature. You won’t know your likely score range until after you’ve taken some practice exams–and even those might be not good indicators.</p>
<p>The MSTP is extremely competitive–even moreso than regular med school admissions.</p>
<p>You will need to have strong research credentials to apply for the MSTP. Publication will also help your MSTP application. To support both of those goals, you need to be more involved in research–preferably with one lab and for more than one year so that you have a “track record” of being successful in the lab and can gain a strong LOR from your PI–which is very important for gaining acceptance into the grad school side of your MSTP application.</p>
<p>Additionally, consider applying to some national summer research programs (REUs, NIH’s SIP, Amgen, some school specific programs in your area of research interest at WashU, JHU, Columbia, MIT, etc) next summer to expand your research skills and broaden your network of academic contacts.</p>
<p>Here is a list of schools that participate in MSTP and some other information about the program:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/InstPredoc/PredocInst-MSTP.htm[/url]”>http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/InstPredoc/PredocInst-MSTP.htm</a></p>
<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/students/considering/exploring_medical/research/mdphd/[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/students/considering/exploring_medical/research/mdphd/</a></p>
<p>Although the service/volunteer expectations for MD/PhD candidates are lesser than for regular medical school applicants, they are still there. You need to get more involved in community service/medical volunteering type activities.</p>
<p>Hi there!</p>
<p>I would like to direct you to the MD/PhD forums at the student doctor network forums. Although many here consider SDN to be very negative, this forum is full of helpful people who have been through this process successfully (MD/PhD students, former students that are now residents or attendings etc). The stickied threads there are particularly helpful for finding more information.</p>
<p>[Physician</a> Scientist [MD/PhD, MD/MS, DO/PhD, DDS/PhD] and Biomedical Research [PhD/MS] - Student Doctor Network Forums](<a href=“Physician Scientists | Student Doctor Network”>Physician Scientists | Student Doctor Network)</p>
<p>The three most important things for MSTP are: MCAT, GPA, and research. Taking a year to devote to research is a good idea, and very typical of MSTP applicants. I would try to improve your GPA, as 3.6 is on the low side for MSTP. As wowmom has said, A 37 is a great score to shoot for, but you can’t really know until you take it. I would worry less about volunteering and shadowing, as long as you have some of it, your research and stats are more important.</p>
<p>Good luck :)</p>