<p>My goal right now is to get a MD/Ph.D. I have been admitted into USC's BA/MD program guaranteeing med school with a certain MCAT score and GPA. I've also been admitted into Caltech. USC is giving me half tuition, and Caltech is covering everything except bit of room and board. I've distilled the decision down to one question and that's USC if I just want an MD and Caltech if I want to risk for an MD/Ph.D. Any thoughts? Thanks!</p>
<p>I always wondered about this too… (high school sophomore right now). Check if USC’s program lets you apply to other med schools/programs at the end of your undergraduate. Then you could go to USC, and try for other programs, while having their med school as a backup. </p>
<p>If they don’t, it depends a lot on your confidence level of succeeding at Caltech.
Good luck! I checked your stats, and you’ll probably succeed wherever you go!</p>
<p>Yah they let you apply out. I just was thinking that maybe Caltech’s stronger undergraduate education and research opportunities would pave the way for an MD/Ph.D. program (most likely the USC/Caltech one)</p>
<p>Thanks for the support!</p>
<p>Hi Aznpwnzor…how did you get covered everything from Caltech? Financial aid or other scholarships, may I ask?</p>
<p>I’d choose USC’s BA/MD. At Caltech, the workload is intense and it’s really not the best place for premed because of grade deflation. For a top MD/PhD program, expect to have stats (MCAT and gpa) higher than the average for the school’s MD only students. Going to Caltech over USC doesn’t mean it will give you a better chance at an MSTP program.</p>
<p>They’re covering over 40k. So I’d be paying about $8000 a year.</p>
<p>Oh misread your question. I think it’s need-based but all the form says is scholarship. I’m guessing it’s a bit of both.</p>
<p>So they don’t even consider that the grades are from Caltech? I’ve heard and read that USC’s undergrad classes are pretty much a joke. I mean I think it’ll be sufficient preparation for an MD but for an MD/PhD? So MSTPs look just for high GPAs and MCATS? How much does research and letter of recs (from Caltech professors for example) factor? Thanks!</p>
<p>I think prestige of the undergrad institution is taken into account, but not as much as many attending difficult schools would like it to be. As in, don’t expect a 3.3 from Caltech to look better than a 3.8 from USC. USC still is a very well-respected institution, and a high gpa from there would not be overlooked. </p>
<p>What matters about research and letter of recs is that they say great things about you. I think the credentials of the professor or PI matter (they should have at least a PhD, be tenured faculty), but for a rec saying the same thing from a USC professor vs a Caltech one (assume both have equal reputation in their field), the Caltech one wouldn’t be given more weight just because the recommender works at Caltech. </p>
<p>I looked at your stats profile and it looks like you have done research with a Caltech PI. It should be entirely possible to continue that research since USC and Caltech aren’t too far apart.</p>
<p>So do you think there would be any benefit to choosing Caltech other than financially? The research I did was in computational biology so would probably not look too good to a medical school. This means SURF would help some but from what you said I can’t see too much of a reason to go to Caltech over USC unless I wasn’t going for a MD(/PhD).</p>
<p>I’m reflecting the opinions of students who are applying or have applied to medical schools, btw. The multiple degree forum isn’t really frequented by people who have, but if you ask somewhere that is they will say pretty much the same thing. The idea is to choose a school with the best financial deal that will allow you to have great numbers. </p>
<p>The hardest part is getting into an MD program and you already have that in the bag, so why take the risk and give it up? You mentioned specifically the USC/Caltech MD/PhD program, so it’s probably good to ask the program how USC’s BA/MD students are considered for their MD/PhD program. In addition, many MD only students have applied into a school’s MD/PhD program as first or second year medical students (and from what I have heard, it isn’t that hard to get in that way) so there should be something in place like that at USC med.</p>
<p>btw, any kind of research should help. Computational bio research is still very relevant research, and it’s learning how to do research that matters.</p>
<p>I’ve asked and they said BA/MD students are still considered in the same way; they have to apply after undergrad for the MD/PhD, so I’d just be safeguarding my MD.</p>
<p>Oh you can apply even when you’re in medical school? Hmm. I did not know that.</p>
<p>The computational biology research is geared towards evolutionary bio and artificial life though. I know any kind of research is fine for high school but for undergrad? Wouldn’t it show not knowing my career goal or something?</p>
<p>Sorry if it seems like I’m just trying to go to Caltech, (I am leaning towards it though) but I just need to make sure that I will make the best choice. Thanks for keeping at it!</p>
<p>If you are strongly interested in pursuing an MD, the USC BA/MD is hard to beat, especially with the discount they are offering you:
- many (if not most) premed undergrads end up needing a year between their BA and entering med school in which they apply and go through multiple interviews. The applications and interviews are very expensive. Last minute airfares are rarely cheap.
- if USC will cover half the tuition cost for med school you’re way ahead of other med school students and should be able to graduate with much less debt
- you can get a fine premed experience at USC, as shown by the many students who aren’t admitted to the BA/MD program and who still go on to excellent med schools
- you have the freedom to range more widely in your class choices, and to choose research rather than volunteer hours if that’s what you’d prefer. </p>
<p>CalTech is a great school, but given the choice between CalTech and an uncertain chance of med school vs. USC and a certain slot (with some reasonably requirements on you) in USC’s med school, I’d go for the med school slot.</p>
<p>The half tuition is just for undergrad. One of the reasons I’m aiming for MD/PhD is also because MD/PhD’s are usually paid for and include a stipend.</p>
<p>I probably should have said earlier, but I want to end up doing research after my MD/PhD and not much actual practicing. The MD’s just for job security and it’s kinda interesting.</p>
<p>So seems like nobody has a single reason that I should go to Caltech. I guess I shouldn’t let the prestige win me over?</p>
<p>Yes, it is possible for MD students to get in internally at USC. If you scroll down to the end of this document with the grid, it says that internal MD applicants are considered: <a href=“https://www.aamc.org/members/great/resources/mdphdtrainingandcareers.pdf[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/members/great/resources/mdphdtrainingandcareers.pdf</a></p>
<p>This may be for the USC MD/PhD program and not the USC/Caltech one though, the info for that program doesn’t seem to be on there. IIRC the USC/Caltech MD/PhD is a very small program with 2 or 3 students coming in every year. Make sure to check directly with the programs themselves about this info because things passed through multiple sources can get inaccurate. </p>
<p>Even people who got their PhDs in a certain field don’t always end up doing that kind of research for their career (both might still be within say biology, but different topics). There is nothing wrong with doing research that appears to be outside your career goals.</p>
<p>Oh great link thanks!</p>
<p>It seems to be that USC’s MD/PhD is just the one with Caltech. I just sent an email asking sort of the same question to their MD/PhD director so hopefully he has some advice too.</p>
<p>Hmm, that’s true so schools wouldn’t care too much I guess.</p>