Brief Profile:
Decided to do MD/PhD summer before my senior year, then decided to wait a cycle and take a gap year to make sure everything didn't feel rushed. Spent the rest of the summer studying for the MCAT (poorly, I got sick and my score was lower than it should've been but I decided not to retake, also there was no writing section on mine). Worked a lot on my personal statements, kept up my GPA, talked a lot with professors who I wanted letters from. Took a long time making a list of schools. My research interests are very chemistry oriented so that crossed a lot of schools off. I had all MSTP schools and got some advice to add a few non MSTP just for diversities sake. They are usually smaller, and interview less, but also generally get lower application numbers as well. I took the advice, but honestly I was looking for a big established program because I felt that was what would fit me best. I also got the advice that if money wasn't too much of an issue to apply to more rather than less. It's a lot easier to withdraw an application than it is to send one in last minute if you change your mind.
Basically, I had no idea what I was doing or what I really was looking for. I thought I did, but by the end of the cycle I definitely had a shifted and more concrete idea of what I was doing MD/PhD for and what I wanted out of a program. There is no ranking for these types of programs so you have to go by word of mouth and MD rankings and name recognition and such, but in the end that really isn't as important. Each MD/PhD program will offer different things, and you have to ask yourself, what is it that I really want. You don't necessarily need to know a specialty or research focus (although that definitely helps), but more nebulous things. You are going to be there for 7-8 years, so you better enjoy the experience or you're kinda stuck. My cycle is a story of someone who pretty much went in blind, and didn't even know what I didn't know.
There's not as much information out there for people applying MD/PhD so I hope this profile helps!
Major: Chemistry with a Bio minor MCAT: 34 GPA: 3.9 Shadowing: 50hrs Research: 1 summer in a plant bio lab, 2+ years in an organic chemistry lab Plublications: 1 in a journal of ~13 impact Volunteering: Tutoring at local schools through college Other: Philanthropy work for pediatric cancer, sorority, school ambassador, peer mentor, organic lab TA, front desk worker
// Applications //
Application Cycle One: 06/16/2015
Undergraduate college: Midwest State School
Undergraduate Area of study: Physical Sciences
Total MCAT SCORE: 516
MCAT Section Scores:
B/B 130,
C/P 129,
CARS 127
Overall GPA: 3.90
Science GPA: 3.90
Summary of Application Experience
Overall I think it went pretty well. I tried to outline my though process throughout to help future MD/PhD applicants because it can be harder to figure out what programs will fit you best. I was invited to interview at 10 schools, about half of what I applied, which I was happy about considering my MCAT score was on the low end. I had some top schools interview me and some lower ranked ones reject me so I figure I was competitive enough that it ended up being a more subjective thing. Like, I'm pretty sure Mayo rejected me because my application did not portray me as very translational, which is true, and it probably wouldn't have been the best fit. There are a few schools I just shouldn't have applied to (loyola, connecticut, minnesota) and a few I really wish I had (wash u, u chicago), but honestly when I started this I really didn't know very much, and it all ended up okay so no regrets.
I got a lot of compliments on my letters of recommendation during interview. I'm pretty sure they are the reason I had a good cycle.
Decided to matriculate to Tri-I! So excited!
Applied, Rejected
University of Washington
Applying for combined PhD/MSTP? Yes
Submitted: 06/17/2015
Secondary Completed: No
Interview Invite: No
Interview Attended: No
Waitlisted: No
Accepted: No
Rejected: 08/17/2015
Summary of Experience:
They have an extra step before the secondary. Submitted their special primary first week of July. Didn't get a secondary. After learning more about the program I realized I didn't fit their student profile as much as I thought, and realized it was probably good I got rejected. They are very big on Rural medicine fyi. Also, if you don't live in the WWAMI states you will automatically get rejected by the med school, but the MD/PhD program takes students nationwide.
Summary of Experience:
Their program is big and highly regarded. They have a lot of research opportunities, and I'm used to living in the Midwest by now. Can't deny that I was very sad when I didn't get an II but what can you do?
Summary of Experience:
This school fit my standard list of good location, enough research opportunities, decent sized program which is why I applied. They took FOREVER getting back to me which was annoying.
Summary of Experience:
This school fit my standard list of good location, enough research opportunities, decent sized program which is why I applied. Was a bit disappointed about the rejection, but I got it the same time as my Vandy II so I got over it all right.
Summary of Experience:
This is a HUGE medical school so obviously I applied here. I know I'm def on the low range for JH but everyone needs some unattainable reach schools right? I actually ended up holding on until their very last interview, so I guess that's good?
There program is big and funded, so they usually offer about 20 funded spots, but also 10 or so unfunded (which honestly I'm not sure I'd take, that's a LOT of money to shell out and for 8 years instead of 4). LOTS of research obviously. But since I never went, I can't offer any more insight.
Summary of Experience:
No secondary required. Got a confirmation email on the date listed for secondary completed. Literally never heard from them again until Feb. Honestly can't say I'm upset about it.
Summary of Experience:
I thought I really wanted to go here, and so when I didn't get an interview I was sad. Then I realized that my application doesn't paint me out to be a very translational researcher, which is kind of their whole thing. And then I realized I'm not, I do chemistry, and they were probably right to reject me. Their program is smaller, and their med school is newer, which may or may not be your thing. Also you can do research at any of their campuses (Minnesota, Arizona, Florida), which is cool, but then that separates you from your cohort which was a downside for me.
Summary of Experience:
Their secondary was SO LONG. I almost didn't finish it. And by the time I did I realized that I was no longer interested in going there (not that I ever really expected to). So the rejection didn't sting too much.
Summary of Experience:
Originally I was very excited to get an II here. They have a great chemistry reputation and their medschool is pretty highly ranked too.
However... their governor is completely messing up funding/tenure in that state and a lot of professors are leaving for other jobs (imagine loosing your thesis advisor halfway through a PhD, not cool), even the med school is being affected. Plus, the administration of the university in general is messed up. My uncle works at another big university and he told me he doesn't know how anything gets done there. All of that combined with the fact that I already had an acceptance at a school I really liked and that I was loosing steam on the interview trail made me decide to withdraw.
Summary of Experience:
Offered MD only interview and withdrew. Home state so had to apply for mum. Colorado is beautiful and I love living there but overall I don't think I fit the student profile there, and the research choices for me were small. Was planning on attending the MD only interview if offered as a backup until I got my first MD/PhD acceptance.
Summary of Experience:
Was soooo excited to get an interview! Their program is probably the biggest in the country (I think Wash U is the only one with the same numbers). Phili is a cool place. It's no NYC but I liked it. Less expensive to live in certainly. And it's close to a lot of other big cities. Their program staff was awesome. Despite being a bigger program everyone seemed on first name basis with the students which was cool. The research for me was there certainly. And CHOP is like a dream come true for me. The students all seemed SO happy, which was definitely a good sign. The med curriculum was all up to date and the facilities were awesome too.
UPenn was definitely in my top 3 after the interview, and this rejection probably hurt the most.
Summary of Experience:
So they aren't an MSTP but they still take between 6-10 students a year which is a decent size in my opinion. The campus is IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE though. Literally it's a town with the Hershey chocolate factory and the medical center and nothing else. That definitely was a down side. They did have the research I was looking for, but it was all at the State campus, over an hour away, which I just really didn't want. The students all seemed happy. The med curriculum was the "old' version, but they did have PBL. The people in charge of the program seemed not as on top of the ball though, which for me was kind of a red flag.
I think I would've been fine here, but it definitely wasn't at the top of my list, and wasn't too disappointed by the rejection.
Summary of Experience:
First interview. Very nervous and excited. Definitely wouldn't mind living in SoCal, lovely weather. The campus was beautiful. Lots of chemistry research. The students all seemed happy and the attitude was very laid back, which I can appreciate. However, the hospitals they do rotations at are at least 20 min away, and you cannot survive there without a car. Housing is subsidized but still expensive.
I loved this place at first because it was my first interview and so the first time I really got a taste of what the next 7-8 years would be like. But after all the other schools I interviewed at, this one fell to the middle of the pack. It's a good program and I think I would've been happy here, but I do feel like other programs offered more.
Also, they NEVER updated me about my status. I actually never heard from them again until I withdrew. I assume I was waitlisted b/c I was never rejected and they still had my application on file when I pulled out, but I would've appreciated being notified about that like the other schools did.
Summary of Experience:
Okay so this school was at the top of my list from the start. And the interview weekend was probably the most fun I had at any school. The students are so much fun and all good friends which is really awesome. The directors and administrators of the program are super on top of things, another plus (downside, the current director is leaving and he was one of the best MSTP directors in the country so idk how that change will go). Nashville is a super cool (and fairly cheap) place to live. They have lots of chemistry research! And a lot of money, the med school loves their MD/PhD program and caters to them a lot. I definitely felt super at home here.
I got waitlisted, which kinda sucked. I knew that if I were to get an acceptance it would happen after the second look, which was disappointing because even though it was my favorite, second look can tell you a lot. Especially if you are going to get along with your fellow classmates. And then I went to Cornell and just loved it so much, I decided that since I wasn't going to get to go to the second look here to compare it, then I probably wouldn't come here even if I got accepted (which was probably 50/50 at that point). It was sad to withdraw because I really did love everything about the program, but I am definitely happy with my final decision.
Summary of Experience:
Another smaller program. The interview was fine. Spread over two days which honestly I think is too long. The directors and administrators seemed very on top of things and knew the current students well which I think is a good sign. The medical school felt very antiquated though. It was ALL lecture based. I'm all for a good lecture but that shouldn't be the only method of teaching. The one bright spot was that because the nursing school is on the same campus, they practice simulations together, which I thought was cool. Also it's not in Chicago it's outside, which was a bummer. They were the only interview I went to that didn't provide housing during.
So for admissions they only offer three acceptances at a time because that's how many spots they have. Then they just go down the waitlist until all the spots are filled and only then to they send rejections. I knew I wasn't coming here over Cornell so I promptly withdrew from the list.
Summary of Experience:
So, this was a smaller program, which I already knew I didn't really want, but it's good to see all sorts I guess.
Went to the interview, and everything just seemed really calm. But I'm in my twenties, I want to DO stuff, and this just wasn't the place. It's outside of Hartford in nice serene place I would go for a weekend to unwind, but not somewhere I wanted to live for 7-8 years. They are still on the old curriculum where preclinical is a full 2 yrs which I wasn't thrilled about, but they are doing a lot with PBL and flipped classrooms which I liked. The program seemed fairly on top of things which was nice to see. As far as research, there was literally NO chemistry at all. I thought I had checked every school I applied to for that, but apparently what I thought had seemed like chemistry DEF wasn't. So that sucked.
Overall, the program was fine, nothing super great or super bad, but it clearly wasn't the right fit for me. Honestly was a little surprised they accepted me, and had to decline.
Summary of Experience:
Second interview. The first one had been so good I didn't think anything could top it, and then I came here and was blown away. The campus is UES Manhattan and 15min walk to central park and the Met. The director of the program was so on top of things, and the STEP scores, papers published, and residency matches were SUPER good. Housing is subsidized so no worries about expensive NY living. And no car necessary (which tbh is a huge plus for me)!The students all seemed really close, which was super important to me in choosing a program. Also having three institutions to research at is hard to beat. I definitely left with my fingers crossed.
ACCEPTED!!!!!! literally was screaming on the phone with the administrator so excited, especially b/c it was my first one!!!
Cornell was second on my list going into revisit. My reservations were mostly about the environment. I wasn't sure I felt like I really fit in, most of the people at my interview were ivys and NY is a very different attitude than CO or the midwest. The revisit day was magical. Any worry I had that I wouldn't be able to find enough chemistry research (which normally is more prominent at medschools attached to their undergrad campuses) was totally gone, I'm now worried I won't be able to choose because there are so many. All of the accepted students were so awesome and we had already started building a community in those 2 days. I talked to a student in 8th year about her whole experience and she had nothing but good to say. They personally helped her figure out how to start a family in the middle of the program (so awesome), and she loved the experience so much her first choice in residency programs was to stay (which she got!), which honestly to me says a lot about the program. If the outgoing students have such a good experience that they don't want to leave, that sets a high bar. The overall attitude of the program was not to get high STEP scores or good residency, but to make sure that you felt prepared to be independent in running a lab and clinic when the time came. They worked a lot with students to make sure you get out in a timely manner and feel confident in your ability to truly be a physician scientist.
I was holding out to see if I got pulled off of my number one choice waitlist, but after the revisit this is now my number one and I just sent in my check. Can't wait to get started!!!
Summary of Experience:
So this school was solidly in the middle of my list, and then I went to the interview and they jumped much higher. Obviously, they have a lot of chemistry/drug discovery research which is huge for me and was very exciting. And Chicago is a big city with a lot of things to do so that's awesome. The program seemed well run, good stats all around and the directors were very on top of the ball. The students seemed very friendly, just maybe not as close as a few other other programs.
After the shinning interview view wore off, the downsides became more apparent. The medical school is in the rich white part of Chicago and almost all of the patients fall in that demographic. A lot of the research is on the Evanston campus which is about an hour away, so there is that separation from the heart of the program which I didn't like. Cost of living was HIGH.
I was waitlisted in early February. Got the call the same time I was making my final decision to go elsewhere and withdrew. Overall it was definitely in my top five, but in the end I just felt more comfortable at other programs.
