Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Medical Scientist Training Programs (Preparation, Applying, Choosing)
by Jot Dhadialla
What
are the aims of an MD/PhD or MSTP program?
What preparation do I need to successfully
be admitted to these programs?
Should I do my research in lab, or try
many different labs?
Will excellent research experience make
up for a lack of clinical experience?
Does the reputation of my college matter?
What kind of scores do I need?
What are the programs looking for in
an applicant?
How competitive is it to get into these
programs?
Where should I apply?
Is there a suggested timeline for applicants?
Should I include my interests in research
in my AMCAS personal statement?
How important is the secondary information
such as the specific medical school essays and MD/PhD
essays?
How much will the process cost me, and
how much time will it take?
How should I prepare for an interview?
What are the interviews like, and how
are they structured?
What should I look for in a program?
What programs are available for International students?
What are the aims of an MD/PhD or MSTP program?
According
to the NIH, the aim for MST programs is to produce
Physician-Scientists. Essentially, over the past decades,
there have been fewer individuals who have been trained
in basic science as well as clinical medicine. With
a growing need to integrate knowledge and practice,
it is essential to produce scientists who are trained
in clinical medicine in order to bridge the gap between
these worlds.
The
need to translate basic research to clinical practice
is not a novel idea or problem. As early as the 1850’s,
and perhaps before, scientists like Rudolph Virchow
(the father of pathophysiology) warned against science
with no application – science for the sake of
science (Wissenschaft). While the benefits of science
for its own sake have proven to be unforeseeable and
essential, the concerted efforts and breakthroughs
afforded by focused training in science as well as
medicine have also proved to be essential.
The
NIH initially funded MSTP programs in 1964, in order
to address the waning number of students and professionals
that were choosing careers that would meet these goals.
The track record of these programs has shown that
most of the graduates enter academic medicine disciplines,
and as a result, the size and investment in these
programs by the NIH and alternate funding sources
has increased. Those MD/PhD programs that have successfully
met the goals of the NIH, which are ascertained during
periodic site visits are given a seal of approval,
the title of MSTP, and are allocated a certain number
of NIH funded seats which covers the tuition required
for medical and graduate schools, as well as a stipend.
There are currently 39 MSTP programs, while many more
MD/PhD programs exist. While it would seem the MSTP
programs would have a homogenous structure in order
to meet the requirements of the NIH, there is a wide
difference in philosophy and structure of the programs,
which produce graduates that span the Physician-Scientist
continuum. Back
to top
What preparation do I need to successfully be admitted to these programs?
The
most common answer one would receive to this question
is that the preparation needed is not formulaic. Much
like medical school admissions, however, there are
factors that will greatly enhance ones chance of admission.
In addition to have elements common to medical school
applicants, research experience makes the foundation
of ones application. By the time student’s matriculate
into the most competitive programs, many have had
around 1.5-2.5 years of research experience. From
these research experiences result an important component
of ones application: recommendation letters. Some
schools weight the letters very highly, and they can
become ones greatest ally. Most of the MD/PhD interviews
consist of research-centric questions, in addition
to justifying the necessity of the double degrees.
Most successful MD/PhD applicants have high college
GPA’s and scores as well. Though it is possible
to get into the most competitive programs with these
elements, it always helps to have had unique experiences
or awards that set one apart from the pack of highly
competitive candidates. It is possible to make up
for weaker parts of ones application by strengthening
others. Back
to top
Should I do my research in lab, or try many different labs?
Undergraduate
time is, among many other things, a time to broaden
ones knowledge base and experience, in order to ascertain
what fields fit best. In fact, most students still
do not have strong inclinations regarding their field
of PhD research until after medical school begins,
which is perfectly acceptable. While it is important
to gain broad exposure to research styles, lab techniques,
and fields of study, it is also equally important
to demonstrate ones commitment to research, and capability
for creative, original thought. The advantage of having
a limited number (2-3) of sustained research experiences
are many; not only is one able to play a substantial
role in an in-depth project, your recommenders will
be able to write letters with depth, commenting on
your personality, motivation, as well as capacity
for original though. Having a few advocates that can
comment with depth would be to ones advantage. Purely
anecdotally, I had 3 different research experiences;
one which was very short beginning in my freshman
year (2nd semester), and my mentor served as my advisor
throughout college, even as I worked in other labs.
Starting my sophomore year, I began working in another
lab at college, which I continued throughout college.
During each of the summers I spent my time at a Pharmaceutical,
doing research in one lab for 3 summers, in a very
different field from the other two experiences. Some
successful applicants have as little research experience
as a couple summers, while others spend a year or
more after graduation pursuing research projects.
Sean’s additional comments:
I
think that to a certain extent the relationships that
you build with the particular institution that you
have conducted research at is at much of an asset
as the actual research experience itself. Personally
I think that working at a variety of institutions
and at a variety of geographical locales are very
nice additions both from a scientific career standpoint
and a personal development standpoint. However, it
is more likely that you’d be able to accomplish
more as a researcher if you stick to a single lab
that you perform well in. It is much easier to get
publications, sometimes multiple publications, that
way.Back
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Will excellent research experience make up for a lack of clinical experience?
While
some candidates often have a lot of medical experience,
it is often the case that MD/PhD will have more research
heavy applications. While it is important to have
as much research experience as possible, one must
not lose sight of the expectations of a dual degree
program. Without any clinical exposure at all, it
will be difficult to convince someone that you understand
what sort of knowledge a medical education will add
to your training. More importantly, the experience
would aid ones ability to think in a more sophisticated
manner regarding how a dual degree would enhance your
training and subsequent effectiveness in an academic
career. While excellent research experiences can certainly
overshadow minimal clinical experience, the best candidates
will be able to reference experiences in both worlds
with ease, based on the time they have spent.
Sean’s additional comments: You often get asked
what clinical exposures have you had, be prepared
to answer questions of that sort.
Back
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Does the reputation of my college matter?
This
is an often-debated question in both medical admissions
as well as md/phd admissions. Empirical evidence from
those that get interviews at the top programs show
that more students from better schools get interviews
than from lesser known schools. This is certainly
multi-factorial and a mix of caliber of student a
college usually receives, and the education that they
receive while there. Furthermore, schools are occasionally
more forgiving with regards to GPA or other factors
if one comes from a highly reputable undergraduate
college in order to get an interview, though admission
is dependent on the interview itself. Nevertheless,
with strong scores, research, clinical and extra curricular
experience, it is possible to gain admission at the
best programs. Even without a flawless record, strong
research experience and excellent interviewing skills
can certainly show that you are an excellent candidate
regardless of your school.
Sean’s
comments:
Personally I strongly believe that the overall package
of the applicant, particularly the MCAT/GPA + research
experience can render the “reputation”
of the college almost negligible. I’ve met many
successful applicants from schools that are outside
of the scope of the top 25 schools in the USNews ranking,
using it strictly as a list. It’s difficult
to say whether someone from a highly competitive school
gets a boost on the GPA, but people who with excellent
records from somewhat less well-known (particular
large public) universities should not worry at all
about this issue.
Back
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What kind of scores do I need?
Again,
this is one of the most oft asked questions in this
process. Before any numbers are discussed, it is important
to reiterate that even average numbers of a program
are highly conditional on the applicant, and their
circumstances. Secondly, it is important to note that
the higher numbers associated with MSTP programs are
mostly due to self-selection of students. The national
MCAT average for MSTP programs is 35, and average
GPA is around a 3.7. Some of the most competitive
programs have averages around 36/3.8, while other
well established MSTP’s have averages around
33/3.65. Washington University, for example, advertises
a range of scores from 29 to 42 in one years class.
Excellent research or extra-curricular experience
can compensate for lower scores, though they have
to be within a reasonable range in order to get an
interview.
Back
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What are the programs looking for in an applicant?
While
a strong scholastic record is requisite for these
programs, your commitment, depth of understanding,
and creativity in research is perhaps even more important.
Furthermore, it is equally important to have a cogent
reason for wanting to pursue the dual degrees. This
must come across in your essays, and especially in
your interviews. Furthermore, it is important not
to neglect other aspects of your application, interesting
extra-curricular activities, athletics, music, organizations,
leadership etc…, because in a field of highly
competitive students, your character and experience
will make you stand out.
Back
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How competitive is it to get into these programs?
There
are approximately 400-500 applicants to the ‘most-applied-to-programs’,
however, this number is only increasing. From 2002
to 2003, there was a 45% increase in applicants at
some schools. When there are on average 8-10 NIH funded
spots at each school, these numbers may seem daunting.
It is important to remember, however, that the same
people tend to apply to the same schools. An administrator
at a top rated MSTP program approximated that there
were about 800 MSTP applicants nationwide that particular
year, and about half of them were reasonably competitive.
With about 350-400 MSTP funded slots available nationwide,
and even more fully funded MD/PhD slots, one begins
to realize that much of the application process is
matching the right student with the right school.
Obviously, competition will be most intense at the
elite programs, but it is important to remember that
all MSTP-NIH funded programs are of high quality,
and worth pursuing dual degrees at.
After
one applies, the largest cut is made pre-interview,
and those that receive an interview invitation have
a high chance (ranging from 25-66%) of admittance.
Since it is a matching process for student and school,
10 available seats does not mean that there are only
10 acceptances given out. Often 2-3 times the number
candidates than spots available are eventually accepted.
Sean’s Additional comments: Jeremy Cholfin (UCSF MSTP) was really right when he analyzed the admissions patterns. It doesn’t follow conventional thinking sometimes. I think it is important to point out that one should not be discouraged when one is rejected or put on the waitlist early on by a “less-competitive” school, particularly if one has many interviews. Back to top
While
it may seem initially reasonable to apply to as many
schools as possible to increase ones chances of ‘matching’
to a program, there are a number of reasons why this
is not recommended. Foremost, the financial cost of
applying to a high number of schools is very high.
Applying to 20 schools will cost about $800 for the
primary application, ~$80 for each secondary application,
and since most schools do not pay for the cost of
traveling and/or lodging in recent years due to the
high number of students interviewed, it could cost
up to $500 an interview. With application fees reaching
close to $10,000, it makes sense to be more judicious
for this reason alone. If, however, one is fortunate
enough for this not to be a problem, the sheer time
it takes to complete an application is worth considering.
After the primary application, which is the same for
most schools (notable exceptions are Columbia, NYU
etc…), secondary applications as well as MD/PhD
supplemental need to be completed. Since this is the
only way schools are going to be able to attach a
personality to your numbers, it is important to take
time and energy to present yourself in the best light.
Since the essay questions for the secondaries vary
greatly from school to school, it is important not
to underestimate the time required to complete them
(though they should not require as much attention
as the primary). Now that you may have realized not
to apply to every MSTP, there are important ways to
narrow down programs. See What should
I look for in a program?
Sean’s additional comments: For those who are
more spendthrift: for some reason I didn’t spend
nearly that much money (i.e. $10000) despite the fact
that I applied to ~20 schools. Many of the schools
I’ve interviewed at paid for airfare and I stayed
with students as much as possible to cut expenses.
Overall I spent $2500 at most, and most of it thankfully
was covered through my summer job. Also, I filed applications
for many extremely competitive schools, and was (by
chance, if nothing else) rejected pre-interview. I
think if you have ~$3000 to spare, try to apply to
a reasonable number of schools, particularly if you
are shooting for the very top tier schools.
Back
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Is there a suggested timeline for applicants?
Earlier
is always better! Especially for MSTP, one should
aim to take the April MCAT for starters. There is
a long-standing debate about exactly how much taking
the August disadvantages the applicant, but if one
must take it, it certainly will not disqualify an
applicant. Make sure that if your undergrad has a
pre-medical letter writing committee, all materials
are submitted early. Recommendations should be obtained
towards the end of the spring, and it is a good idea
to use a letter-distribution service if possible.
Submit the AMCAS primary application as early as possible
– one should aim to have this done by the end
of July (the application becomes available in May).
Secondaries from schools will either already be available
online, or sent to an early applicant by mid-august.
Most secondaries do not change from year to year,
and it is a good idea to start thinking about the
questions in previous years applications in preparation.
Recommendations are submitted with secondaries, as
well are individual application fees. If one has applications
submitted by august/September/early-October, it will
be possible to attend the earliest interview dates
at schools, or at least have ones pick at scheduling.
While there is a slight advantage to interviewing
early in the application season, dates into January/February
will not put applicants at any discernable disadvantage
(at rolling-schools). At non-rolling schools, all
interview dates are equally viable. The interview
season usually begins to wrap up around mid/late February
at most schools, though some interview into March.
Be
judicious about calling schools about your application
status. While MSTP administrators are usually much
friendlier than their MD counterparts (understandably,
small number of applicants), you should only call
if you are unsure whether or not your application
is complete, or have not heard anything from the school
for 6-8 weeks after your application is complete.
Be considerate and understanding, these people may
be taking care of you for the next 6-8 years!
Back
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Should I include my interests in research in my AMCAS personal statement?
Definitely!
Always remember, however, that the AMCAS application
is mainly for the medical school. There will be an
opportunity to write an MD/PhD specific personal statement
later in the process. Careful construction of ones
personal statement will highlight ones interest in
medicine foremost, strengthened by experience and
intentions to pursue a career in academic medicine.
Personal statements are not meant to be formulaic,
and successful statements have had all, some, or limited
aspects of the above elements. Take this opportunity
to present past experiences in an interesting manner,
while incorporating a cohesive thematic element. Even
though MD/PhD applications usually go straight to
MD/PhD admissions committees for evaluation, some
schools (UCSF/Harvard) conduct separate MD and MSTP
admissions processes, and this is just another aspect
of an applicants package that must appeal to both
sides. Back
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How important is the secondary information such as the specific medical school essays and MD/PhD essays?
Realize
that prior to this information, all schools know of
an applicant are their scores, and the limited personal
information that can be gleaned from the personal
statement. Most schools – though there are some
exceptions (Harvard/UPenn etc…) – have
short essays on various topics, from describing ethical
dilemmas, to writing relatively short autobiographies.
There are many occasions to provide optional essays,
and this opportunity should be used to paint a more
complete image of you as an applicant. Do not spend
an excessive amount of time on the secondaries; the
main objective should be efficiently and effectively
completing applications.
The
MD/PhD personal statement, on the other hand, should
be carefully constructed. Not only should it address
why MD/PhD, but also detail prior research experiences.
It is best to write the statement in a modular fashion
(why MD/Phd / each research experience) because while
some schools simply request a personal statement,
others request these issues to be addressed separately.
While most people are pursuing and md/phd because
they enjoy medicine, research, and perhaps teaching
– it is important to dig deeper for a more personal
reason. While describing research experiences, assume
that the reader is fairly knowledgeable about your
topic, but make an effort to place it in the larger
context of how it encouraged an interest in pursuing
the dual degrees. Furthermore, make sure to highlight
personal contributions to the work, emphasizing intellectual
contributions and creativity in thought. Though the
statement is research-centric, it is essential to
justify the necessity of the medical degree –
this question will arise on countless occasions. Back
to top
How much will the process cost me, and how much time will it take?
The
cost of the process is highly dependent on how many
schools one applies to. The initial cost of the AMCAS
application is around $200, and each school added
is $30. Secondary fees are ~$70/school. Unless a school
pays for interview expenses (this is becoming increasingly
rare – Midwest schools tend to do this more
often for the purposes of recruiting), the cost of
a flight must be factored in. This should be taken
into consideration when considering how many schools
to apply to on another coast (if you reside on the
east or west coast). Whenever possible request a student
host. Besides allaying the cost of a hotel, they will
be able to provide you a valuable perspective on the
program, and possibly on members of the committee
who are interviewing you. Be considerate to your student
hosts!
Luckily,
you have chosen one of the longest application processes
possible. Learn to enjoy, or at least deal with waiting,
or the experience will be rather nerve-racking. Not
hearing from a school on the first day possible is
not a silent commentary on the competitiveness your
application. The interviews are time consuming, and
expect to take time out of work/school. Almost all
schools interview on the weekdays, usually any combination
of Thurs/Fri or Mon/Tues. Traveling time is substantial
and it can quickly become a logistical problem to
schedule numerous interviews. West-coast applicants
should attempt to group interviews in the same region
together in order to save time and money.
Back
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How should I prepare for an interview?
There
are two standard pieces of information that every
applicant will be asked for many times! Why MD/PhD?
Explain your research. Secondly, don’t forget
that in addition to meeting with the MD/PhD committee,
at most schools there will also be medical school
interviews. All frequently asked questions for straight-MD
applicants also apply.
At
most interviews, there will be time at the beginning
of the conversation for you to speak directly to the
aforementioned questions. An excellent strategy is
to weave your past medical and research experiences
into a coherent story that corroborates with your
decision to pursue the dual degrees. Lasting about
2-4 minutes, it should contain in it all the ‘hooks’
that you would like to steer the conversation into.
Though the preceding language may unintentionally
imply contriving a story (certainly not the case!)
– it is important to focus the interview on
issues/research topics that are most familiar, relevant
and conducive to endorsing your candidacy. As a general
rule, not limited to MD/PhD interviews, it is important
to gauge ones audience. The depth of detail should
be adjusted for those in your field, other scientists,
as well as medical doctors.
An
excellent way to prepare for interviews with regard
to research knowledge is to take reviews in of a specific
field, and branch off the papers it cites. Repeat.
Make sure to keep knowledge current as the interview
season progresses!
An
important piece of advice was imparted upon me before
I began interviewing: “Interested is interesting”.
While it is important not to present an affected personality,
body language, enthusiasm, tenor and demeanor are
as essential to interviewing as the content itself. Back
to top
What are the interviews like, and how are they structured?
For
the most part, interviews are extremely pleasant experiences.
While it may not feel like it at the time, they are
an opportunity for a school to impress an applicant
as much as for an applicant to impress them. MD/PhD
interviews may occur over 1 or 2 days, and usually
include a time for the medical school to inform and
interview as well as an MD/PhD only segment. Interviews
with the MD/PhD are usually divided into those with
committee members (one on one or panel) and those
with scientists in the applicant’s specific
field.
Many
applicants go into their first interviews ready to
be antagonized about minutiae tangentially related
to their research, this is certainly not the case.
These interviews are simply relaxed conversations.
There may be challenging questions presented, but
they are usually within the scope of ones specific
research field, and even then, it is ok to simply
not know the answer. In case of the latter, it is
very important to admit lack of knowledge rather than
BSing through an answer. It is important to view your
interviewer as your advocate at an MD/PhD admissions
committee meeting. Presenting them with the information
and conviction they need to endorse you will allow
an applicant to stand out in a field of highly qualified
people.
Occasionally, an interview will be rather stressful,
but it is important to keep calm and steer the conversation
into familiar topics. Oftentimes, these interviews
go much better than they are perceived. There is no
point second-guessing the motives of the interviewer,
or how they report back to the committee.
In
addition to the interviewing portion of a program
visit, there will be opportunities to meet current
students, go out for dinner, see the surrounding areas,
and assess other factors. For tips on what to look
for, see ‘What
should I look for in a program?’
There
is much more information about specific programs,
and more general interviewing tips interspersed throughout
the Program Review
section. Back
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What
should I look for in a program?
Things to think about when Interviewing, questions
to ask:
While each applicant has differing priorities-here
are some things that were important to me while interviewing
(no particular order):
Program Philosophy: Not all MD/PhD programs are created
equally, and they certainly all aren't created with
the same goals and visions on mind. For example, Duke
is interested in training PHYSICIAN-scientists while
Hopkins usually trains physician-SCIENTISTS. Attitudes
to the graduate years and clinical years differ greatly,
often at the vision of the current program director.
Secondly, IS there a program to begin with - some
schools have the mstp in periphery; while the 2 degrees
are in the forefront, while others are well integrated.
Though this is ancillary to the program philosophy,
pay attention to the administrator and director. Do
they care about the program? If you have a problem,
can they do something about it? Can you get along
with them; you will have extensive interaction with
them in the future.
Location: You will be spending 7-8 years in a place.
For many of us, this is during the bulk of our 20's.
Are you looking to settle down in a quiet area, live
it up in a big city, or find a compromise - an area
with amenities of both? While I think it is reasonable
to spend 4 years of medical school just about anywhere,
this becomes more of factor for us md/phd wannabes.
This includes the quality of life factor - while some
smaller places do not have as much excitement, you
can live like a king on your stipend, while in NYC
for instance, you will not be driving that Hummer
you always wanted.
Research: While it is imperative to examine the program
structure etc... There is hardly a point if the research
you want to pursue is not represented at the school.
Depending on the importance of this on your priority
list - for most people it is very high - it can trump
many other factors in your decision. Look at the 'big
names' at the school, but also look at the younger
researchers. Is there new and innovative research,
or are the investigators coming to the end of their
careers? What are the schools basic science strengths,
and how do they compare nationally. While it is only
necessary to find one good mentor and investigator,
your thesis advisor, the advantage to have excellence
all around you is in the culture of the institution.
The lecturers that come through will be varied, and
the interaction you will have will be enriching. All
schools boast a highly collaborative nature of their
research community, but don't accept this until you
see proof in the form of journal articles.
Medical School: At first I didn't think that the medical
curriculum really mattered; everyone takes the boards,
and at the top schools, for the most part, everyone
does well. While interviewing, however, my perspective
on this changed quite a bit. With regards to MSTP
training, it is extremely useful to experience patient
interaction before the 3rd year. While most schools
tout this feature, those that feature 1.5 year basic
science curriculums, with 6 months of clinical rotations
allow for excellent clinical experience before one
begins their thesis work. Other factors to consider
are traditional lecture based curriculums versus problem
based learning (PBL/tutorial) setups, though most
school fall at some happy medium in that continuum.
Though it is often hard to gauge when shopping around
for schools, finding a good fit in terms of classmates
will enhance the experience a great deal. Other factors
such as locations of hospitals, and accessibility
of faculty should be considered, though there isn’t
a great differential amongst the top schools.
Nebulous Gut Feeling: This is extremely important
- perhaps the most important. All those subconscious
factors you don't want to consciously articulate culminate
into a gut feeling toward a place. While I would try
to remain somewhat objective about a place, there
is no point forcing down chocolate cake just because
you know everyone else loves it. Allow a second visit
to reshape your feelings, but ask yourself, 'do I
fit in here?'" Back
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What
programs are available for International students?
Though NIH funded MSTP seats are meant for permenant residents and citizens of the United States, many MSTP funded schools have mechanisms which allow them to accept non-citizens. These funding mechanisms are usually institutionally or privately derived, and therefore, limited. An excellent international candidate should have no trouble being accepted to a program if one applies wisely. Furthermore, many schools do not have an official policy on international students, and handle them on a case-by-case basis. If you are very interested in a particular program, it would be worth contacting the administrator/director to see if the program has any 'wiggle room'. The following schools have accepted international students in the past. If a school does not appear on this list, and should, please e-mail 
If there are any other specific questions international students would like to see addressed, please e-mail the address above.
Northwestern University
Harvard University (Presidential Scholars)
Johns Hopkins University (1 Merck fellowship)
Washington University in St. Louis (multiple seats)
Duke University
University of Pennsylvania
Columbia U. College of Physicians and Surgeons
Yale University (usually one spot)
Baylor College of Medicine
Cornell University (Tri-Institutional program)
U. of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterñDallas (multiple seats)
Emory University
University of Chicago
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Yeshiva University (Albert Einstein)
Dartmouth Medical School
University of Southern California
University of MinnesotañTwin Cities
Indiana UniversityñIndianapolis
Tufts University
University of Connecticut
Vanderbilt
SUNY Upstate
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