MD-PhD combined program?

Question

I will start my Master degree next september and I heard about MD-PhD program, can I apply to this program after i finish my Master? I mean to be enrolled as a PhD student and yet to have MD degree concurrently.

looking despirately for help.

Answer 1

You do not necessarily need a MS degree before going into a Ph D or MD/Ph D program. MD/Ph D programs are VERY competitive, so one would need stellar grades, a solid personal statement, an error free application, and extremely strong letters of recommendation.

The letters of rec should be from professors who know you well and who can speak of your strength as a possible MD/Ph D student.

MD/Ph D students can go into many different careers: teaching, practicing, or both for that matter.

Research experience would be very helpful as well. You didn't mention what your Bachelor's is in, or what you are pursuing for a MS. But if you can get any research experience under your belt, your chances of going into a MD/Ph D program will be greater.

I work for a program that helps undergrads go into a graduate school programs, and I have been currently working with students who are applying/have gotten into MD/Ph D programs. What helped them was A LOT of experience in the sciences, mainly research experience. They also were published a variety of times in various journals, and that also helped them a lot.

Hope this helps! Good luck.

P.S. Look for fellowships, grad assists, teaching assists, and research assists by looking up professors that interest you the most -- go to them directly and find out if they have funding for a grad student -- then, you will get a stipend, and many times fees/tuition will be waived.

Answer 2

Why do you want to do this? If you were interested in MD programs you needed to be on track with them as a Freshman in college, and the PhD/MD programs are generally only open for very outstanding students who are in premed tracks with top GPAs from competitive undergraduate schools. Most of these kids have done real research, probably with multiple publications, as undergraduates (or even as HS kids, like several I know). It takes a very smart, very directed, very hardworking student to handle both med school and research at the same time.

Anyone can apply for anything, but you need to check into the qualifications for some of these programs before you blow $100 on the application.

Answer 3

For universities that offer this type of program, sure. You will have to be accepted to both programs independently, however, so anything less than a stellar academic record would likely give you low odds of acceptance.