Md/phd Admissions Process

[scoobydoo1623]

I know MD/PhD applicants are assessed by both the MD and the MD/PhD selection committee, but which committee assesses first? Does anyone have any insight on this?

 

It seems as though the order would matter, as both committees have slightly different criteria. If the MD/PhD committee assesses first, then they might be inclined to pick out applicants with lots of research experience and thus, further them into the MD stream. 

 

What I'm trying to get at here is: can valuable research experience (such as: an international patent, first author pubs, etc.) overshadow a lower GPA of 3.8 if one was to be assessed by the MD/PhD committee first? 

[imnotacrazycatladyiswear]

MD PhD committee and MD committee will assess the applicants separately.

If MD PhD wants you, you're getting in, as long as you rank somewhere on the MD list (no matter what your ranking status is). However if you're rejected by MD committee, you're not getting in, regardless of MD PhD committee's decision.

[5.98e24]

MD PhD committee and MD committee will assess the applicants separately.

If MD PhD wants you, you're getting in, as long as you rank somewhere on the MD list (no matter what your ranking status is). However if you're rejected by MD committee, you're not getting in, regardless of MD PhD committee's decision.

Are there any statistics on the number of students who get into MD but not MD/PhD, official or anecdotal?

[imnotacrazycatladyiswear]

None that I know of...

[Meridian]

Crazy Cat Lady sums the sequence up well.

 

MD/PhD committee interviews first looking for candidates who they believe can become successful clinical scientists. You need to show a very strong track record in research and a hyper-serious drive to follow that path. The 2nd MD interview is same as all MD candidates.   You can get into MD/PhD with a ~3.8 GPA (likewise for MD).  

 

Both sets of interviews were completed in Feb and the offers for MD/PhD acceptance were already sent out the week after the 2nd MD interview. 

 

I'm not aware of any statistics, but yes there are people who applied to MD/PhD that do get offered to MD only.  It is not a backdoor path to MD and applying to both will not give you a leg up on MD only.

[5.98e24]

I'm not aware of any statistics, but yes there are people who applied to MD/PhD that do get offered to MD only.  It is not a backdoor path to MD and applying to both will not give you a leg up on MD only.

Yes, I'm aware that they're separate processes. I'm wondering more why people received MD/PhD rejections - it could be either because the MD/PhD committee did not select the student, or the MD committee did not like them, or both. Theoretically, it seems like you wouldn't know until the MD decisions come out in May.

[scoobydoo1623]

Crazy Cat Lady sums the sequence up well.

 

MD/PhD committee interviews first looking for candidates who they believe can become successful clinical scientists. You need to show a very strong track record in research and a hyper-serious drive to follow that path. The 2nd MD interview is same as all MD candidates.   You can get into MD/PhD with a ~3.8 GPA (likewise for MD).  

 

Both sets of interviews were completed in Feb and the offers for MD/PhD acceptance were already sent out the week after the 2nd MD interview. 

 

I'm not aware of any statistics, but yes there are people who applied to MD/PhD that do get offered to MD only.  It is not a backdoor path to MD and applying to both will not give you a leg up on MD only.

 

Can you really get into the MD stream with only a 3.8 GPA? LOL 

 

But that's my point. What I'm saying is that maybe applying to MD/PhD actually gets your foot in the door in terms of getting your file reviewed for your research (because they can actually afford to look at everyone's file, since only ~80 people apply each year), in conjunction with your GPA. If you were to apply only for the MD program, even though you have a bunch of research experience, a 3.8GPA might not even get you an interview, let alone a file review. Does that make sense?

[Meridian]

Can you really get into the MD stream with only a 3.8 GPA? LOL 

 

But that's my point. What I'm saying is that maybe applying to MD/PhD actually gets your foot in the door in terms of getting your file reviewed for your research (because they can actually afford to look at everyone's file, since only ~80 people apply each year), in conjunction with your GPA. If you were to apply only for the MD program, even though you have a bunch of research experience, a 3.8GPA might not even get you an interview, let alone a file review. Does that make sense?

 

If you look at the U of T accepted thread here on 101 you will see people with 3.8 cGPA acceptances   If you qualify for the wGPA weighting profile that can only help.  Sure a 4.0 may give you a better chance.

 

I suppose you can think about it that way – or maybe it is the reverse.  Maybe you will hurt your chances at getting a good look for MD-only if your application does not make the MD/PhD interview cut.  .   I suggest that U of T is pretty good by now at doing this and you will get proper vetting either way.   If you are not intending to do MD/PhD, don’t apply thinking it will somehow give you a leg up.

 

 

 

 

Yes, I'm aware that they're separate processes. I'm wondering more why people received MD/PhD rejections - it could be either because the MD/PhD committee did not select the student, or the MD committee did not like them, or both. Theoretically, it seems like you wouldn't know until the MD decisions come out in May.

 

Good question.   Anyone reading this get a MD/PhD reject letter ?  If so, did it specifically reject MD/PhD only but still leave MD on the table potentially for May ?   

 

All Ontario schools have agreed to an earliest of March 16 for MD/PhD accept deadlines to be consistent.  I suspect that would be why all MD/PhD decisions are complete and communicated (either way).

[imnotacrazycatladyiswear]

If you get rejected from MD PhD, you won't be receiving an invite in March or so. You won't find out about the MD decision until May when all MD decisions are out.

[imnotacrazycatladyiswear]

Can you really get into the MD stream with only a 3.8 GPA? LOL

 

But that's my point. What I'm saying is that maybe applying to MD/PhD actually gets your foot in the door in terms of getting your file reviewed for your research (because they can actually afford to look at everyone's file, since only ~80 people apply each year), in conjunction with your GPA. If you were to apply only for the MD program, even though you have a bunch of research experience, a 3.8GPA might not even get you an interview, let alone a file review. Does that make sense?

Very rarely that happens. But it does happen. They will use their research experience to get into MD PhD and then drop the PhD portion and continue as only MD student. However this is looked down upon heavily by the faculty (obviously)... Which is why the process for applying is so extensive and they try to rule out these types of applicants during selection process.

But majority of MD PhD applicants are there because they want to do research, and also there are other aspects of MD PhD program that attract students like scholarship opportunities, level of research being done at u of t, the integrated learning, MD PhD specific learning groups, etc.

I mean, I think they deserve to be interviewed and get in, if they were to keep even 3.8 GPA while doing enough significant research to satisfy the admissions committee.

[victorias]

I am wondering how much role does cGPA play, if an applicant qualifies for wGPA - I mean do they look at both or just the wGPA?

 

And what about the MCAT - is it the same as for MD applicants - need to meet the cutoffs?

[5.98e24]

For what it's worth, I got an email from the MD/PhD program manager about acceptances to the MD/PhD program: "The student's standing is based entirely on the MD/PhD interviews. It does not reflect performance in the MD interviews."

[Meridian]

I am wondering how much role does cGPA play, if an applicant qualifies for wGPA - I mean do they look at both or just the wGPA?

 

And what about the MCAT - is it the same as for MD applicants - need to meet the cutoffs?

 

U of T uses the wGPA if you are eligible for it  - that's why it is there.      MCAT cut off is the same as for MD.

 

 

 

For what it's worth, I got an email from the MD/PhD program manager about acceptances to the MD/PhD program: "The student's standing is based entirely on the MD/PhD interviews. It does not reflect performance in the MD interviews."

 

MD/PhD candidates do have to attend the 2nd MD interview in Feb as part of the process. Candidates do have to "pass" the MD interview and "not be rejected" to still be MD/PhD eligible.  As Crazy Cat lady indicates, the MD/PhD committee is in the driver seat in an offer going out.  The ~8 MD/PhD spots are already offered & accepted by last week, so they have been decided prior to UofT completing the bulk of MD interviews in March/April.   It is (up to) 8 spots out of approx 100 MD/PhD applicants.