Special Applicant Session: Applying to MD/PhD Programs

David Verrier, Ph.D., Director

Neil Neumann, MD/PhD Candidate, MS2

Office of Pre-Professional Programs & Advising

Garland Hall, 3rd Floor Phone: 410-516-4140

Website: http://web.jhu.edu/prepro

How do I know if an MD/PhD program is the right choice for me?

First… Are you a competitive MD/PhD applicant?• Do you have a competitive BCPM GPA and MCAT? What are

competitive numbers?• Do you have the expected research background and evidence

of scholarly/academic investment? • Do you have the necessary medically-related exposure? • Do you have meaningful community service?• Will you have strong letters of recommendation, particularly

from your research PI’s/supervisors

What does the competitive MD/PhD applicant look like?

Second…Are you ready? • Can you clearly and authentically communicate why you want

to be a physician-scientist?• Do you have time to focus on the HPCA, AMCAS application,

letters of rec., MCAT, graduation, multiple essays and secondary applications?

• Are you putting your best foot forward at this time?

When to apply?

What are some good reasons for delaying applying?

Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. March April May

June

11/2011Applicant Meetings; Initial Request of Rec. Letters

3/30/2012HPCA Deadline

12/2011HPCA Application AvailableOnline

5/2012Committee

InterviewsEnd

2013 APPLICATION CYCLE TIMELINEInternal Process Overview – Nov. 2011 to Summer 2012

Committee Application Available Online

Committee Interviews

Students Request Letters of Recommendation via veCollect

5 /2102Begin Work on AMCAS/ AACOMAS/ AADSAS application

6/2012Early submission of AMCAS/ AACOMAS/ AADSAS application ; follow-up with Pre-Prof. Office

Mid-June20124-6 letters of rec. submitted

4/2012CommitteeInterviews Begin

Work on HPCA from December to March

Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. March April May

June July August

October 15,2012

First acceptances sent out by medical schools with rolling admissions; AMCAS deadline for many schools

May 15, 2013

Last Date to Hold Multiple Acceptances

2013 APPLICATION CYCLE TIMELINEExternal Process – May 2012 to August 2013

Aug. 2013

Medical/ Dental School begins

March, 2013

Interviews end at most medical schools

Oct. Sept.

Acceptances off of Waitlists

Aug. JulyJuneMay

Acceptances

Medical School Interviews

Mid-Sept.,2012

Med./Dental School interviews begin

Early May, 2012

AMCAS, AADSAS,AACOMASgo online

Early June, 2012

First Date to submit AMCAS AADSAS,AACOMAS

AMCAS/AADSAS/AACOMAS

Starting July 2012

Complete Secondary Apps

Sept-Dec 2012

Continue work on Secondary Apps

March – Aug, 2013

Offers from Med/Dent School Waitlists

MD/PhD Letters of Recommendation

• Follow through with veCollecto Register and receive manualo Ask recommenders for LOR before putting their names into veCollecto Give writers: resume, transcript (optional), paragraph on why you want to be

a physician, copies of appropriate papers.

• Request letters nowo Recommenders who know you well; can speak of your knowledge, skills and

abilities as a future physiciano Recommended distribution: science faculty, non-science faculty, those

outside of the classroom (research PI, athletic coach, volunteer supervisor, employer, etc.)

• Letters should be submitted to veCollect by mid-June

How does the MCAT factor into your application?• If taken by June, can choose to see scores before submitting

AMCAS application in July.• If taken July or later, advised not to delay submitting your

AMCAS application.• Scores automatically released to AMCAS.• Plan to only take test once.• What is a competitive score for MD/PhD programs?• When does it make sense to retake?

When should I take the MCAT?

Essays for the MD/PhD Applicant

Schools view your personal statement as…• A chance to move beyond your numbers and really show the admissions committee who

you are and why you are applying.• A significant factor in whether or not you will be invited to interview.• A writing sample.

Questions to consider for your personal statement:• What experiences have shaped me the most and how?• Why is it important for me to tell admissions committees about this topic as it relates to

me?• What does this topic choice tell admissions committees about me? How does my topic

reflect on me?• How is this topic relevant to my pursuit of the health professions and to my application to

health professions school?

However, you are required to submit three essays with your AMCAS application…

Essays for the MD/PhD Applicant (page 2)

• You are required to provide two (2) additional essays.

• Use the M.D./Ph.D. essay to state your reasons for pursuing the combined M.D./Ph.D. degree. Your responses will only be forwarded to your designated M.D./Ph.D. program(s). This essay is limited to 3,000 characters.

• Use the Significant Research Experience Essay to describe your significant research experiences. In your statement, please specify your research supervisor's name and affiliation, the duration of the experience, the nature of the problem studied, and your contributions to the project. This essay is limited to 10,000 characters.

• If your research resulted in a publication on which you were an author, please provide the full citation in the Work/Activities section of your application.

Selecting MD/PhD Programs• How to sort out MSTP programs and non-MSTP programs.• Last year: $160 for initial school; $32 for additional schools + fees

for secondary applications (additional $50 - $100/school)• National average: 14 schools/applicant; not necessarily an

advantage to apply to 20+ schools• Some selection factors: residency, location, cost, class size,

male/female ratio, diversity, mission, etc. PLUS: MSTP affiliation; location of potential research mentors; schools with strong graduate programs in your area(s) of interest

• Sources of information: MSAR, Website, Interview Reports

Is it OK to apply MD-only at some schools and MD/PhD at others?

Will schools consider me for admission as MD-only if I am not considered a strong MD/PhD candidate?

AMCAS

• Application available May 5.• Can start submitting application approximately June 1.• AMCAS “verifies” academic and other demographic

information; downloads to schools selected by applicants.• Additional schools can be added through the AMCAS website

Some additional questions…• What can I expect with secondary applications?• How big are the programs and how many new students do they

accept each year?• When should I expect to hear from schools?• What if I am not a US citizen and applying to MD/PhD

programs?

If time allows…• What can I expect regarding MD/PhD interviews

Remaining Workshops

Special Applicant Session: Applying to MD/PhD Programs Monday3/12/2012 5:00 PM 6:00 PM Shaffer 101

Personal Statement Workshop: Dr. Kelly Barry, Director, Office of Scholarships and Fellowships

Thursday4/5/2012 5:00 PM 6:00 PM Mergenthaler 111

Health Professions Fair DON’T MISS THIS! Tuesday4/10/2012 11:00 AM 2:00 PM Glass Pavilion

Personal Statement Workshop: Jason Hoppe, Director, The Writing Center

Thursday4/12/2012 5:00 PM 6:00 PM Maryland 110

Inside Scoop on Applying to Medical School: A panel of current or recently admitted med students

Tuesday4/17/2012 5:00 PM 6:00 PM Mergenthaler 111

Personal Statement Workshop: Jason Hoppe, Director, The Writing Center (a repeat of 4/12/2012)

Wednesday4/18/2012 5:00 PM 6:00 PM Ames 234

Applicant Session II: The AMCAS/AACOMAS Application Thursday4/26/2012

5:00 PM 6:00 PM Maryland 110

Special Applicant Session: Applying to Dental School & AADSAS Thursday5/3/2012 5:00 PM 6:00 PM Gilman 119

Applicant Session II: The AMCAS/AACOMAS Application (a repeat of 4/26/12)

MONDAY5/7/2012

5:00 PM 6:00 PM Maryland 110

Ongoing Contact with Pre-Professional Office

• When you officially apply to medical schools, hardcopy of AMCAS application and Master List of Schools to Pre-Prof. Office.

• Pre-Prof. Office starts uploading your Committee Letter with veCollect letters of rec in mid-July, after receiving your AMCAS application and Master List of Schools.

• Notification of additional schools.

• Notification if recommenders change.

• Get to know Mrs. Krause and Mrs. Sanders (advising questions to Verrier/Snydman; administrative questions to Krause/Sanders).

Key Resources

Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR). Profiles and statistics on every US and Canadian medical school. Purchased through Association of American Medical Colleges: http://www.aamc.org or at http://www.amazon.com

MD/PhD resources on the Pre-Prof Website

http://web.jhu.edu/prepro/health/md_phd.html

MCAT application information, preparation and FAQs: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/

Official MCAT practice tests: http://www.e-mcat.com/

The Pre-Professional Office website: http://web.jhu.edu/prepro/health/applicants.html

Questions?