FAQ's About the M.D./Ph.D

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions, compiled by Skip Brass, Director of Penn's Medical Science Training Program (one of the best programs in the country, IMO):

What is an average student profile getting in to a M.D./Ph.D medical school?

The average MCATs for successful MD/PhD applicants is 34Q, the average GPA is 3.7. For practical purposes, MCATs should be 30 or higher; GPAs 3.3 or higher. There are instances of individuals with sub-30 MCATs or GPAs below 3.3 getting into MD/PhD programs, but it is not very common.
The most important component of any successful MD/PhD applicant is solid research experience. Individuals with sub-optimal MCAT & GPA must have strong research experience, as does anyone who hopes to get into a MD/PhD program. Most programs require a minimum of 2 semesters (or summers) of research, but the most competitive applicants have two or more years.

What are the admissions committees looking for?

The answer to this question clearly varies from school to school, but some basic principles apply. When they consider your application they will look for:

  • Evidence of academic success such as GPA and MCAT scores, but not be limited to them. They will undoubtedly consider where you went to college and what types of courses you took. They will not necessarily be dismayed if you got off to a slow start, as long as you did well later. They will look hardest at how you did in courses that are relevant to your chosen area of graduate school training.
  • Relevant research experience. If you plan to get a PhD in one of the laboratory sciences, then prior laboratory experience counts heavily, particularly if you spent a year or more in the same laboratory. Summer laboratory experience can be helpful, but summers are short and whenever possible you should try to do research during the academic year or spend multiple summers in the same lab. For those of you planning a PhD outside of the laboratory sciences, seek equivalent experiences. The idea is to be sure you like it and to create a track record upon which your past performance can be judged and your future success predicted.
  • Letters of recommendation. The most important letter(s) are from the faculty member or other senior investigator with whom you worked. The letter should comment on our talents, skills, and potential for success as an independent investigator. If you are working with a senior faculty member, it is very helpful if they can compare you to other students with whom they have worked.
  • Your plans for the future. Since training to be a physician-investigator is so costly in terms of your time and the school's resources, your career goals should be compatible with MD-PhD training. Becoming a full time practitioner is a laudable goal, but doesn't require a PhD in addition to a MD. Your goal as a trained physician-investigator should be to spend at least 75% of your time on research. You need not know the specific problem you want to work on, or with whom you would like to train, but your commitment to becoming an investigator should be clearly communicated and you should have given thought to what will be required.

Is it important to have spent time working in a hospital or clinic before I apply?

  • Perhaps. Some medical school admissions committees take that as evidence of commitment and as a predictor that you will do well in the clinical portions of your training and career.

Do I need to take the GRE?

  • Medical schools require the MCAT, not the GRE. Some schools will want both for combined degree applicants. Be sure to ask!