Statistics

Early Application Encouraged

As the chart below documents, candidates whose application is not completed significantly before the December 1 application deadline limit their chances of being offered an interview.  Applications are reviewed and interviews awarded on a rolling basis. While interviews do not begin until early October, individuals who complete their applications on October 1 typically have only 30 available interview slots, as opposed to the 99 that were available to early applicants. This data is for the 2011 applicant pool, but is consistent with previous years.

MCAT Distribution

MCAT scores have predictive value in terms of performance in the preclinical curriculum and medical licensure exams.  Therefore, they are considered in the evaluation of MD-PhD candidates.  Individuals who score below 28 are rarely interviewed. The chart below plots the distribution of MCAT scores for the 2011 applicant pool.

GPA Distribution

Undergraduate GPA is predictive of success in the medical and graduate curriculum. Individuals who earn a GPA below 3.3 are rarely interviewed. The chart below plots the cumulative GPA for the 2011 applicant pool.

Research Experience

The MSTP requires a minimum of two summers or semesters of research experience. Most competitive applicants will have two years of research at the time they submit their application.  The chart below plots the number of months 2011 candidates had at the time of application. (All would have had 8 to 12 additional months of research experience at the time of matriculation.)  While early research experiences may have been relatively simple and  limited in scope, competitive candidates will demonstrate their ability to independently develop and conduct hypothesis-driven research projects.