MD/PhD Dual Degree Program How to Apply

MD/PHD PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Applications are submitted to the medical school through AMCAS, please select the MD/PhD option in the AMCAS application. After the verified application is received, Drexel University College of Medicine will send the secondary application. If the MD/PhD option was not initially selected in the AMCAS application, applicants may indicate their interest in the program by selecting the MD/PhD option in the secondary application.

Both options place the application in a separate review group, specific for the MD/PhD dual degree program. Please ensure that at least one of the recommendation letters is from an individual who is able to assess the applicant's research capabilities and potential.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS

AMCAS application
Medical school supplemental application (sent via email after AMCAS application is verified in our system)
AMCAS letters of recommendation (make sure all of your recommenders have submitted their letters to AMCAS)
Photo (submitted with medical school supplemental application)

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. If the applicant is a permanent resident of the U.S., a copy of the applicant's green card is required when applying.

DEADLINE

Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, so early completion is strongly encouraged. All materials must be received by November 1.

INTERVIEW PROCESS

Applicants selected for an interview will receive an email from the MD/PhD Dual Degree program administration. Interviews are held from November through January. The MD/PhD Admissions Committee has selected a number of dates to interview MD/PhD applicants. On these designated dates, no other medical school interviews are conducted. The MD/PhD interview day has a robust agenda, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. EST, and includes an orientation to the program, tours of the campuses and research facilities, interaction with the current MD/PhD students, two medical school interviews with a College of Medicine faculty member and an MD/PhD student, and additional interviews with Biomedical Science program faculty and members of the MD/PhD Admission Committee.

In 2023, all interviews will be conducted virtually. Accepted applicants will have the opportunity to visit Drexel University for an in-person Second-Look Day in March or April 2024.

The MD/PhD program is keenly aware of the many challenges that applicants are facing, and we understand the need to be flexible in our approach to admissions during this time.

ADMISSION DECISION

When we receive your AMCAS application, you will be emailed a medical school secondary application. Once we receive your medical school secondary application and your letters of recommendation, the MD/PhD Admissions Committee will conduct an in-depth review of your completed application. A decision will then be made to (1) grant you an interview, (2) place your application on hold, or (3) no longer consider your application. You will be informed of the status of your application in a timely manner.

Your application to the medical school is evaluated by a separate committee. The MD/PhD Admissions Committee's decision does not affect your application to medical school.

Generally, we receive about 300 applications and interview 40–60 students for four positions. The average GPA of the students who have been admitted to the program is 3.76 and the average MCAT is 514 (80th percentile).

The MD/PhD program utilizes holistic review and looks at all the elements of the application for the selection process.

TUITION, FEES AND FINANCIAL AID

Students in the MD/PhD program receive a full tuition waiver, a competitive stipend ($35,000 per year) and medical insurance allowance throughout the course of study.

Students are responsible for paying for student fees and disability insurance. Description of students fees can be found at drexel.edu/drexelcentral/cost/tuition/medicine/.

Pre-Matriculation Checklist

AMCAS Primary Application

Background information
Coursework
Official transcripts
Work and activities (with up to three meaningful experiences)
Personal statement
MD/PhD essay
Letters of evaluation/committee letter
MCAT scores
Selection of schools and program
Primary application fee

Secondary Application (will receive up to four weeks from AMCAS primary verification)

Essays/short answers
Choose three to five faculty members whose research aligns with your interests. Some of them will participate in your interview.
Secondary application fee

CASPer Test

Please go to www.takeCASPer.com to sign up for the American Professional Health Sciences test (CSP10101) and reserve a test using your AMCAS ID # and a government-issued photo ID. You will be provided with a limited number of testing dates and times. Please note that these are the only testing dates available for your CASPer test. There will be no additional tests scheduled. The CASPer test is comprised of 12 sections of video and written scenarios. Following each scenario, you will be required to answer a set of probing questions within a time limit. The test typically takes between 75-90 minutes to complete. Each response is graded by a different rater, giving a very robust and reliable view of personal and professional characteristics important to our program. No studying is required for CASPer, although you may want to familiarize yourself with the test structure at takeCASPer.com and ensure you have a quiet environment to take the test.