Applicant Information

Home > Applicant Information

Admission to the Medical Scientist Program (MSP) can be made through one application process. This is initiated through the American Medical College Applications Service (AMCAS). To apply to the MSP you should designate The Ohio State University on the electronic AMCAS application, and select Combined Medical Degree/Ph.D. Later you will receive an e-mail from the College of Medicine directing you to the web-based secondary application which also serves as your application to the MSP and to graduate school.

Admission credentials for the MD/PhD Program:

Completed AMCAS application.

Completed College of Medicine secondary application form.

At least four (4) letters of recommendation. Two should address the applicant’s research experience and potential. Two others should be from teachers or professors who have taught and graded the applicant. All of these should be submitted via AMCAS.

A Graduate Reference Form must accompany at least three of these letters of recommendation in order to be considered for a University Fellowship.

Current CV

To be nominated for a University Fellowship, an official transcript from each college or university attended listing all courses and grades must be received by the office of the nominating graduate program no later than January 15. An additional copy of the official transcript should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions (address listed below).

Any additional information required by the individual graduate program(s).

Evaluation Process and Interview Dates:
The Medical Scientist Program Admissions and Selection Committee will conduct a preliminary evaluation of the candidate’s application materials in accordance with competitive admission standards. Applicants selected by this committee for an interview will be contacted by the MSP office, and an interview arranged for one of the following interview sessions for 2009-2010: December 3-5, 2009 & January 14-16, 2010 & February 11-13, 2010. During this visitation day the applicant will meet with MD/PhD students and representatives of the admissions committees from the medical school, MSP, and the graduate program of choice (Biomedical Science Graduate Program (IBGP), Biomedical Engineering (BME) and/or Neuroscience (NGSP)). The Medical Scientist Program and the admissions office of the college and the university will notify candidates selected for admission. Candidates holding acceptances to other schools are expected to make a choice promptly, in fairness to other applicants. Those holding multiple acceptances should make a decision by April 15th.

Application deadlines:
AMCAS applications will be accepted starting June 1st until November 1st of the year prior to anticipated matriculation. No applications are accepted by AMCAS after November 1st. The Ohio State University secondary application forms are due 30 days after receipt. As the final deadline for the OSU fellowship competition is in January, early application is strongly encouraged.

Evaluation Criteria:
The IBGP and Neuroscience Graduate Studies Program will accept results of MCATs in lieu of the GRE for admission to the MSP, but Biomedical Engineering (BME) requires the GRE. However, this GRE requirement is waived for applicants who majored in an engineering field during their undergraduate or graduate education. An earned cumulative grade-point average (GPA) equivalent to at least 3.0 out of 4.0 in all previous undergraduate college-level course work is required by the OSU Graduate School, but considerably higher scores will be required to gain admission to the MSP. Students should apply to be admitted for the summer quarter, but exceptions can be made.

A student is selected based on:
1. Previous academic record;
2. Research experience;
3. Biographical statement that explains why the applicant wants to pursue a combined MD/PhD;
4. Four letters of recommendation, at least two of which should address the applicants previous research experience and potential for a research career;
5. MCAT scores;
6. Personal interviews.
Although all of these criteria are taken into account, particular emphasis is placed on research experience.

As is expected of all applicants to the College of Medicine, these individuals must possess the personal attributes of self-motivation, compassion, integrity, and interpersonal skills as well as the intellectual, physical, and emotional capacities to master the medical curriculum. Candidates must possess high ethical standards, especially honesty and concern for others. Candidates must be free of substance abuse, addictions, and violent behaviors, and must possess the skills required to practice direct patient care.

PROGRAM CONTACTS:

Medical Scientist Program
Interested students should contact members of the MSP faculty, Ashley Bertran, Program Manager, or the Program Director, Larry Schlesinger, MD , at any time for discussions of the various research and study programs and opportunities.

1190 Graves Hall, 333 West 10th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210-1238
Phone: 614.292.7790
Fax: 614.292.6226

Office of Graduate Admissions
310 Lincoln Tower
1800 Cannon Drive
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Phone: 614.292.9444

OSU College of Medicine Office of Admissions
209 Meiling Hall
370 West 9th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Phone: 614.292.5674

Integrated Biomedical Science Graduate Program
Alexa Murray
Room 1190 Graves Hall
333 West 10th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210
Phone: 614.292.0857
FAX: 614.292.6226
email: ibgp@osumc.edu

Neuroscience Graduate Studies Program
Keri Bantz
Graduate Studies Office
4072 Graves Hall
333 West 10th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: 614.292.2379
email: keri.bantz@osumc.edu

Biomedical Engineering
Melanie Senitko
Graduate Studies Office
260 Bevis Hall
1080 Carmack Rd.
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: 614.292.7152
email: bmegrad@osu.edu