Application Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. How do I apply?

A. MSTP applicants apply to the CWRU School of Medicine through the AMCAS application service. After you've submitted your AMCAS application, you'll receive an e-mail from the School of Medicine Admissions office telling you how to set up an iApply account and complete your secondary application.

Case Western Reserve University is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity. Women, veterans, members of underrepresented minority groups, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

The CWRU MSTP encourages applications from candidates with disabilities. Accommodations for students with disabilities and limitations posed by required technical standards and specific standards are governed by policies of the School of Medicine and are described at the following site: http://casemed.case.edu/admissions/process./requirements.cfm.

Q. I've completed the AMCAS online application and checked the box for combined medical degree/PhD. Am I done?

A. No. You need to complete the CWRU secondary application (submitted through iApply) and submit your letters of recommendation. You must indicate on the secondary application that you are applying to the MSTP.

Q. Where should I send my letters of recommendation?

A. All letters of recommendation must be submitted to the AMCAS letters service.

Q. Do I need to take the GRE?

A. For BME applicants, we prefer but do not require the GRE. The GRE is optional for students interested in any other graduate program.

Q. What does your admissions committee look for in an applicant?

A. The most important thing is substantive research experience during the summers and during the school year as an undergraduate, or during post-baccalaureate research time. Applicants must also seriously consider and explain why they want to pursue both the MD and the PhD degrees.

Q. Have you ever admitted anyone with an MCAT score under 30?

A. Yes, but they had outstanding research experience.

Q. Can a high school AP Calculus class fulfill the MSTP's Calculus requirement?

A. Yes, but only if it is listed as a credited course on your college transcript.

Q. How do I know whether all of my materials are complete?

A. You can check on the status of your application any time by logging in to your CWRU iApply account.

Q. What is the deadline for submitting my application to the MSTP?

A. The deadlines are November 1 for the AMCAS application and December 15 for the CWRU secondary application. You may request an extension beyond these deadlines by contacting the MSTP office.

Q. How many students do you admit each year?

A. About 12-15.

Q. How many do you interview?

A. Around 80-90 each year.

Q. What kinds of work are the alumni of your program doing?

A. Approximately 70% of our graduates achieve a faculty position at a medical school, and 20% do research at the NIH, research foundations, biotech companies or pharmaceutical companies. Our alumni are engaged in cutting-edge basic, translational and clinical research.

Q. Is the MSTP open to international students?

A. Sorry, no. The CWRU MSTP is funded by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), one of the National Institutes of Health. Because the grant is a type of National Research Service Award, trainees must be citizens or noncitizen nationals of the United States, or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., possess an alien registration receipt card I-151 or I-551).

See also the School of Medicine's Admissions FAQ page

A very helpful article for students considering MD-PhD training can be found here in Science Careers magazine.