Admissions Information for the Class Entering in 2010

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Applicants to Northwestern University's Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) complete the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), submit only one supplemental application for admission in 2010 (the Northwestern Supplemental Application), and provide at least 3 letters of recommendation to the AMCAS Letter of Recommendation service (must include one from each research supervisor or research mentor). Applicants who will take (or re-take) the MCAT in July-September, 2009, should indicate this on their MSTP Supplemental Application. Applicants to the Northwestern MSTP do not complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Applicants for the MSTP Class entering in 2010 can check on our receipt of their Supplemental Applications and Letters of Recommendation beginning on July 27 , 2009. After acceptance of the Northwestern MSTP admission offer, entering students will apply to Northwestern's Graduate School by May 15, 2010.

Because completed application files are reviewed and interview invitations are extended on a rolling basis beginning in August, 2009, we strongly encourage applicants to complete their files as early as possible. The MSTP Admissions Committee will begin meeting regularly from August through January to review applications for Fall 2010 and will invite candidates to interview on a rolling basis. Applicants will be invited to interview on Wednesday late morning through Thursday afternoon during four MSTP interview weeks beginning in Ocotber through January (once per month). Applicants who are not invited for the MSTP interview can still be considered for admission to the M.D. program in the Feinberg School of Medicine (FSM), but must first contact the Office of MD Admissions via e-mail: med-admissions@northwestern.edu to request a change of status from MSTP to MD.

Eligibility

Minimal requirements for application to the MSTP are:

• a bachelor's degree in the natural or physical sciences, mathematics or engineering or a bachelor's degree in other disciplines with significant advanced courses in the natural or physical sciences, mathematics or engineering
• significant research experience (at least one academic year or three summers)
• a strong record of academic achievement
• evidence of commitment to a dual career in biomedical investigation and medicine
• leadership or volunteer activities and interests in and out of school

Individuals who have completed either the MD or PhD degree are not eligible for admission.

International students are eligible to apply to the MSTP if they have completed at least 3 years of full-time study (undergraduate, graduate, or post-baccalaureate or any combination) at an accredited college or university in the US or Canada. If admitted, international students will receive the same financial support as all other MSTP students.

Students already enrolled in certain programs at Northwestern University also are eligible to apply the MSTP at Northwestern University and should contact the MSTP Associate Director, Dr. Sandra Lee, 312-503-2900, in MSTP Office for specific instructions. Students in the Graduate School must complete the (MCAT), submit the AMCAS Application, the MSTP Supplemental Application, at least three letters of receommendation (one from each research supervisor), and provide an official transcript of their Fall 2009 quarter grades.Students in the Feinberg School of Medicine must provide a copy of their AMCAS Application including their (MCAT) score, complete the MSTP Supplemental Application, request at least three letters of receommendation (including one from each research supervisor), and provide a copy of their FSM exam scores and grades through December, 2009. Students in the combined bachelor-MD degree program (Honors Program in Medical Education, HPME), and in the Northwestern Undergraduate Premedical Scholars Program (NUPSP) must complete the (MCAT), provide a copy of their AMCAS Application, complete the MSTP Supplemental Application, request at least three letters of recommendation (one from each research supervisor), and provide an official transcript of their Fall quarter 2009 grades.

MSTP Admissions Timeline

July 1 - October 15

• Complete your AMCAS Application as early as possible, answer the two MD-PhD specific questions, designate "Northwestern MD-PhD Program (MSTP)" on your AMCAS Application, and submit the AMCAS Application, plus official transcripts of all your college courses, to AMCAS by October 15, 2009.
• After AMCAS certifies and sends your AMCAS Application to the Northwestern University MSTP Office, we will notify you by email of the decision to invite you to submit the Northwestern University MSTP Supplemental Application. Beginning on July 13, 2009, complete your Supplemental Application as early as possible, submit a passport-style photo and application fee at Northwestern's secure web site before the November 30, 2009 deadline. (If AMCAS granted you a fee waiver, please send us a copy of the AMCAS email.)
• Request at least 3 letters of recommendation as early as possible (1 from each research mentor) to be sent to the AMCAS letter service by November 30, 2009. There are several routes which a letter writer can send your letter to AMCAS: VirtualEvals, Interfolio, and via the mail. In addition, letter writers who currently mail letters can opt to upload letters directly to AMCAS through the AMCAS Letter Writer Application. Please note that the letter writer must include your AMCAS Letter ID found on your Letter Request Form when sending the letters via any medium. If your college/university prepares a composite "committee" letter, with excerpts from individual letters, please ensure that both the committee letter and the original individual letters of recommendation are sent to AMCAS. And if you are applying both MD and MD-PhD programs, you can submit the same letters for MD admission plus additional letters specific for MD-PhD admission one (from each principal investigator who was your research mentor).
• Completed applications (AMCAS Application with MCAT score, MSTP Supplemental Application, 3 letters of recommendation) will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning on August 1, 2009.

October - January: MSTP Interview Visits

Candidates selected to interview during four interview weeks (Ocotber through January, once per month) will receive an email invitation to a 2-day interview visit (Wednesday morning through Thursday afternoon) with members of the MSTP Admissions Committee, the Feinberg School of Medicine Admissions Office, research faculty and MSTP students. Each interview week includes an orientation by the MSTP Director, interviews with graduate research faculty at both campuses, an interview with an MSTP student, and an exit interview with the MSTP Director and Associate Director and the Chair of the the MSTP Admissions Committee. All on-site expenses directly related to the interview visit (hotel and meals) will be paid by the MSTP and these arrangements will be made by the MSTP Office. Interviewing candidates are responsible for their travel expenses for the interview visit and for personal expenses. Candidates offered admission will be invited for a second visit in 2010 and all re-visit-related expenses will be paid by the MSTP.

December - May: Offers of Admission Extended in a Rolling Process

A few offers of admission will be extended to candidates in a rolling process soon after each interview week. More admission offers will be made after all candidates have interviewed, i.e., after the last interview week in January, 2010.

April 30: Deadline for Acceptance of MSTP Admission Offers

The deadline for acceptance of MSTP admission decisions is April 30, 2010. (Please note that the Northwestern deadline for acceptance of MD only admission decision is still May 15, 2010.)

Questions

Questions about application to the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) should be directed to either to Dr. Sandra Lee, MSTP Associate Director (312-503-2900, s-lee@northwestern.edu), or to Mr. Jeffrey Hargraves, MSTP Program Assistant (312-503-5232, j-hargraves@northwestern.edu) in the MSTP Office. Applicants are invited to explore the curricula of the medical school and the six life sciences, engineering, and chemistry graduate programs before applying to the MSTP. Mailing address and phone:

Northwestern University
Medical Scientist Training Program, Morton Building, Room 1-670
303 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611-3008
312-503-5232 (main office number)
877-NWU-MSTP (toll-free)
mstp@northwestern.edu