In the past four years, our matriculated students have had a GPA in the range of 3.09 – 4.00 with an average GPA of 3.77 and a median GPA of 3.80. Matriculated student MCAT scores in the past four years have ranged from 510 – 523 with an average and median score of 515.  Students who have significant research experience with an honors thesis, postgraduate work with publications and strong supporting letters are most competitive however each application is given individual consideration.

We receive approximately 200 applications per year and interview 85-100 students for 12 spots. We anticipate accepting a Whitsett Fellow and Sabin Fellow each year.

See How to Apply

• For applicants who choose ONLY to apply to the MD/PhD program (not both the MD and MD/PhD programs), there is no secondary application fee.
• For applicants applying to BOTH the MD/PhD and MD programs, an application fee ($100) is charged.  This MD secondary application fee ($100) may be waived for those who, without financial assistance, would be unable to also apply to the medical school.  For additional information about the fee waiver. 

Yes! All applicants who apply to both the MD/PhD and MD programs are considered individually by both the MSTP admissions committee and the medical school admissions committee. If an applicant applies as a "combined applicant" and does not receive acceptance from the MSTP, their application will then be considered by the MD program. No additional interview will be required.  However, the MD secondary application fee may apply unless a fee waiver is granted.

In general, deferrals are not permitted. However, in a small number of circumstances, such as obtaining a major scholarship or fellowship (e.g. Rhodes, Marshall, Gates or Fulbright scholarship), a deferral of admission may be considered. The MSTP only supports proposals that provide for participation in intellectually rewarding opportunities during the time of deferral. Deferral requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Our policy is to not provide feedback once the applicant has been through the interview process.

The average length of training is 8 years.

The program pays for the cost of 4 years of medical school tuition and fees. It also provides individual health insurance and a stipend which steadily increases with the cost of living. The current annual stipend is $38,000 for the 1st and 2nd years of medical school and $40,000 during the 3rd and 4th years of medical school.  Stipends during the graduate years match the level of support during the 1st and 2nd years of medical school – and increases after passing the PhD candidacy exam and if a student receives an F30, F31, or other competitive pre-doctoral award.

The sources of funding include a NIH training grant, UC College of Medicine funds, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center funds, graduate student assistantships and private donations. This level of support coupled with the relatively low cost of living in Cincinnati makes our program highly competitive. Still have questions? Visit our Student Funding page.

Students complete research rotations before selecting the laboratory where they will complete their PhD. Rotations encourage students to broaden their scientific interests, and allow them to select a lab that is an optimal match. Students complete a total of three rotations: one the summer before the M1 year and two the summer before M2.

The UC MSTP does not require applicants to complete a gap year to be considered for admission.  The Admissions Committee looks for quality research experiences which allow applicants to understand what a career in research will be like and also allow applicants to be familiar with testing a hypothesis.  46% of students accepted into the UC MSTP over the past 5 years have come straight from their undergraduate studies.