MSTP Admissions Information

Criteria for admission to the Program include academic excellence, prior research experience, potential for independent and creative research, and commitment to a career in academic medicine. Laboratory work concentrating in biology, chemistry, physics, biophysics, bioengineering, or behavioral sciences is helpful in preparing for study in the Medical Scientist Training Program. The admissions policy is flexible enough to accommodate those students who have already identified the field in which they wish to carry out research as well as those who are still undecided about their areas of research specialization. Admission to the Medical Scientist Training Program is open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Your MD-PhD application will be reviewed by the MSTP’s own admissions committee, separately from your medical-only application by the COM’s Admissions office. Your MSTP status will not hinder your application to the College of Medicine. The MCAT examination is accepted in lieu of the GRE examination. Application to the MSTP is normally made at the time of application to the College of Medicine. 

Admission to the MSTP requires admission by the College of Medicine Admissions Committees. Information about admission to the College of Medicine may be obtained from the Office of Medical College Admissions (telephone: 312-996-5635).

Application Review Process

Medical Scientist Training Program: We process and review applications in the order received and have rolling admissions.

All applicants to the MSTP are viable candidates until we complete the seating of our new class. The steps in our review process are the following:

1. Preliminary read by office staff and one or two faculty members.
2. Review by entire admissions committee at monthly meeting. Ranking of reviewed applications. Interview invitations issued in order of rankings, as space is available.
3. Review by entire admissions committee of candidates interviewed. Ranking. Offers tendered gradually, in order of rankings. All interviewed candidates remain on wait list.
4. As early offers are declined, more offers are tendered.
5. Accepted candidates who accept their offers are invited for a second visit.
6. We continue making offers until we fill our class (ten slots). Sometimes offers are made relatively late because a slot opens up.

All candidates are welcomed to email Janine Sacco, MSTP Assistant Director of Program Administration and Admissions at jsacco@uic.edu for application statuses or general questions regarding the program.