Medical Scientist Training Program Admissions

Admission Requirements Application Process Interview Dates & Process The Interview

Dear Prospective Student:

Thank you for inquiring about the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Colorado, Denver. Part of the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, the MST Program is a seven year program for highly motivated students interested in a career in academic medicine. The successful student receives both the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees at the completion of this curriculum.

During the first two years, students take a combined medical and graduate student basic science curriculum designed to provide the scientific basis necessary to both biomedical research and medical practice. They also rotate through at least two research laboratories to obtain substantive research experience prior to the choice of a laboratory for thesis work. During the subsequent two to four years, the students enter a graduate program in one of the basic science departments, fulfilling the requirements for the Ph.D. including successful defense of a dissertation and publication of at least two major papers in peer-reviewed journals. In the last portion of the program the students return to the medical school curriculum to obtain their clinical training.

Accepted students receive full funding, including a stipend, tuition, and fees for the entire period of study. Residents of all 50 states are eligible to apply. Please note, out of state medical school tuition costs at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center do not apply to MSTP students. As much basic science research experience as possible is highly desirable.

Sincerely,

Arthur Gutierrez-Hartmann, M.D.
Professor of Medicine and of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Director, Medical Scientist Training Program

Admission Requirements return to top

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or permanent residents
Applicants must have completed requirements for a bachelor's degree at an accredited academic institution prior to matriculation with excellent academic credentials.

All applicants must meet the following admissions requirements at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine

Inorganic Chemistry	8 hrs	Biology	8 hrs
College English	9 hrs	College Mathematics	6 hrs
Organic Chemistry	8 hrs	Physics	8 hrs

The MSTP Admissions Committee is looking for individuals with a demonstrated commitment to medical research and service to community. The committee looks at applicants as whole individuals, equally assessing academic achievement with past experience. Letters of recommendation, substantive bench research experience, test scores, and life experiences are all considered.

The MST Program is NATIONAL in scope: it is open to residents of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

As a federally funded program, the UC Denver MSTP actively seeks women and underrepresented students. We are committed to the enrollment of a diverse body of talented students.

Application Process return to top

PLEASE NOTE: NEW APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Initial application to the MST Program at the University of Colorado Denver involves the completion of the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) On-Line Application and the submission of the SOM secondary application and fee.

Instruct AMCAS to forward your AMCAS application to the University of Colorado Denver. You must select the MD/PhD Program type on your application. This application will permit you to submit essays describing your interest in the combined MD/PhD program.

Once you have submitted your AMCAS application, email the UCD MSTP office at mstp@uchsc.edu with the names of those persons from whom we should expect letters of recommendation.

You should submit from three to five letters of recommendation (or a committee composite letter). These letters should come from previous or current research mentors, instructors, physicians or employers. References should come from individuals who know you well enough to comment on your educational plans, career goals, and potential for success.

Institutional committee letters may be sent directly from your school through VirtualEval. You may send individual letters through Interfolio (www.interfolio.com) .

Beginning with the 2008 application season ALL letters of recommendation must be sent electronically through Interfolio or VirtualEval. We will no longer accept letters sent to the MSTP office.

You do not need to send separate letters to the MST Program and the UCD School of Medicine; the MST Program has access to letters sent by electronic submission to the CU Denver School of Medicine.

Your application will not be reviewed by our Admission Committee until at least two letters of recommendation have been received and you have submitted the SOM secondary application. You will receive an email notification with instructions on how to submit the MSTP secondary application once your application has been reviewed and if you receive an offer to interview. Instructions for submitting the SOM secondary and the application fee will be forwarded by email from the UCD School of Medicine Admissions Office once your AMCAS application has been verified.

Please note that the deadline for the AMCAS application is November 1, 2007 for admission to the entering class of 2008.

The deadline for submission of a complete MSTP application is December 1, 2007. A complete applications includes the following:
AMCAS Application
All letters of recommendation
School of Medicine Secondary Application
School of Medicine Secondary Application fee

Transcripts are not required at the time of application submission. All accepted students will need to have original, official transcripts submitted from all post-secondary colleges/universities they have attended. The transcripts should be received by June 15 and sent directly to the MSTP office.

Interview Dates and Process return to top

After the Admissions Committee reviews completed applications, applicants are placed in one of the following categories:

Invited to Interview

You will receive a letter offering the choice of several interview dates. You will be asked to select the most convenient date for your interviews with the MSTP and the School of Medicine (MSTP interviews are coordinated with the School of Medicine interviews). Complete information on our interview process will be discussed at this time.

The MST Program will cover up to three nights hotel accommodations (room charges only) and miscellaneous travel expenses such as airport parking, shuttle service to and from Denver International Airport, etc.

We have coordinated the following dates with the School of Medicine for joint SOM/MSTP interviews (dates subject to change):

Thursday, November 29th and Friday, November 30th

Thursday, December 13th and Friday, December 14th

Thursday, January 3rd and Friday, January 4th
Thursday, January 24th and Friday, January 25th
Thursday, January 31st and Friday, February 1st

Thursday, February 14th and Friday, February 15th

Alternate List

Your application will be reviewed at a later date for re-consideration of an interview. You will receive emails updating you as to your position on the alternate list.

Application Declined

Your current application is not competitive with this year's applicant pool. If your application is declined, you will receive a letter from the program director letting you know that you have not been selected for an interview. You will still be considered an applicant to the School of Medicine. Please notify the SOM Admissions Office at (303) 724-8025 if you want to withdraw your medical school application.

Please feel free to contact the MSTP office at (303) 724-4600 or jodi.finkelstein@uchsc.edu if you have questions during the application process or would like to check the status of your application.

The Interview return to top

Interviews are conducted on the Anschutz Medical Campus and will take place over two days. The first day begins on Thursday at 10:00 AM with an orientation session presented by our Program Director. This is followed by lunch and interviews with members of the MSTP Admissions Committee and/or selected MSTP faculty.

Friday morning our applicants will join the other Medical School applicants for an orientation session with the School of Medicine Dean of Admissions. Each applicant will then interview with two members of the SOM Admissions Committee.

A tour of the new Anschutz Medical Campus is scheduled for Friday afternoon as well as the completion of your MSTP interviews. The day ends with a dinner party hosted by a current MSTP student. The dinner party is a great opportunity for applicants to relax after the long day, meet the students in our program, and ask our students about life in Denver and in the program.

Additional information on the interview day will be sent once an interview has been scheduled.