Common Questions Combined Degree Programs

Are applicants from outside the U.S. eligible for admissions?

• Chicago Medical School (MD/PhD) - Beginning with the 2019-20 cycle, Chicago Medical School applicants must be U.S. citizens, hold a permanent resident visa or be eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) process of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at the time of application submission. (Source)
• College of Pharmacy (PharmD) - Yes - more information is available on the international students page.
• Dr. Wm. M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) - Yes. Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine welcomes applicants from all over the world. As an international student, you will not qualify for federal financial aid assistance. We encourage you to look at the EduPass site (www.edupass.org) as a website you may want to use as a resource. It provides information to international students studying in the US – financial aid information, and other important topics such as visas.

What types of research is available for those pursuing the PhD?
The doctoral research program leads to degrees in the disciplines of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Microbiology and Immunology, Neuroscience, and Physiology and Biophysics. Students interested in exploring specific research labs may wish to review our Faculty Research Guide

Does the program offer a stipend or tuition waiver?

• Chicago Medical School (MD/PhD) - Yes, stipends and tuition waivers are offered for all phases of the program. Entry level candidates are awarded this support starting with their first two years of medical school, continuing through the PhD, as well as into the last two years of clinical programming.  Candidates entering from within the university are awarded stipend and tuition waiver beginning with their PhD studies and continuing through the last two years of clinical programming. The first two years of clinical training are not retroactively reimbursed.
• College of Pharmacy (PharmD) - Yes, candidates entering from within the university are awarded a stipend and tuition waiver beginning with their PhD studies and continuing through the last two years of clinical programming. The first two years of clinical training are not retroactively reimbursed.
• Dr. Wm. M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) - Yes, candidates entering from within the university are awarded a stipend and tuition waiver beginning with their PhD studies and continuing through the last two years of clinical programming. The first two years of clinical training are not retroactively reimbursed.
• *Note: Good academic standing must be maintained to continue receipt of stipends and tuition waivers.

I have questions about the clinical program. Where can I look for answers?

• Chicago Medical School (MD/PhD)
• College of Pharmacy (PharmD)
• Dr. Wm. M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)

What does a competitive applicant look like?

• Chicago Medical School (MD/PhD)
  • Entry level candidates must have strong research and clinical backgrounds, have maintained a 3.75 cumulative and science GPA prior to matriculation, and scored above a 515 on the MCAT.
  • Internal applicants must be involved in a research lab, have identified a potential mentor, and have maintained at least a 3.5 GPA within their Rosalind Franklin University studies.
• College of Pharmacy (PharmD)
  • Internal applicants must be involved in a research lab, have identified a potential mentor, and have maintained at least a 3.5 GPA within their Rosalind Franklin University studies.
• Dr. Wm. M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)
  • Internal applicants must be involved in a research lab, have identified a potential mentor, and have maintained at least a 3.5 GPA within their Rosalind Franklin University studies.

What if I am rejected from the Combined Degree Program?

• Chicago Medical School (MD/PhD)
  • Entry level candidates whose combined degree applications are not accepted may be considered for a traditional position in the Chicago Medical School, at the discretion of the CMS Admissions Committee.
  • Internal candidates whose applications are not accepted for a combined degree position will simply continue on with their traditional course of clinical study.
• College of Pharmacy (PharmD)
  • Internal candidates whose applications are not accepted for a combined degree position will simply continue on with their traditional course of clinical study.
• Dr. Wm. M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)
  • Internal candidates whose applications are not accepted for a combined degree position will simply continue on with their traditional course of clinical study.