About to start biomed PhD program - and having second thoughts...

secondguesser · Jun 30, 2010

For almost 3 years I have debated about doing PhD vs MD/PhD. After considerable anguish (read: a ton), I finally decided to apply to just PhD programs (with HHMI med-into-grad programs attached). My applications were very successful and accepted the offer of a top PhD program. But now I am having second thoughts about doing the PhD only and am panicking about what to do. I now realize that I really want patient contact! I know my school allows current MD students to apply to the MSTP program after their first year. Does anyone know anything about MSTP programs allowing current grad students to apply? I am very set on the school I choose for my PhD... Is it possible to do the first year a grad school (take classes, rotations, pick a lab), then start MSTP - then go back to the lab you picked, finish your MD? Is this crazy? Help! (I assume I would need to take the MCATs, do the application, and hope for the .1% chance of admission - it's a top MSTP program).

Neuronix · Jul 1, 2010

secondguesser said:
Does anyone know anything about MSTP programs allowing current grad students to apply?

It's generally very frowned upon for current grad students to apply to outside MD/PhD programs. I've seen a few well qualified people try unsuccessfully.

I am very set on the school I choose for my PhD... Is it possible to do the first year a grad school (take classes, rotations, pick a lab), then start MSTP - then go back to the lab you picked, finish your MD? Is this crazy? Help! (I assume I would need to take the MCATs, do the application, and hope for the .1% chance of admission - it's a top MSTP program).

Policies on graduate student transfers are very program dependent. You have to go talk to the MD/PhD program to find out. Generally, the answer will be no, and word on the street at my school is that it's a common and recurring problem that several HHMI scholars a year want to continue in med school with their med school friends. They are always absolutely denied because it would be impossible to take them all and it would end up becoming a back door program into medical school. For regular graduate students here the answer was once absolutely no, but now it's just usually no, and they have started accepting transfers of a very limited number of very well qualified and connected applicants. If it's allowed at all, you need to be someone they would have accepted to MD/PhD had you applied MD/PhD in the first place--with the super high GPA, MCAT, and extensive undergrad research experience and clinical experience expected of MD/PhD applicants.

If the answer is no than you're probably stuck doing the PhD then applying to medical school. It looks very bad to drop out or try to switch out of a PhD program. The only other option is to go with a terminal master's and hope you can make your application look like a master's was always your intention. If you haven't started grad school, your best bet may be to just not start a PhD program and re-apply MD/PhD if that's where your heart is set.

Still, don't get it in your head from me that you have no chance. I just see this as most likely. Your first step will be to talk to the MD/PhD at your institution and see if you have any chance. Please let us know what they say.

secondguesser · Jul 1, 2010

I was afraid you were going to say that... I have not started in the program yet - starts this fall. In some ways the best thing would be not to start the program in the first place and apply to MD/PhD programs - but it literally makes me ill at the thought considering the fact that I spent the last 5 years working as hard as I could to get into this program (both in college, research, the giant application process - which took a lot of time and money) - and I finally got into one of the best programs in the country and to decide not to do it is killing me. And then I don't know what I would do in the mean time if I didn't start the program - it's impossible to find a lab position for one year... I feel like I have already ruined my chances.

dl2dp2 · Jul 1, 2010

Let your experience be a lesson to other students on this forum:

(1) if you are unsure about PhD vs. MD/PhD, do MD/PhD -> then drop M.D.

(2) if you are unsure about applying to PhD vs. MD/PhD, apply to both, then drop whatever you don't want at the end.

(3) if you are unsure about a career in medicine vs. basic science, take premed requirements + MCAT. You can take the GRE anytime.

CielloStelatto · Jul 2, 2010

I don't have any new insight on switching programs, but I do think that in the long run, one extra application year won't be a huge deal if you end up where your heart wants you to be. Also, though it's not easy, you Can find a one year lab position, though it might not be easy. It's what I did this past year and it worked out really well ( though I did have to pass up the final stages of a big project to someone else). Look in unexpected places and try networking with anyone and everyone you know.

I'd say take a (little) while to figure out what you really want to do, then make it happen.

About to start biomed PhD program - and having second thoughts...

secondguesser

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Neuronix

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secondguesser

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dl2dp2

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CielloStelatto

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