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- Thread starter Thimble
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You will need to post a number of cumulative hours before anyone says anything.
You sound like you have your stuff together lol
intensely neurotic. go tell the people on the MCAT board that if you want to get flamed to hell.
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- Attending Physician
No, do not take a gap year to gain clinical experience for MD/PhD apps. The clinical experience needed for admissions is less than that for medical school, and if they have concerns it should be brought up in the interview, in which case you can talk about your experiences this summer. I'm pretty sure that's not one of the things they look at when considering whether to offer interviews as well (as I've interviewed people with less clinical experience with you).
I wouldn't consider retaking a 37 MCAT either; that won't stop you from getting an interview anywhere.
I wouldn't consider retaking a 37 MCAT either; that won't stop you from getting an interview anywhere.
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Also, since you asked in the other thread, I would tally the total number of hours you have spent on these activities. If it is over 100, you are fine. If it is 50-100, I'd recommend bolstering a bit with what time you have left, but you're probably also ok.
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- MD/PhD Student
For what it is worth, I had less clinical experience than you and I was accepted to five programs and interviewed at two top ten schools (my stats: 3.98/ 38/ 4 years research). The only clinical exposure I had was shadowing two physicians for one day each, volunteering for a day at a children's hospital, and volunteering to check patients in at a free clinic about 4-5 times. Or basically less than 50 hours I would imagine.
Definitely put down your planned summer work as an activity on the AMCAS application. It is perfectly acceptable to mention a future experience, just make sure you do it! My free clinic work was a "future" activity and it worked just fine on my AMCAS. The most important things really are your research experiences, GPA/MCAT, and letters. The adcom really just wants to see that you have tried to step foot in a hospital/clinic and will not run screaming from your first day on the wards. As long as you speak passionately about medicine (and research) in personal statements and interviews, I think the experiences you have so far clinically (and with your great stats!! A 37 MCAT is awesome by the way... like 98th percentile at least!) will be just fine. Apply broadly, but I do not see why you wouldnt get some great interviews!
Also, consider making appointments with your letter writers to explain in person your desire to pursue the dual degree option... A lot of people (especially strictly PhD or MD folks dont always understand why in the world we would ever want both degrees, or do not want you to go in to this without a plan B option). My biology research advisor (PhD only) sent me an email telling me that getting in to an MD/PhD program was like trying to be an astronaut and that if she was my mother she would want me to have a back up plan. What really was going on, is that she did not understand why I wanted both degrees and had not ever really listened to me explain why this path makes the most sense... so sit down and talk with your mentors! You too can be an astronaut haha 😀
Definitely put down your planned summer work as an activity on the AMCAS application. It is perfectly acceptable to mention a future experience, just make sure you do it! My free clinic work was a "future" activity and it worked just fine on my AMCAS. The most important things really are your research experiences, GPA/MCAT, and letters. The adcom really just wants to see that you have tried to step foot in a hospital/clinic and will not run screaming from your first day on the wards. As long as you speak passionately about medicine (and research) in personal statements and interviews, I think the experiences you have so far clinically (and with your great stats!! A 37 MCAT is awesome by the way... like 98th percentile at least!) will be just fine. Apply broadly, but I do not see why you wouldnt get some great interviews!
Also, consider making appointments with your letter writers to explain in person your desire to pursue the dual degree option... A lot of people (especially strictly PhD or MD folks dont always understand why in the world we would ever want both degrees, or do not want you to go in to this without a plan B option). My biology research advisor (PhD only) sent me an email telling me that getting in to an MD/PhD program was like trying to be an astronaut and that if she was my mother she would want me to have a back up plan. What really was going on, is that she did not understand why I wanted both degrees and had not ever really listened to me explain why this path makes the most sense... so sit down and talk with your mentors! You too can be an astronaut haha 😀