Adv. of Ph.D then MD?

[DrReo]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I have been contemplating between a PhD/MD program verses doing a Ph.D in biomedical engineering and then completing a MD.

I was wondering if there's an advantage over either or? I'm currently a junior and will have my B.S in chemistry by the age of 19. So, for medical school, I'm somewhat at a disadvantage agewise. However, I was thinking, that if I did complete a Ph.D, it'll put me in a different (possibly 😕 tier) of medical schools and increase my chances of acceptance.. Any comments is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
DrReo

 

[pseudoknot]

The only advantage I can think of for doing the PhD first is that since med school will cost $100,000-250,000 instead of being free, you'll have all that debt to keep you from dropping out. Seriously, if you know you want both degrees, you'd be a ***** not to do a combined program. In your case, you ought to work in a lab for a couple years and try to really get involved in your own project. This will make you more competitive for the MSTP programs and help you decide if this is what you really want.

There have been a lot of threads about PhD->MD, here and in the nontrad forum. You can't really search for them since "PhD" is below the minimum search string length, but maybe browse the old threads and you'll find them, or search for my posts or those of QofQuimica in those two forums (you can do this with the advanced search, limiting by forum and poster).

The bottom line is that having a PhD can be somewhat helpful for med school admissions, but not as much as you'd think. And most importantly, the combined programs are FREE!

Yours,
Pseudoknot, PhD and first year med student

 

[QofQuimica]

I'm another PhD-to-MD, and I agree with pseudo. You should try to get accepted to an MD/PhD or DO/PhD program if you know that you definitely want both degrees. If you are not able to get into a combined program (which, in spite of your age, should be totally doable assuming that you have good stats and significant research experience), then apply for straight MD programs. It is *much* easier to add on a PhD as an MD student than it is to try to get into medical school as a graduate student. Seriously, the only reason you should apply for PhD-only is if you decide that you don't want to get an MD at all.

I actually don't think that your age will be as big of a deal as you think it will be. One of my classmates started medical school at the tender age of 17, and there have been other medical students who were even younger than that. You would presumably be starting school at age 20, which would only make you 1-2 years younger than your traditional-aged classmates. Particularly if you do a combined program, you sure as heck won't be younger once you get out in your late twenties. 😉

Best of to you. 🙂

 

[clinpharm]

Hello,

I have been following some very interesting discussions on this site. It seems time has flown by very fast and now my aspirations have become more serious..

I have a PhD in pharmacology and an undergrad in pharmacy. I am 28 yrs old and have 2 years of work experience as clinical pharmacologist in pharmaceutical industry..My interests to attend medical school have gotten more serious after I saw many interesting MDs in the industry..

My undergrad (pharmacy) is from south asia which adds to more complications that my pre-reqs are only met for chems and biology..Physics and english were not part of my undergrad curriculum..I am a canadian citizen and am here in US only on work visa which obviously restricts me from applying to many many schools in US..

In the light of above situation, I would really appreciate if some one could help me in the followin questions:

1. Would MCAT scores improve my situation? I am working on my MCATs now..

2. Can I take physics and english in community colleges/univ and fulfill the reqs? Would the admissions committee look at my foreign undergrad differently?

3. If not in US/Canada would going to an island nation be a viable option? I know I have a good career now, but it is something I know that having an MD would give me more options..

Thank you very much in advance...

 

[pseudoknot]

My undergrad (pharmacy) is from south asia which adds to more complications that my pre-reqs are only met for chems and biology..Physics and english were not part of my undergrad curriculum..I am a canadian citizen and am here in US only on work visa which obviously restricts me from applying to many many schools in US..

In the light of above situation, I would really appreciate if some one could help me in the followin questions:

1. Would MCAT scores improve my situation? I am working on my MCATs now..

2. Can I take physics and english in community colleges/univ and fulfill the reqs? Would the admissions committee look at my foreign undergrad differently?

3. If not in US/Canada would going to an island nation be a viable option? I know I have a good career now, but it is something I know that having an MD would give me more options..

Thank you very much in advance...

I think that these questions would be better directed to other forums on this site, since they don't specifically relate to physician-scientists or PhD/MD transitions. I'll take a shot though:

1. You absolutely must take the MCAT to apply to US schools. I don't know about foreign schools. I don't think your MCAT score will affect the visa issue.

2. You can take prereqs at community colleges, but many med schools prefer that you don't. I imagine they may have issues with the foreign transcript, but I don't really know about this.

3. Definitely a question for the international forums here.

 

[QofQuimica]

Clinpharm, you should PM ScottishChap. He's a foreign PhD-to-MD and could probably help point you in the right direction.

 

[clinpharm]

Sincere thanks for your replies..