Advice before applying MD/PhD

[stargate16]

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Hi,
I am hoping for some advice about my plan and suggestions. Here is my background.. I completed my BS in Biology this past April,cGPA is 3.71 s GPA 3.59 or 3.6 (depends if NSF STEM seminars are counted) Magna Cum with Honors courses from an ordinary, nothing special University. My GPA was 3.8 then went down in the last semester when I received my first B- in Dev Bio , my non science gpa is 4.0🙁 I currently have a little over one year of research experience in a microbiology/immunology both wet and dry lab from a top tier University ( I did not find any research at my school, but was happy to find research at a much better school that i could not afford to attend). One publication as a second co author and one poster presentation at the GLBIO conference. I will probably have another publication by the time I apply as a first author. I did take the GRE a year ago and got a 1310 combined (i would retake if needed) when I was planning to attend PhD only programs in microbiology/immunology.

I have now decided that an MD/Ph.D would help me much more in my career after speaking with some doctors and seeing a clinic doing microbiology research ,my PI also thinks it's a good option for me. My goal is to do both basic and clinical research in microbiology/immunology and see patients on a limited basis. I would like to get my PhD obviously in micro/immunology and an MD in Infectious Disease. I also know some bioinformatics, and am teaching myself Perl for Bioinformatics in order to be able to do all types of research, which I feel is important.

I have several EC's from school newspaper to treasurer of a pre med club,board member of the MSA, HSA member etc... I also participated in a summer volunteer program at a hospital after my sophomore year.

I am going to take a productive gap year before applying to MD/PhD programs. My plan is to ...

Continue research(will have 2 solid years research before applying),hopefully get another publication or 2
Shadow many doctors (my father has several friends who are MD's)
Volunteer/shadow in a clinical setting as much as possible
Attend a few conferences in order to learn more in my field
Continue teaching myself programming for bioinformatics
Prepare for MCAT a few months ahead
Pursue my hobbies🙂
I will take the April MCAT and apply in June.

Does this sound like a good plan, is there something else I should be doing to help my chances? Also, I took an AAMCAS MCAT practice exam 3 cold without any studying and not trying that hard , I didn't think it was that bad after hearing horror stories, in fact it was alot more interesting and relevant then that awful boring GRE which I hated. I got a 10,12,10, if I study very hard would a 36-38 be a reasonable expectation? Thanks so much for any help!

 

[Caprica6]

A few things. It sounds like you have way too much planned for one gap year. 17 is really young to be applying to programs. The fact that you feel the need to qualify your age with 1/2s just emphasizes a lack of maturity. You do not get an MD in infectious disease. You may have just worded that funny, but if not, you need to do more research into the pathway one takes to become a physician (medical school, residency, fellowship, etc.)

I highly recommend taking multiple years off to pursue research. The MD/PhD process is a long one, but even if you were to apply at 20 or 21 you would be younger than most of the other applicants. MD/PhD programs are highly competitive. They fund your education in order to produce a physician that will hopefully remain in research/academics. At such a young age, I do not think you will be able to convince an admissions committee of your commitment to do that.

 

[stargate16]

First I was just being specific about my age, being barely 18 is different than being almost 19 when starting for example. I do know there have been much younger applicants accepted into both MD and MD/PhD programs. I realize this is a rare, but I will try my best to get in, I don't plan to put my life on hold for 5 more years! If I don't get in the first time, I will apply to Ph.D. programs only.

I want to specialize in Infectious Disease, I realize this is a long process from Internal medicine, but I do have the time.

Why do you think that is too much for my gap year? I am not working, so I have alot of time. Obviously I won't be doing everything at once, only the research would be constant.

 

[StIGMA]

I think you have a decent plan. Your success in the application process will depend on your letters of recommendation (especially from your research advisers) and interview. Do your letter writers think you are ready to interview patients at 18-19? Will you appear immature/young among other interviewees (bad) or appear to fit in (good)? Are you personable (good) or cocky/awkward (bad)? Developing your hobbies (especially 'normal' hobbies, like sports) will help show you have a balanced life.

While you have a prediliction for ID, you can't possibly know at this point what field you will be interested in pursuing. First, you should develop solid reasons for why you want to pursue medicine. You can say you are interested in ID for whatever research reason, but you should realize that your clinical interests have a great chance of changing during your clinical education- so you should have a good reason for pursuing medical education, not ID.

With your MCAT baseline, if you put in the effort you should be able to score 36+. Your research background is the weakest part of your application, and your reasons for pursuing the combined MD/PhD will need to be well articulated. "Having the time" to pursue both degrees is a poor answer.

 

[Caprica6]

I know applicants younger than you have been accepted, but likely they were stellar applicants, a 3.7/3.6 is more like average. I'm not saying that this is a bad GPA, but as a young applicant you need to stand out. A great MCAT score would be a start.

I said that it seems like too much for one year because when you said you'd be doing research, I assumed you would be working full time doing quality research. Doing full time research after undergrad is not uncommon for many applicants. And in my opinion working full time doing research, volunteering, shadowing, preparing for the MCAT, attending conferences, teaching yourself programing, and trying to maintain a life in one gap year is going to produce very mediocre results.

 

[stargate16]

Thank you Stigma, I appreciate the feedback. I realize I have much to learn before applying. I will do my best to make myself a stronger applicant before submitting an application. Do you think I should take two years off and then apply, would 3 years research be looked at better? Due to financial reasons I did not want to pursue an MS first, but do you think that would help my situation?

 

[stargate16]

Caprica I realize my GPA problem,I hope I can pull off a 36+ MCAT to help it. I am planning on mainly low/mid tier programs with a few reaches.

 

[StIGMA]

Thank you Stigma, I appreciate the feedback. I realize I have much to learn before applying. I will do my best to make myself a stronger applicant before submitting an application. Do you think I should take two years off and then apply, would 3 years research be looked at better? Due to financial reasons I did not want to pursue an MS first, but do you think that would help my situation?

If I understand what you are doing - taking a year off to pursue research while you apply - then you have two years to conduct research before matriculating. I would suggest you use both of these years to conduct research, which would make your research experiences very strong if you are doing it full-time. An MS is not necessary.

 

[stargate16]

I currently have a little more than 1 year, then would use an extra year before applying which would be two yrs at the application time (apply in 2013 for class of 2014). I plan to continue research up until/if I am accepted, so I would have 3 years by the time I would matriculate. I could however wait two full years before applying (apply in 2014 for class of 2015) and that would give me 4 yrs by the time I hope to matriculate. I am a little concerned this would be a long time to wait, but if it would make a big difference in my being accepted I could do that.

 

[StIGMA]

Right. IMO 2 significant research years by application and 3 years by matriculation is sufficient. An additional year would not make a significant difference, whereas an 'excellent' vs 'good' MCAT score definitely would make a significant difference. If you are averse to 3 full years off before starting medical school (I would be too), then don't do it. If your MCAT & letters are great, you will be fine.

 

[stargate16]

Great,thanks! I realize I need an extremely strong MCAT to help with my lowish GPA. I will try my best to pull a 36 minimum.