Alternative way?PhD to MD?

[anavistas]

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Hi everybody,
I remember there was a thread on this maybe 2years ago but I can't find it,somebody said there is an alternative way for ppl who start PhD and then want to go to MD and some ppl said they would have done this if they had known of it.(anybody knows about it?)
Is it possible to start a PhD and then transfer to MD/PhD or MD?Are some flexible programs out there?
Seems lots of non_trads are in the same boat...

 

[huatuo]

Hi everybody,
I remember there was a thread on this maybe 2years ago but I can't find it,somebody said there is an alternative way for ppl who start PhD and then want to go to MD and some ppl said they would have done this if they had known of it.(anybody knows about it?)
Is it possible to start a PhD and then transfer to MD/PhD or MD?Are some flexible programs out there?
Seems lots of non_trads are in the same boat...

It depends on the school and it is always easier if you want to transfer from PhD to MD/PhD within the same school system. I talked to the dean of admission for the MD/PhD program at UChicago about such a transfer near the end of my PhD 4 years ago. He told me it was impossible since I was already finishing my PhD degree, which sounded like if you were in the beginning of your PhD degree program and if you have met all the MD program requirement, he would have considered you.

But the policy is clearly different at Hopkins. I know one person who is going to finish his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the end of this academic year and who just got accepted into their MD/PhD program, so he will start his MD classes in the fall of 2009.

As to inter-school transfers, you probably need to give up your current PhD program entirely to pursue a MD/PhD program somewhere else. If you have already spent a lot of time in your current PhD program and is close to finish, getting a PhD first then applying for a MD may be the best way to go, which is what I am doing now.

So it depends on the MD/PhD program in that particular school. You can start by talking to the admissions office in your current school.

 

[QofQuimica]

Hi everybody,
I remember there was a thread on this maybe 2years ago but I can't find it,somebody said there is an alternative way for ppl who start PhD and then want to go to MD and some ppl said they would have done this if they had known of it.(anybody knows about it?)
Is it possible to start a PhD and then transfer to MD/PhD or MD?Are some flexible programs out there?
Seems lots of non_trads are in the same boat...

No, I think you remember backwards; starting grad school is the *hardest* way to get into an MD/PhD program. You are much better off applying for a combined program or applying MD only and then adding on a PhD. See this thread for more info.

Edit: you may also find this sticky helpful and this thread as well.

 

[anavistas]

Thanks Q and Hua ,actually I'll have a gap year and I really don't know what to do in it if I can't find a job,
I'm thinking about applying to another MS(one year),does it look bad to have 2 MS'?Isn't it like failing the qyalifying exam!😕
I thought my best option is to start a PhD and then change it to MD/PhD,but it seems I can't rely on that.

 

[dragonfly99]

Would NOT rely on switching from a PhD to MD/PhD. It is quite hard to do, and generally you can only do it within your own institution, if they will even take you. If I were you, I would get a job if I just wanted a year or two off before I could get in to medical school...if you have an MS you can get a job in a lab and then study for the MCAT.

 

[QofQuimica]

Thanks Q and Hua ,actually I'll have a gap year and I really don't know what to do in it if I can't find a job,
I'm thinking about applying to another MS(one year),does it look bad to have 2 MS'?Isn't it like failing the qyalifying exam!😕
I thought my best option is to start a PhD and then change it to MD/PhD,but it seems I can't rely on that.

I don't think it would look bad to get another MS; it just doesn't seem like it would be of much use. Why spend more time and money on a second degree that you don't need when you could make money working? Not sure what your MS is in, but see if you can get hold of the contact info for previous alums. Word of mouth and connections are more helpful to find jobs versus cold-calling perfect strangers. Your PI may know of some jobs in your field also.