Am I in too deep already?

[gclax30]

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I am currently MS3 at a D.O. program, interested in IM and probably an ID fellowship. I have about 2 years of combined graduate-level lab experience and I really do enjoy working in the lab… what can I say gels and stuff like that make me happy. I realize this is not a great deal of experience, but I think it has been enough to realize that I do like research and don’t mind being in the lab at all hours running experiments, and learning to be happy with the little victories.

I am now considering a more rigorous research training experience, particularly a combined residency/Ph.D. or masters program, because I do enjoy both clinical and laboratory medicine and want to have a solid background in research. I imagine my ideal job would be a mix of research, teaching, and clinical practice (about 80-10-10 I suppose?). I realize I’m kind of going about this A$$- backwards by doing the medical degree first, accumulating a crap ton of debt (+$250k) because I for whatever reason chose the most expensive school in the nation, then wanting to head into research after all that. Some questions:

1.) Is it realistic to expect to come out of school that far in debt, do a 2-3 year residency, 4 year Ph.D., 2 year fellowship, and then hopefully finding my first real job, without being totally in the poorhouse? i.e. school loans burying me so far I can’t get a public library card.

2.) Throw on top of that my future spouse also being in debt from med school?

3.) With both degrees, are you pretty much free to move back and forth as the market changes, for example if research funding almost completely disappears can I just increase my clinical duties without too much difficulty?

4.) I don’t have an expensive lifestyle/taste whatsoever, so I don’t care about making obscene amounts of money. I just want to be able to pay off my loans and afford some little spawns running around the house some day. Is this even a possibility by getting into research at this point or should I just stick with the D.O. and do as much clinically as possible to maximize my salary?

I like the prospect of having both degrees, that way my options are completely wide open for jobs. I just wonder if I’m already too far in debt to make this possible. 🙁 I’ve searched this forum quite a bit and it seems like the future of medical research is getting darker by the day, which is too bad because I really do enjoy it. Thanks for any input. 👍

 

[gbwillner]

gclax,

"I have about 2 years of combined graduate-level lab experience"

What does this mean? Also, the physician-scientist programs are great... but they may be really competitive (ask the residents about this) and having a DO probably puts you at a disadvantage. If you find other DOs that have taken this path, seek them out and take their advice.

1)"Is it realistic to expect to come out of school that far in debt, ...without being totally in the poorhouse?"

Depends on the kind of loans you have. If you have Stafford loans, (especially subsidized loans) then you will be fine. Once you enter the PhD training you can stop paying loans without any penalties or accrued interest. Just don't consolidate!!! If you have private loans you will keep accruing interest- and you will be screwed, but you still won't have to pay a penny until you get your PhD. And given that it may take you years, there's a good chance you'll die of old age before you have to pay back a dime.

2)Your spouse gets an MD- make them work off their own debt (and maybe some of yours!!)

3)Yes, pretty much. Although it's harder to get back into research, unless you just want to be a Post-Doc for the rest of your life.

4) Its definitely possible

 

[gersh489]

Just wanted to clarify one thing - consolidating your staffords does not mean you have to start repayment (they can still be defered - just consolidated).