anybody else do this backwards?

[tigress]

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So I'm a PhD student now, and I think I'm going to apply to the combined program. It's common knowledge that some people go into med school and then apply to be in the joint program, but at least at my school they do have the option on the application to apply from the grad part. So, my question is: has anybody here done this, or do you know somebody who has? What would probably be my course of study, or would that be flexible? I want to be more sure about this before I go and speak to the powers that be. Really the other option is dropping the PhD and applying straight MD, since I've realized that's what I like most. But the thought of leaving science behind is sad.

Also, does anybody know any MD/PhDs who do more clinical work than research? I'd love to be involved in both, but I wish I had the option of doing more clinical work than the people in my school seem to do.

thanks in advance!

 

[tigress]

just want to bump this up, I'm really looking for some advice about the backwards way of getting into the program, and also about how much clinical work md/phds do

 

[freddytn]

I think that the medical centers / schools will absolutely love you to do more clinical work. What I have heard most from MD-PhDs is that the hardest thing they have had is to protect their research time.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Tigress,

I know two people who did exactly what you propose to do. However, this was quite some time ago (I matriculated in 1998). One of my classmates was a 2nd year Biomed Eng. grad student who applied to our MSTP. He got in without problems, as far as I knew. Basically his grad school work was "on hold" during the first two years of med school. However, he ended up working in lab during M1 and M2 year so he never lost touch with it. The other person was a year below me. He had met myself and my classmates during a grad school course. He was a first year grad student in the Biophysics department so he wasn't tied down to any particular lab. That year, he decided to apply to MSTP. He got in and became an M1 when we were M2's. He was still a member of the biophysics department but his grad work was on hold as well as he had to do M1 and M2 year and pass boards.

So it can be done. But what you propose is certainly not done commonly. It is more likely because people may feel intimidated by the application process (i.e., they have to take MCATs which is not an easy endeavor) and not because they get rejected easily.

 

[j8131]

Tigress,

I know two people who did exactly what you propose to do. However, this was quite some time ago (I matriculated in 1998). One of my classmates was a 2nd year Biomed Eng. grad student who applied to our MSTP. He got in without problems, as far as I knew. Basically his grad school work was "on hold" during the first two years of med school. However, he ended up working in lab during M1 and M2 year so he never lost touch with it. The other person was a year below me. He had met myself and my classmates during a grad school course. He was a first year grad student in the Biophysics department so he wasn't tied down to any particular lab. That year, he decided to apply to MSTP. He got in and became an M1 when we were M2's. He was still a member of the biophysics department but his grad work was on hold as well as he had to do M1 and M2 year and pass boards.

So it can be done. But what you propose is certainly not done commonly. It is more likely because people may feel intimidated by the application process (i.e., they have to take MCATs which is not an easy endeavor) and not because they get rejected easily.

I talked to an MSTP program director about this last summer. I got the impression it's possible in theory at most school. There seem to be three main reasons grad students sometimes have trouble.

1. Grad students often don't have the "numbers" to get in. This is nothing negative about them, just a reflection of the different emphasis of PhD programs.

2. Some grad school applicants convey the impression in interviews that they just changed their minds and want to be doctors instead of scientists. That would be great for MD, but obviously not MD/PhD. So if you interview, make sure you pitch yourself right.

3. Some applicants are too far along in their grad work to make it feasible.

That was my take. Very small sample size though.

 

[kkeen15]

Tigress, I'm wondering the same thing. I deferred grad school until June 2005 b/c I'm living abroad right now, but I've grown up a lot since I've been here and now would consider the MD a higher priority. I'm taking the MCAT in April, and I'm going to apply this coming fall.

I'd just taken for granted that, at least for the time being (not actually matriculated) I have to put off this conversation w/ my department head and assume I'd have to drop out of the PhD to get the MD. This thread's giving me some hope...

I know what you mean about being hesitant to have the conversation. I've got the worst case scenarios swimming through my brain.

I'll be following your posts to see how you progress! I wish you luck
👍 🙂

 

[QofQuimica]

So I'm a PhD student now, and I think I'm going to apply to the combined program. It's common knowledge that some people go into med school and then apply to be in the joint program, but at least at my school they do have the option on the application to apply from the grad part. So, my question is: has anybody here done this, or do you know somebody who has? What would probably be my course of study, or would that be flexible? I want to be more sure about this before I go and speak to the powers that be. Really the other option is dropping the PhD and applying straight MD, since I've realized that's what I like most. But the thought of leaving science behind is sad.

Also, does anybody know any MD/PhDs who do more clinical work than research? I'd love to be involved in both, but I wish I had the option of doing more clinical work than the people in my school seem to do.

thanks in advance!

I tried to transfer into the MSTP during my first year of grad school and was not successful. They interviewed me, but at the end of the day the dean of the med school told me that the committee had talked it over and decided that it was best if I completed my PhD first and then reapplied for the straight MD program. He said that my credentials were fine and they'd be glad to take me at that point. Apparently there were some problems with previous MSTP students abandoning their PhDs and going straight MD, and also the med school didn't want to be seen as stealing students away from the grad school. So I am now finishing my PhD, and I took the MCAT already, and I will be applying to med school for 2006. It's the long way to go about things, but eventually I will get that MD/PhD. 🙂

 

[Neuronix]

tigress, I see your location is Philly also. If you're at UPenn, what UofQuimica said is pretty much what the MD/PhD program here is going to tell you. It's very rare for PhD students to transfer in, and I know people who have asked in the past have been strongly discouraged from applying. This is true at alot of programs, and the number transferring into MD/PhD programs from PhD programs nationally must be very low.

In any case, I would strongly encourage you to go talk to the MD/PhD program rather than asking us. They don't bite... At least, I don't have any toothmarks on me, and I'm the troublemaker around here 🙂

 

[j8131]

tigress, I see your location is Philly also. If you're at UPenn, what UofQuimica said is pretty much what the MD/PhD program here is going to tell you. It's very rare for PhD students to transfer in, and I know people who have asked in the past have been strongly discouraged from applying. This is true at alot of programs, and the number transferring into MD/PhD programs from PhD programs nationally must be very low.

In any case, I would strongly encourage you to go talk to the MD/PhD program rather than asking us. They don't bite... At least, I don't have any toothmarks on me, and I'm the troublemaker around here 🙂

I have to disagree. The program director I talked to was Upenn's. He was actually pretty encouraging. In fact, I got the impression it would be an advantage. Also, there's no lag year if you transfer.

For a student far along in the PhD program, it's a different story.