Anyone apply after doing a phd?

[Learfan]

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Hey Learfan,

I have been there. Choosing an advisor is one of the most imortant and often traumatic experiences in graduate school. You can work for one person and be a total success, and work for another and feel like a wreck. It is hardly fair. Some people are "in" a group before they arrive! I wanted to work for a big name theorist, but he recommended I look around. Feeling burned, I ended up joining a new guy with an empty lab. Let me tell you, it was a roller coaster. We got him tenure (I really think it depends quite a bit on the students, other problems aside), but the process was just brutal. After this, I knew I didn't want to run a group at a big name school, even though I love research. Anyway, I think/hope there is more fairness in medical school.

Sparky

Yes, the process of choosing an advisor is critical but I had very little in the way of career guidance as an undergrad and was just muddling along doing the best I could with the little knowledge I had. With the information I have now, I would have done things in a very different manner. My GPA was OK (3.46) but both my general knowledge and subject matter GRE scores were stellar (94th percentile or higher). This was back when there was only two sections to the general knowledge GRE, verbal and quantitative.

Rather than attend a good but not excellent graduate program, I should have applied to the top tier schools with some of the acknowledged big name synthetic chemists of the day and tried to get their stamp placed on my resume. The experience may have proved more pleasant and, in a perfect world, I might have then landed a great post-doc and, subsequently, a job with a company that I meshed with. None of this happened and I now need to go into career salvage mode before no further opportunities are left to me.

I suspect that in some ways medical education operates in a manner that is fair when compared to research oriented graduate programs. You complete the classes with a certain minimum grade and you get the degree. Unlike graduate school, you are not at the complete mercy of one person who has control of what constitutes "enough" research for your degree. Things were so out of control with regard to misconduct of the faculty that the year after I graduated the office of the dean mandated that the chemistry department hire two psychologists for a year to teach the faculty to behave like humans rather than rapacious animals. No, this is not a joke. It really happened.

I know what you mean by taking on the risk of working for a new faculty member. The students can make or break his or her bid for tenure. The atmosphere can get real tense.

 

[jvphd]

Ladies and gentlemen of graduate school,

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and a fertile valley beyond the sea of manure. I might not be singing this tune a month from now, but for the time being, the fruit is sweet and the juice is sticky.

One of my professors told me during my first year "graduate school ends in one of 3 ways: in a box, in an institution or with a diploma". Still wondering which will way it will end for me.

 

[teh-t]

it should be doctor of perseverance not philosophy

 

[Learfan]

One of my professors told me during my first year "graduate school ends in one of 3 ways: in a box, in an institution or with a diploma". Still wondering which will way it will end for me.

Sad to say but in the horrid department where I did my graduate work we saw all of these conclusions. Two students were lost to causes that were anything but natural, several became patients in psychiatric hospitals and a large proportion abused drugs, alcohol or both. I estimate that 50% actually graduated. After a while, you just wanted out under any circumstances. The place was not a lab facility. It was hell with fluorescent lighting.

 

[tubercle]

Things aren't quite that bad at my school...out of about 300 doctoral candidates i know of only a few that have gone off the deep end. As a matter of fact i know an equal number of med students that have lost it at this school. Also i'd say the drop out/fail out rate is only about 10%.

Grad school is a long haul and can certainly be depressing though.

 

[Sparky Man]

Sad to say but in the horrid department where I did my graduate work we saw all of these conclusions. Two students were lost to causes that were anything but natural, several became patients in psychiatric hospitals and a large proportion abused drugs, alcohol or both. I estimate that 50% actually graduated. After a while, you just wanted out under any circumstances. The place was not a lab facility. It was hell with fluorescent lighting.

I have known of about 3 suicides in our field. Also, only 50% of the original class finished. It's definitely a difficult time.

 

[Treg]

Hi everyone,

I have been through the past two cycles as a PhD applicant (once a crappy MCAT, once a good MCAT). You can see my profile below to gauge which schools are PhD friendly (or at least who were friendly to me!). One thing I would advise is to contact researchers in your field of interest at schools you have applied to, once you reach the interview stage, to discuss possible projects during med school. Only do this if you want to continue with research! I found that these people were keen to get a post-doc quality student in the lab, even if it was only part-time, and they often personally contacted the admissions committee to say I would be a great addition to the class. It probably helped that I have a very prominent and well-liked graduate supervisor. Anyway, I am extremely happy with the way things worked out for me. My PhD defense is in about a week and a half, so wish me luck! I have a high profile guy from HMS coming as my external 😱

🙂 Treg

 

[db1]

I have a Ph.D. in pharmacology from Baylor College of Med. I took the MCAT in 2001 (32) and applied for 2002. My undergrad gpa was a 3.33, markedly improved in my last 2 years. My grad gpa was a 3.5. Unfortunately most of the feedback I got was that they did not believe I would be done in time to start in 2002 (they were right). I just reapplied this year during my second year of a post-doc. I waited to reapply because my wife and I wanted to start a family. Unfortunately only a few schools would accept my MCAT from 2001: U of Miami, Emory and Wake Forest. I interviewed at University of Miami, and they were inpressed with my research credentials. I am wait listed there and still hopeful, although I am starting to study for the MCAT again....

My impression is that most schools look more at your undergrad gpa than your grad gpa. Although a school that is focused on research will look favorably on a grad degree. I did shadow a couple of physicians and was on several committees while in grad school, but didn't have any volunteer work since college. My postdoc advisor is a surgical oncologist and I have gone into the clinic and OR with him. It is tough to find time to volunteer while doing a postdoc and having a 22 month old and a 2 month old. But I am trying to set something up before I reapply...if I don't hear anything from Miami before July 1.

 

[CADreaming06]

I have a Ph.D. in pharmacology from Baylor College of Med. I took the MCAT in 2001 (32) and applied for 2002. My undergrad gpa was a 3.33, markedly improved in my last 2 years. My grad gpa was a 3.5. Unfortunately most of the feedback I got was that they did not believe I would be done in time to start in 2002 (they were right). I just reapplied this year during my second year of a post-doc. I waited to reapply because my wife and I wanted to start a family. Unfortunately only a few schools would accept my MCAT from 2001: U of Miami, Emory and Wake Forest. I interviewed at University of Miami, and they were inpressed with my research credentials. I am wait listed there and still hopeful, although I am starting to study for the MCAT again....

My impression is that most schools look more at your undergrad gpa than your grad gpa. Although a school that is focused on research will look favorably on a grad degree. I did shadow a couple of physicians and was on several committees while in grad school, but didn't have any volunteer work since college. My postdoc advisor is a surgical oncologist and I have gone into the clinic and OR with him. It is tough to find time to volunteer while doing a postdoc and having a 22 month old and a 2 month old. But I am trying to set something up before I reapply...if I don't hear anything from Miami before July 1.

i actually asked my advisor to indicate that she thinks i will be able to finish in time to enter in the fall of 2006, hopefully preventing that situation. we will see if that works. i was wondering about the gpa's, i noticed that on the amcas that they don't combine the grad vs undergrad. also, i wonder if adcoms just assume that grad school grades are inflated. good luck, i hope you hear from miami!

 

[deuist]

How are you judged as an applicant?

favorably. Grad students walk on water.

 

[maddscientist]

Hi everyone,

I have been through the past two cycles as a PhD applicant (once a crappy MCAT, once a good MCAT). You can see my profile below to gauge which schools are PhD friendly (or at least who were friendly to me!). One thing I would advise is to contact researchers in your field of interest at schools you have applied to, once you reach the interview stage, to discuss possible projects during med school. Only do this if you want to continue with research! I found that these people were keen to get a post-doc quality student in the lab, even if it was only part-time, and they often personally contacted the admissions committee to say I would be a great addition to the class. It probably helped that I have a very prominent and well-liked graduate supervisor. Anyway, I am extremely happy with the way things worked out for me. My PhD defense is in about a week and a half, so wish me luck! I have a high profile guy from HMS coming as my external 😱



🙂 Treg

Good luck on your defense! May your committee go easy on you! It is good to hear that other grad students have made it out alive and have actually been admitted to decent schools. While my MCAT isn't quite as high as yours, I am in a very similar situation with a rather prominent advisor. Stories like yours keep me from losing it while working in the lab all day...

 

[Learfan]

Hi everyone,

I have been through the past two cycles as a PhD applicant (once a crappy MCAT, once a good MCAT). You can see my profile below to gauge which schools are PhD friendly (or at least who were friendly to me!). One thing I would advise is to contact researchers in your field of interest at schools you have applied to, once you reach the interview stage, to discuss possible projects during med school. Only do this if you want to continue with research! I found that these people were keen to get a post-doc quality student in the lab, even if it was only part-time, and they often personally contacted the admissions committee to say I would be a great addition to the class. It probably helped that I have a very prominent and well-liked graduate supervisor. Anyway, I am extremely happy with the way things worked out for me. My PhD defense is in about a week and a half, so wish me luck! I have a high profile guy from HMS coming as my external 😱

🙂 Treg

Heres a boatload of luck for the defense.

At this point, however, you should be aware that the defense is just a formality. You are effectively done. My defense was one of the shortest on record. I stood up, talked for forty minutes essentially repeating my interview speech, answered three or four absurd questions I no longer remember and left the room. Total time was forty five minutes. I did not care at that point. All that mattered was leaving the frozen hell I had been living in for the past five years and getting to the job where there was money. Lots of money. Sweet money. Glorious money. Delightful money. Did I mention that all I was thinking about at the end of my graduate work was not being poor and having money?

 

[Sparky Man]

Hi everyone,
.... My PhD defense is in about a week and a half, so wish me luck! I have a high profile guy from HMS coming as my external 😱

🙂 Treg

Hey Treg, good luck. Yikes, my defense at 10AM tomorrow morning!!!!!!!!! I hope I can relax after. I can't even imaging being done, it's been such a long haul.

Sparky

 

[Learfan]

Hey Treg, good luck. Yikes, my defense at 10AM tomorrow morning!!!!!!!!! I hope I can relax after. I can't even imaging being done, it's been such a long haul.

Sparky

Here is a boatload of luck for you as well.

Let me also offer some advice for after the defense. You will be tense, worn and tired. You will need something to soothe the furrowed brow.

If you are a gin man, Bombay Saphire. If scotch is your poison, go for a fine single malt like Oban (utterly wonderful stuff - trust me on this one). If bourbon suits you, then break out the Old Grandad 114 (delightful straight up - trust me on this one as well). Should champagne be your tipple, then Fleur Jouet is a fine choice. Irish whiskey goes down well after a thesis defense. Try Jamesons. All of these fine beverages should be quaffed post thesis defense while enjoying an online magazine devoted to all things alcoholic, Modern Drunkard Magazine. Pay particular attention to the voluminous archives devoted to alcohol in all of its forms.

http://www.moderndrunkardmagazine.com/

Look, you can trust an organic chemist to know about only a few things. One of them is certainly alcohol.

 

[tubercle]

for a thesis defense... i'd say blue label if you like blended. macallan 18 if you like single, oban is pretty good i agree.

but pop a bottle of dom

or splurge and by a first growth bordeaux...you only live once.

 

[docbill]

Hi everyone,

I have been through the past two cycles as a PhD applicant (once a crappy MCAT, once a good MCAT). You can see my profile below to gauge which schools are PhD friendly (or at least who were friendly to me!). One thing I would advise is to contact researchers in your field of interest at schools you have applied to, once you reach the interview stage, to discuss possible projects during med school. Only do this if you want to continue with research! I found that these people were keen to get a post-doc quality student in the lab, even if it was only part-time, and they often personally contacted the admissions committee to say I would be a great addition to the class. It probably helped that I have a very prominent and well-liked graduate supervisor. Anyway, I am extremely happy with the way things worked out for me. My PhD defense is in about a week and a half, so wish me luck! I have a high profile guy from HMS coming as my external 😱

🙂 Treg

Good for you. Best of luck for defence. But as someone said earlier this is a fomality in some places.

BTW... I guess you are staying in Alberta cause of family. You must of had difficult choices to make.

Also just to be fair, your MCAT scores are great and GPA is pretty good. Did you apply to UofT. I wouldn't be surprised if you did and got accepted there.

Docbill

 

[Treg]

Good for you. Best of luck for defence. But as someone said earlier this is a fomality in some places.

BTW... I guess you are staying in Alberta cause of family. You must of had difficult choices to make.

Also just to be fair, your MCAT scores are great and GPA is pretty good. Did you apply to UofT. I wouldn't be surprised if you did and got accepted there.

Docbill

Hi Docbill,

It was a difficult to decide where to go. From a personal standpoint, I have the best living situation here. We own a house in a really nice neighborhood, just blocks from the hospital as well as my daughter's daycare/school. A lot of the top US medical schools are either really urban (so you have to live away if you want a house and yard) or are prohibitively expensive to live near (Cornell or Stanford). The U of A med school is one of the top 5 in Canada and is on an upward swing. I also have an amazing post-doc mentor and supervisor who is one of the most famous doctors in Canada here, in the specialty I want to enter. It was hard to pass up the WashU scholarship, but I have received post-doc funding that will allow me to pay my tuition and living expenses, which is better than a full-tuition scholarship. I decided in the end that staying productive in my research area during med school, with this well-known supervisor, would help me more than going to a top-ranked med school with no guarantees in my area of research.

I didn't apply to any other Canadian schools. U of T is a great school but being that close to my in-laws would result in my divorce in <1 yr

Treg

 

[docbill]

Hi Docbill,

It was a difficult to decide where to go. From a personal standpoint, I have the best living situation here. We own a house in a really nice neighborhood, just blocks from the hospital as well as my daughter's daycare/school. A lot of the top US medical schools are either really urban (so you have to live away if you want a house and yard) or are prohibitively expensive to live near (Cornell or Stanford). The U of A med school is one of the top 5 in Canada and is on an upward swing. I also have an amazing post-doc mentor and supervisor who is one of the most famous doctors in Canada here, in the specialty I want to enter. It was hard to pass up the WashU scholarship, but I have received post-doc funding that will allow me to pay my tuition and living expenses, which is better than a full-tuition scholarship. I decided in the end that staying productive in my research area during med school, with this well-known supervisor, would help me more than going to a top-ranked med school with no guarantees in my area of research.

I didn't apply to any other Canadian schools. U of T is a great school but being that close to my in-laws would result in my divorce in <1 yr

Treg

Hi Treg,

I totaly see what you are saying. Good for you.
Also I completely agree with you staying at home in fimiliar surrounding. Especially if you already have your prof willing to stand with you till you finish.

Post-doc funding.. hmmmm sneeeeekkkyyyyy. It is always nice when the prof is willing to do this kind of stuff for you. It shows that S/he is committed to your success.

On a side note: these days even if someone is not so amazing, if a prof likes you, he can make you seem as a genius. I, not so bright, sometimes a special case, start collecting awards and regonition for my work, most likely cause of my prof. Now I do think that is not fair.. my work is good enough to stand on its own.. but know that history of other student with my Prof getting this award previously... hmmm 1 + 2. Anyway.. I decided life is tough.. and that as I am being milked.. I am going to milk it. hehehe... see how many will get that expression.

Good for you Treg. What field are you in? Circulation or something else.
docbill

 

[Treg]

I actually received a post-doctoral fellowship award from a funding agency, which is specifically designed for people like me 🙂 http://www.ahfmr.ab.ca/grants/PT-fellow.shtml

I am in islet transplantation research. The University of Alberta pioneered clinical islet transplantation with the introduction of the Edmonton Protocol back in 2000. My PDF supervisor was the lead author on that work.

On a side note, I am wondering how Sparkyman faired today. Go Dr. Sparkyman!

😀 Treg

 

[QofQuimica]

I want to wish good luck to everyone defending, too. 🙂 Sparky, are you done now? How did it go? One more semester for me. 👍 👍

Also, I have a request for you science geek types. A group of us have started a new Q & A sub-forum in the MCAT forum. Learfan and I are two of them. Here is the link so you can check it out: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=134

We would like to have some more people to help answer students' questions. Our biggest need right now is for some kind of organismal biologist (physiology, anatomy, whatever, as long as it's bigger than cell level!), but if you want to help and you're a physicist, chemist or cell/molecular biologist, we can use you, too. If you have TA experience and/or great MCAT test scores, that's even better. PM me and let me know that you'd like to join, and I'll add you to the team. 🙂

 

[Sparky Man]

Hey everyone!

So, I passed the "B" exam! That's what it's called here. I'm now a Doctor of Philosophy!!! Wow, what a trip. So, I finished my degree in chemistry with a focus in physical chemistry. It took 6 years, that's the average for physical chemistry/chemical physics at my school. Kinda insane, huh? Graduate school is hard, that's about all I can say right now. I'm so tired. I don't know about all of you, but I am just exhausted after giving big talk. My talk was about an hour long. There were some questions in between. Then about 40 minutes of questions by the committee afterward. Oh boy, I'm really glad that form is signed and I'm done!

I'm really happy this thread started. Gives me a place to hang out on SDN! Good luck to all you getting ready to finish. Good luck to all you in the middle of it, too! That's a hard time as well.

Ok, I'm going to relax a little bit. But one problem is I seem to have forgotten how!

Thanks for the support everyone,
Sparky

 

[QofQuimica]

So, I passed the final exam! I'm now a Doctor of Philosophy!!!
Thanks for the support everyone,
Sparky

Good job! And don't feel bad about 6 years....I'm starting my ninth. 😱

 

[Sparky Man]

Good job! And don't feel bad about 6 years....I'm starting my ninth. 😱

yeah, graduate school can take almost any amount of time, i have found. research is just that way. Thanks QofQuimica!!

 

[Learfan]

Hey everyone!

So, I passed the "B" exam! That's what it's called here. I'm now a Doctor of Philosophy!!! Wow, what a trip. So, I finished my degree in chemistry with a focus in physical chemistry. It took 6 years, that's the average for physical chemistry/chemical physics at my school. Kinda insane, huh? Graduate school is hard, that's about all I can say right now. I'm so tired. I don't know about all of you, but I am just exhausted after giving big talk. My talk was about an hour long. There were some questions in between. Then about 40 minutes of questions by the committee afterward. Oh boy, I'm really glad that form is signed and I'm done!

I'm really happy this thread started. Gives me a place to hang out on SDN! Good luck to all you getting ready to finish. Good luck to all you in the middle of it, too! That's a hard time as well.

Ok, I'm going to relax a little bit. But one problem is I seem to have forgotten how!

Thanks for the support everyone,
Sparky

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

😀 😀

👍 👍





I bet it feels good to have that experience behind you.

The electronic bar is now open and I will be your e-bartender. The immense tab for the drinks will be emailed to your department after reciept of your degree.

What will you be drinking, sir?

The dom is chilled, the Bombay Saphire martinis are ice cold, the single malt scotch cabinet is open, the vintage wine cellar is ready and the bourbon closet is prepared for business.

 

[Treg]

That is fabulous! I can't even imagine what it must feel like to say that you are completely done! I wish I could get off with 40 minutes of questions. I will be giving an hour long public seminar, then we move to a conference room for an additional 2-3 hours of questions. Then that night I go for dinner with the committee to celebrate (assuming all goes well...). How about a big round of "for he's a jolly good fellow" for DR. Sparky Man 😀

Treg

 

[Sparky Man]

Hey, thanks everyone. Good luck with your defense, Treg. I know you will shine!!! 🙂

Sparky

 

[relentless11]

Want to first apologize for not seeing this thread, and replying late, but I am in the same position as some of you. I am currently starting my first year as a comparative pathology PhD student, and planning to either apply retroactively into my school's MD program or applying to several med schools after I get my MD. I am intent on finishing the PhD, since it was my dream to get into an MD/PhD program but due to extenuating circumstances, my undergrad GPA was junk so no way I was going to get into an MD program, let alone an MSTP.

In regards to this, I am wondering if i should take additional courses so I can have more units associated with my higher graduate GPA? I will finish my course requirements by fall 2006, so I technically will only have a year's worth of graded courses to show to the med school adcoms. Should I show more proof that I can handle the workload, even though my year's worth of required classes will consist of both graduate and med school courses combined with clinical research for my thesis?

It is my impression that undergrad grades are always looked at, but after some amount of time they are not representative of who you are. Especially after 4-5 years of graduate schools. Surely a GPA from 2000 loses its value when compared to a GPA from 2005. In my case, it would be 2003 vs. 2009. Of course the MCAT will be a big factor too regardless of when you were in school, and what kind of program you are in. Gotta love the MCAT 🙂

Any thoughts?

 

[kelaskov]

My husband just got his PhD in cell and molec. biology in May and we just started med school in August. He is the only person in our class with a PhD but there are many people with MS or sometimes even MS x 2. He taught the MCAT biology section for Kaplan which helped him to study for the MCAT. Our application year was quite busy, because he was a full-time student and I was working full-time. We made it through though and are very happy to be in medical school together. Good luck with your applications! Make sure to rock the MCAT!

Does anyone have any experience applying after 5-6 years of grad school?

Any advice/ stories welcome.

 

[pseudoknot]

I think the PhD can potentially carry some weight. I've applied to 28 schools and gotten 9 interview invites so far, despite a 3.3 undergrad GPA. In my personal statement I was very careful to address my reasons for the change, which may have helped.

 

[relentless11]

My husband just got his PhD in cell and molec. biology in May and we just started med school in August. He is the only person in our class with a PhD but there are many people with MS or sometimes even MS x 2. He taught the MCAT biology section for Kaplan which helped him to study for the MCAT. Our application year was quite busy, because he was a full-time student and I was working full-time. We made it through though and are very happy to be in medical school together. Good luck with your applications! Make sure to rock the MCAT!

Just curious, but I wonder why there's only one PhD in the class? Is it because not many people who have PhD apply to med school, or the med school has a bias against those with PhD's?

I would assume that its because not a lot of people have PhD's and decide to apply to med school. But just checking 🙂

 

[nontrad314]

I think it is probably rare for PhD's to reconsider returning to the class room for any extended period.

Completing a PhD, as many have described here, can be very demanding. For some it can be almost tortuous.

I think that it is almost universally agreed that finishing the degree is the most pleasant aspect of the entire process (for some it is the only pleasant thing about it). That says something if the best thing about it is when it is over.

I would guess that because finishing a PhD is invariably a pain, most people are reticent to subject themselves to more. That's probably the greatest factor against a PhD then an MD.

I am interested what others have to say about this question.

 

[QofQuimica]

I think it is probably rare for PhD's to reconsider returning to the class room for any extended period. I would guess that because finishing a PhD is invariably a pain, most people are reticent to subject themselves to more. That's probably the greatest factor against a PhD then an MD.

I agree with you. I do not think that having a PhD biases the schools against you, and I'd guess that the small number of PhDs in medical school reflects the small number of PhDs who apply. I'm not sure whether it's really a help either to have a PhD, but I suppose it could be if the schools are looking for people with extensive research backgrounds. In my case, it is helpful to have the graduate grades since I don't have undergraduate grades.

Wow, jrdnbenjamin, that is an impressive record! Best of luck to you!

 

[relentless11]

Just curious, does anyone have any comments about the difference (if any) between graduate and med school courses? Some of my core requirements are med and vet school courses so I'm having a lot of fun (and growing some more gray hairs), so I'm wondering if one degree program is more rigorous than the other, or the same?

Or does having your PhD while in med school make it a relatively better experience than says someone who just got out of undergrad? Or is there no difference?

 

[gujuDoc]

I'm by no way a PhD student, but I also wanted to add something........

Even if you are a PhD going to go and get the MD aftewards, it does not necessarily mean a bad thing, because in some cases.........

People will use their MD and PhD both when all is said and done. The only difference between them and someone who does a straight MD/PhD is that the former group took a longer soul searching route to getting there.

If anything, if you plan on staying in academic medicine, that PhD could help you in the long run.

And if you don't plan on using your PhD and staying in research, just try to explain why you made the change completely out of research and into clinical practice.

Good luck all!!! 🙂

 

[pseudoknot]

Oh god, here come the trolls. (the people who reply to relentless11's post, not him)

 

[humuhumu]

I would guess that because finishing a PhD is invariably a pain, most people are reticent to subject themselves to more. That's probably the greatest factor against a PhD then an MD.

I am interested what others have to say about this question.

I agree. As I was finishing up my PhD a few years ago, I never imagined I'd apply to medical school. But I guess time heals all wounds....

 

[deuist]

Just curious, does anyone have any comments about the difference (if any) between graduate and med school courses? Some of my core requirements are med and vet school courses so I'm having a lot of fun (and growing some more gray hairs), so I'm wondering if one degree program is more rigorous than the other, or the same?

Or does having your PhD while in med school make it a relatively better experience than says someone who just got out of undergrad? Or is there no difference?

I have an MS, not a PhD, but I found that some parts of medical school were better understood after graduate school (e.g., experiments used to determin proteins)

 

[relentless11]

I have an MS, not a PhD, but I found that some parts of medical school were better understood after graduate school (e.g., experiments used to determin proteins)

Thats good to hear. Thanks everyone for the helpful replies. Guess its gonna be a long road, but a fun one (in some strange way..haha) nevertheless=). Looking forward to it.

 

[JustR]

Does it matter what kind of PhD a person would do?

 

[QofQuimica]

Does it matter what kind of PhD a person would do?

People do PhDs in all subjects, of course, but most people who apply to med school did theirs in one of the biomedical sciences (cell bio, molecular bio, pharmacology, etc.). There are also several of us working in the physical sciences (chemistry, physics, engineering), and I have even met one guy who did his PhD in sociology. I don't think you can make any blanket statement about which field a med school would prefer you to earn your PhD in, and improving your app is a horrible reason to earn a PhD anyway. 😛 BTW, if any of you PhD types are still around, I am starting to write, and I should defend this spring. 🙂 The end is in sight!!!

 

[gujuDoc]

People do PhDs in all subjects, of course, but most people who apply to med school did theirs in one of the biomedical sciences (cell bio, molecular bio, pharmacology, etc.). There are also several of us working in the physical sciences (chemistry, physics, engineering), and I have even met one guy who did his PhD in sociology. I don't think you can make any blanket statement about which field a med school would prefer you to earn your PhD in, and improving your app is a horrible reason to earn a PhD anyway. 😛 BTW, if any of you PhD types are still around, I am starting to write, and I should defend this spring. 🙂 The end is in sight!!!

In regards to the quoted above:

CONGRATS!!!!!! YAY to Q!!!!!!!! 😀 😀 😀 😀

 

[LT2]

People do PhDs in all subjects, of course, but most people who apply to med school did theirs in one of the biomedical sciences (cell bio, molecular bio, pharmacology, etc.). There are also several of us working in the physical sciences (chemistry, physics, engineering), and I have even met one guy who did his PhD in sociology. I don't think you can make any blanket statement about which field a med school would prefer you to earn your PhD in, and improving your app is a horrible reason to earn a PhD anyway. 😛 BTW, if any of you PhD types are still around, I am starting to write, and I should defend this spring. 🙂 The end is in sight!!!

congrats Q! i just defended my MS and i know it's no small feat! good luck...

 

[travelbug73]

BTW, if any of you PhD types are still around, I am starting to write, and I should defend this spring. 🙂 The end is in sight!!!

Dear Q, Congratulations! That's great news!

I don't know how I missed this thread but I'm another of those Ph.D.s planning on going the M.D. route in a few years, if homeland security (read immigration) permits. Currently, I'm working in a clinical molecular pathology lab at a very reputable children's hospital. Of course, I'm finishing up my pre-reqs, volunteering and shadowing also.

Good to see so many comrades out there.

 

[QofQuimica]

Thanks, everyone. 😳 Now I'd better finish on time, or I'll have embarrassed myself all over SDN. 😛 The pressure is on!

travelbug, there are so many more people who go to med school after getting PhDs than I ever could have imagined before I started posting on SDN. I know two PhD/MDs in person, and two PhDs who are currently in med school, but I don't know anyone else in person who is applying right now. It's so easy to feel alone if you don't personally know anyone else who's going through the process at your institution, but there are lots of other people here on SDN who have gone through it. Most of these people who were posting in this thread last spring are MSI students already, like Sparky and Treg and Learfan. Jrdnbenjamin and I (and I think humuhumu) are applying now. 😍 and to all of the PhD (and MS!) applicants and pre-applicants out there.

 

[docbill]

add me to the list of PhD (to be) going to med school (hopefuly)

 

[QofQuimica]

add me to the list of PhD (to be) going to med school (hopefuly)

Are you accepted to UNECOM, docbill? If so, congrats!

 

[CADreaming06]

Yep, count me in the PhD to MD crowd. I'm finishing up this year (next summer, I'll probably be in lab the day before med school starts!). If anything I regret not letting my advisor and committee know sooner of my plans to go to medical school (they were vital in helping me focus my research so that I could finish in time). In terms of whether the PhD helps or hurts, I have no idea. I sent out 20 secondaries, and have 2 interviews so far. I'm in a similar situation of having a fairly average undergrad gpa (3.3), and I applied to a broad range of schools as a result. I think once I have an interview I'll know a little better what the schools think of the PhD. I'm definately glad to know that I am not the only one, and I agree, to decide to go to medical school after the PhD is probably the hardest decision I have made. Good luck to everyone!

 

[docbill]

Are you accepted to UNECOM, docbill? If so, congrats!

Hi Q,

Yeappp since last year. I actually defered for one year to try to finish my PhD. There is only 10 months left... as I am sure you know. And I am hoping to get done by then.

I am re-applying to Canadian medical schools. Since they are much cheaper. But otherwise, I believe i have my name on one of those seats at UNECOM.

Finishing a PhD is soooooooooo difficult. Just getting articles in the biomedical field accepted... in High impact journals is a pain in the ass. They ask you to sell you body for punishment etc... not the good kind. But everyone knows I am leaving. Either to UNE or anywhere else. Or just going insane.. who knows.

 

[TheMightyAngus]

Of those of you with a PhD, do you plan to go into academic medicine? Or would you rather do something non-research based?

 

[CADreaming06]

Of those of you with a PhD, do you plan to go into academic medicine? Or would you rather do something non-research based?

I'm hoping to go into academic medicine, in a clinical field related to my current research. I am having a hard time visualizing how I will be able to balance the research vs. clinical aspects. I know that I am going to really enjoy the clinical side, and the main reason I am going into medicine is to work with patients, etc. I definately don't want to become a 80:20 research:clinic faculty, but unfortunately I don't have many models of those who are 50:50 or 70:30. I definately want to stay connected to the research, though, because of the excitement/challenge/interactions with other scientists/importance to clinical practice. I think this is going to be something that I have to "feel out" as I progress through my career.