Anyone do it PhD first, then MD? Need advice.

[Bioboy]

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Hi,

I'm currently a first-year PhD student and really considering applying to med school in my last year.

Has anyone here done this and would they be able to let me know the best way to handle applying while I finish up my PhD in the years to come?

Also, do MD admissions committees have different expectations/considerations when it comes to assessing an application from someone who's spent the last few years getting a PhD?

Thanks!

 

[PHD_2007]

Hey Bioboy,
I am currently in my last year of my PhD and I also applied to med school this year. I took the MCAT twice while in grad school... studying for that was hard in addition to PhD work. Other than that, it hasn't been very hard keeping both things going. I have gotten into 4 med schools and I'm hoping to hear back from 2 more. As far as admissions committees go.... they really want you to be able to talk about your research as well as your true desire to become a physician. If you have anymore questions please feel free to contact me. 🙂

 

[Scottish Chap]

Hi,

I'm currently a first-year PhD student and really considering applying to med school in my last year.

Has anyone here done this and would they be able to let me know the best way to handle applying while I finish up my PhD in the years to come?

Also, do MD admissions committees have different expectations/considerations when it comes to assessing an application from someone who's spent the last few years getting a PhD?

Thanks!

I did a Ph.D. and a posdoc before medical school. I am a second-year medical student in the U.S. If you really want an M.D. you have three options:-
1). Take the MCAT and apply to M.D. programs. This will involve you leaving the Ph.D. program prematurely.
2). Take the MCAT and, if you do very well, apply to M.D./Ph.D. programs. A few people have been able to join the same lab again after MSII, but it's uncommon for the Ph.D. phase to be any faster and you will need a very supportive advisor to allow this. A transfer from a Ph.D. to a M.D./Ph.D. program is pretty much an urban legend since 99% of those people are essentially ‘start-from-the-beginning again' students rather than true transfers.
3. Finish your Ph.D., take the MCAT, then apply to M.D. programs.

All things considered, option 3 is not for the faint-hearted – especially since you are so close to the start. Getting a Ph.D. is harder than getting an M.D. in the sense that you really are on your own to excel in graduate school whereas in medical school, you just have to pass (the latter is harder to gain admission to, however). Also, if you choose option 1, consider that some medical schools will not like the fact that you failed to honor a commitment made to another program. I interview medical students now and, barring exceptional circumstances (poor quality of program, genuine change of heart early on in the program, sickness etc.), such a case is a red flag to me on an application, IMHO. You'll hear different opinions regarding this matter.

Ask yourself honestly what your motives are for wanting an M.D. now. Is it because the graduate courses are boring? It gets much better once you hit the lab. If it's founded in romanticism or the guarantee of a decent income via medical school, it's just not worth it. A Ph.D., however, is a universal qualification that can open many rewarding careers and it's usually free of the debt burden that the M.D. demands. In the end, you have to do what's right for you and, usually, that will expose you to some element of risk and uncertainty. Just keep in mind that a Ph.D. will not be a golden parachute into medical school. If anything, non-research focused schools treat the Ph.D.-to-M.D. applicant with a mixture of disdain and suspicion - in my experience. Good luck!

 

[dr.z]

Hi,

I'm currently a first-year PhD student and really considering applying to med school in my last year.

Has anyone here done this and would they be able to let me know the best way to handle applying while I finish up my PhD in the years to come?

Also, do MD admissions committees have different expectations/considerations when it comes to assessing an application from someone who's spent the last few years getting a PhD?

Thanks!

They really care about your undergraduate record, and it doesn't seem like having Ph.D is a real advantage. Make sure to prepare well for the MCAT.

 

[QofQuimica]

Hi,

I'm currently a first-year PhD student and really considering applying to med school in my last year.

Has anyone here done this and would they be able to let me know the best way to handle applying while I finish up my PhD in the years to come?

Also, do MD admissions committees have different expectations/considerations when it comes to assessing an application from someone who's spent the last few years getting a PhD?

Thanks!

PhD to MD here and current M1. Yes, it is possible to do two separate degrees. But I agree with the previous posters: if you're only six months into your program and you are already sure that you want a combined degree, it is best for you to stop now and apply for a combined program. You probably are just doing rotations right now and have not chosen a lab or started a project, so it's definitely early enough.

As for adcom expectations, the answer is no, not really. You still have to meet the same criteria as all of the younger applicants do, including a strong UG GPA, a competitive MCAT score, good ECs (volunteering and shadowing), good LORs, good essays, and a good interview. The latter will be crucial, as you will be asked why you want to change careers when you are already a professional scientist (assuming you are getting a science PhD).

 

[PHD_2007]

I had a different experience. My interviewers seem to take interest in my MCAT scores, Grad GPA, publishing record, my teaching experience and clinical experience. My undergrad GPA was never an issue. But I believe that every one's experience is different. 🙂

 

[Universe_Explorer]

My experience was sort of a mix of what has been stated so far. I'm currently an MS3...I took the MCATs 3 years into grad school, when I already had a timeline for finishing up. I can't be sure, but I felt like some schools I applied to only looked at my undergrad grades (from freshman year!) and MCAT scores - but anywhere I interviewed seemed quite interested by my grad school performance, research, and publications. In other words, get through the screening process, and you are an interesting applicant. Personally, I'm very happy with how things have gone so far, the grad school background definitely helps with certain basic science courses, and helps a lot with the evidence-based stuff in 3rd year, and I still think I'll be able to use the combined training to do what I want career-wise. Certainly, it's the expensive and stressful way to do this, but I didn't know I wanted to do medicine until my grad school project got clinical, if it's what you want - go for it...

 

[QofQuimica]

I had a different experience. My interviewers seem to take interest in my MCAT scores, Grad GPA, publishing record, my teaching experience and clinical experience. My undergrad GPA was never an issue. But I believe that every one's experience is different. 🙂

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that you had a competitive UG GPA then. If you have a crappy UG GPA (or none, as in my case), it is a HUGE issue. 🙂

 

[PHD_2007]

My UG GPA was pretty average. But seriously I've done alot since UG.