Apply this cycle or wait until next year?

[iLordOfFlies]

Hello,

I was wondering if I had decent chances at this upcoming cycle, or if I should wait to apply next one. I read the WARMC in the favorite thread and I'm still not entirely sure. Graduated in Spring of 2022

I went to a public liberal arts college, first gen low income if that matters.

s and c GPA ~3.9

I took the MCAT twice, first time I got a 506 and the second time I got a 517.

As for research, this is my biggest concern. I planned on getting into a lab my sophomore year, but I wasn't able to get into a lab until my Jr. year due to COVID, if I applied this cycle, I would have 1800 hours. But I have no poster, no pubs or anything notable. I'm working as a research tech right now and if I waited another year, I'd have ~3900 and I'm fairly sure I'd have my name on at least one paper.

Nonclinical volunteering, I have about 700 hours across multiple different activities

About 900 hours of scribing for a specialist. 40 hours of shadowing in the ER.

This probably doesn't matter but I have 3000+ hours working a customer service job, along with another non-clinical job through undergrad.

I'd like to avoid waiting another year, however I'm not sure if my application would be strong enough for this upcoming cycle, any thoughts would be appreciated.

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[Fencer]

Think about this way... What is the likelihood for an update in October indicates that you have a pending presentation/abstract at a national conference.

 

[iLordOfFlies]

Think about this way... What is the likelihood for an update in October indicates that you have a pending presentation/abstract at a national conference.

Presumably low, but not impossible.

 

[VaultArmitage]

I have the opportunity to interview applicants for our program and I'll say that for me personally your research would be a bit of a red flag. ~1800 and no posters, pubs, etc. just isn't enough to convince me that your willing to dedicate the next decade of your life to research. Especially as a "research tech." I would prefer to see you taking a bit more of an active role in the research by designing experiments, hypothesis, contributing to a grant, etc.

I would advise taking the next year to grind some research, get your name on a paper (or at least a poster) and lock down your application. Do it once, do it right!

Or, your application looks pretty competitive for MD admissions. It really depends how badly you want the MD/PhD pathway.

 

[iLordOfFlies]

I have the opportunity to interview applicants for our program and I'll say that for me personally your research would be a bit of a red flag. ~1800 and no posters, pubs, etc. just isn't enough to convince me that your willing to dedicate the next decade of your life to research. Especially as a "research tech." I would prefer to see you taking a bit more of an active role in the research by designing experiments, hypothesis, contributing to a grant, etc.

That's what I figured. I've talked with the PI of my lab, who's an MD/PhD, and they seem more than willing to help me out and allow me to take an active role.

I'm pretty sure I want the MD/PhD pathway, but it never hurts to give it more thought.

On the off chance that I'd be able to get my name on a paper prior to this upcoming application cycle, would you recommend I still wait a year?

I appreciate the advice

 

[VaultArmitage]

If you can get your name on a paper then that only only makes you look better! Logistically you'll need to get it published by September/October for it to make an impact this upcoming cycle though. The majority of invites are extended during that time so anything published past December would be unlikely to move the needle for an interview invite.

You're under no obligation to take anyone's advice on the internet, only you know how comfortable you are with your application. I will say that I've been told to my face (several times) that "the paper will be published this year" only to get it stuck in a rewrite limbo for 10 months. Personally, I would still advise taking a year. It could easily be the difference between being a couple grand down the drain with no acceptance and having multiple acceptances.

 

[Fencer]

Quite often a letter from one of your research PIs indicates what your contributions would be an impeding manuscript submission. So, as long as the story is coming to fruition by July or August, when your letter of your PI is submitting, you should be fine. If you have only research hours by July, then you need to wait another year.

 

[iLordOfFlies]

I will say that I've been told to my face (several times) that "the paper will be published this year" only to get it stuck in a rewrite limbo for 10 months.

This is kind of what I'd be worried about, if I were to take a year off then I would have a greater chance of this not happening.

I appreciate the advice. I'll likely take a year off in order to "do it once, do it right" as you say.

 

[iLordOfFlies]

If you have only research hours by July, then you need to wait another year.

Understood, thank you very much for the advice.