Applying for PSTP without making a great contribution

[ResidentMD]

---

Members don't see this ad.

If given a choice, I would like to be a part of a physician scientist training program at institutions that interview me (some would say - who wouldn't 😉 ). However, I have not contributed significantly to the field in any way - I just have a few decent publications from med school, have presented at national meetings and am quite academically and research oriented. I have done research- both lab and clinical [decent, but not exclusively (i.e. I don't have an advanced degree)].

I wanted to know: do you think its still a good idea to apply to a PSTP in certain institutions where I am interested, or would I just be making a fool of myself and actually screwing myself up for a categorical position? I am truly interested in the PSTP, but when I was on WUSTL's website, I saw one of their questions on their PSTP application: Explain how your research has made a contribution to science (or something to that effect)....this got me thinking. Do let me know. Thanks.

[P.S. Grades, scores, other aspects of CV pretty decent for competitive programs - just no "discoveries" or " major contributions"]

 

[Nattoyum]

I have the same question....
If the worst that can happen is that I make a fool out of myself for applying to research tracks that want "PhD or equivalent", I would say go for it. However, I wonder if it affects my chance at a categorical position negatively. Any thoughts?