Applying to MD/PhD for the right reasons?

[Medikit]

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First off, I'm not even sure I can get into an MD/PhD, second, if I do I will probably apply to two and see where the chips lie. Third off I have a checkered GPA with a nice upward trend that took me to an overall 3.44 from a small state university and I have a 36 MCAT with 10V. So based on threads in this subforum I see myself as uncompetitive. I'm a biochem + biology major. Finally I'm turning in my AMCAS very soon and I don't plan on discussing research in my ps because I'm applying to 27 MD schools because I'm also worried about getting into those (Cali resident), yeehaw.

My experience is weak, I've been taking summer school classes when I should have been doing research. I've done research in biodegradation but it's entirely uninteresting to me. I believe I'm interested in Pharmacology and Physiology. The process by which medications take action and the physiology they affect have been the #1 most interesting thing to me during my undergrad. Unfortunately we don't get to talk about it much. How do I find out if I'm really truly interested in this field? What can I read about? I was recommended this route when I spoke with my Biochem professor, I explained to her my interests and was wondering what Biochem field that would be and she directed me towards pharmacology but I still have no clue as to where to proceed from here. How do I find out if a school is good in this area? One of the schools I intend to apply to is Oregon.

One of my main worries is that my eventual career would become monotonous to me. What would I do with an MD/PhD? I want to be a pediatrician, the way I see it I can be a pediatrician and also research. Do I like research? I do not know, I don't like researching the degradation of paranitrophenol, I know that. But I'm not sure how to find out if I'd be interested in researching an area that actually gets me excited. It seems to me I would. An MD/PhD would allow me to treat patients, research, and possibly teach (another thing I enjoy). No?

I do want to be a doctor, but as Neuronix put it to me, I also want the flexibility to do more if I want as I'm simply too young and too inexperienced to know anything at this point.

One thing that bothers me. After you guys take two years of Med school you stop doing it and finish the PhD right? This is what Oregon's website told me at least, it seems like there are other options but I couldn't see any. This bothers me for two reasons. #1 I want to start doing rotations and treating patients as soon as possible. Hell one of the reasons I was so frustrated with undergrad initially was how far removed it seemed from becoming a doctor. #2 I'm afraid of it would be like to start doing rotations after doing 3 years of PhD. Wouldn't you start forgetting the important stuff you learned in medical school as you are become entirely focused on your graduate studies and thesis?

Finally I am interested in having my MD paid for through graduate school rather than by loans and later by practicing. I'm interested in somewhat breaking away from the awesome financial support I've had from my parents through the stipend. How do I go into interviews with money being a huge factor in my decision?

Anyways, I need to pray, sleep on it, and talk to profs. Any advice is of course appreciated.

Here is a picture to describe my current condition:

And here is a comic for your enjoyment:

 

[tofurious]

Sounds like your primary interest in MD-PhD is financial. Given your many self-doubts and lack of experience to even know whether you like any OTHER research (since you didn't like your own research experience), MD-PhD is not for you. You're better off finding some other way to fund your medical education.

 

[Gfunk6]

I concur with tofurious. You have too many doubts to take the plunge into an MSTP. Know that you can forge a research career with a straight MD through a variety of pathways. If you REALLY want to make sure you could try another research experience in an area of interest (like pharm or physio).

I think your uncertainties may seep through in interviews and they will be a big turn-off. As tofurious pointed out, there are other mechanisms to fund your medical school eduction (e.g. armed forces scholarship) which you may look into.

 

[Monkeyguts]

I thought I read somewhere OHSU has a requirement that out of state applicants must have a 3.5+/30+ MCAT to be sent a secondary application. You may want to call them and double check on that.

 

[superdevil]

weird, you are in the same predicament as i am, but for totally different reasons (i really enjoyed my ugrad research--hell,i'm typing this from lab right now!--and money is not a concern to me--i'm not rich, it just doesn't worry me).

if your primary thrust is to jump into patient care, your PhD years will be tedious and seem like they last centuries. some might crucify you for thinking with your wallet, so to speak, but that is a genuine concern. a little financial independence would really hit the spot right now!

tough call. i'd give you more advice, but i haven't decided yet either!

PM me if you want to chat.

 

[Neuronix]

(e.g. armed forces scholarship)

If you consider this one, make sure know very well what you are doing. You could talk to me about that one too as I'm feeling the anxiety/heartache that comes along with your partner being in the HPSP.

Still I agree Medikit, I don't think your heart or app is in the right place for MD/PhD. If you decide to do some research, there's ways to do it. If you have a change of heart and you're at a school with a MD/PhD program, you could potentially transfer into their program.

If anyone ever wants to talk about this stuff, feel free to AIM me at Neuronix2. I'm trying to get up to one applicant a day, so don't feel like you're bothering me 🙂

 

[SaltySqueegee]

If you have a change of heart and you're at a school with a MD/PhD program, you could potentially transfer into their program.

This is very true with most schools. You won't get the financial waivers for some of your MD years that you might have been looking for, but at least you'll know what you're getting yourself into. Happiness, and a stable state-of-mind that comes from being sure of a decision, can make up for being a little more in debt.

Good luck in your endeavors.

 

[pseudoknot]

It sounds like you're quite sure you're interested in doing clinical work, but not sure about research. If you don't think you have enough research experience to get in, and you haven't yet done research you liked, there's a great solution to all your problems: spend a year or two in the lab after you get out of school. Find a job as a tech in a pharmacology lab. After a year doing that, you should be able to honestly tell yourself whether it's the right path for you, and if you can do that, it shouldn't be hard to articulate your reasons to the admissions committee members. If you want to stay in touch with clinical stuff, maybe you could do some volunteer work part time as well.

I know you're probably eager to get on with your life, and this may seem like a detour, but really it's not. If you're unsure about major decisions like this, it's really good to take whatever time you need to figure it out before making major committments like MD vs. MD/PhD. A year at this point is nothing compared to the eight years of an MD/PhD program or the $200k of debt you could have from a straight MD.

I've done research in biodegradation but it's entirely uninteresting to me. I believe I'm interested in Pharmacology and Physiology. The process by which medications take action and the physiology they affect have been the #1 most interesting thing to me during my undergrad. Unfortunately we don't get to talk about it much. How do I find out if I'm really truly interested in this field?

 

[Newquagmire]

How do I find out if I'm really truly interested in this field? What can I read about?

The misplaced humor made me wonder if you're trolling, but I don't think so. Anyway, I think this answer is obvious: spend a year or two in a biochem/pharm lab and find out. If you don't want to do that, then you could always try to apply internally (as has been previously suggested), but I think you're going to have a tough time deciding about research during MSI/II.

I also want the flexibility to do more if I want as I'm simply too young and too inexperienced to know anything at this point.

I'm not sure how many people have said this during an MD/PhD interview and gotten away with it, but I would think not many.

 

[Medikit]

The misplaced humor made me wonder if you're trolling, but I don't think so. Anyway, I think this answer is obvious: spend a year or two in a biochem/pharm lab and find out. If you don't want to do that, then you could always try to apply internally (as has been previously suggested), but I think you're going to have a tough time deciding about research during MSI/II.

Sorry I'm not trolling, I was just having trouble sleeping and I get that way when I'm tired.


I like what you guys are saying. I think the insight superdevil had about the PhD being tedious because it puts off my being able to do primary care is important. I also agree with neuro in that I will be unable to convine an interviewer that I'm really into the program and I know that's what they are looking for. I see what you guys are saying about taking a year or two off. I don't really want to do it, as I'm actually doing the process two years late as it is and I'm becoming very antsy about getting started.

One more thing, the money isn't what made me interested initially. This past year it's been bothering me, I tried to get involved in research but the profs I knew didn't really have anything that held my interest. I might try talking to our cell biologist to see if he has anything available. When I heard about the money it simply spurred an interest that was already there, and I thought I would mention it in an effort to be as candid as possible.

Anyways, thanks for the responses, I still have a lot to think about.



Update:
I talked to Neuro and I realized, as many of you saw that MD/PhD is not the route for me. My main focus is primary care, research is 3rd of 4th on the list. Thanks to everyone who applied. This has actually been bothering me for the past year or so and it's nice to finally have some peace about it.