applying to med school after leaving PhD program

[DMPP123]

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[HopefulMedicalPhysicist]

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[efle]

What is your undergraduate GPA? What ECs? State of residency? URM/race?

 

[DMPP123]

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[libertyyne]

Oh jeez lets see if I can remember! I think undergrad GPA was ~3.7ish. List of EC's is so long - I spent 2 years doing undergrad research in a Biology lab and then a Pediatric Genetics lab. I also was a sub-investigator on two clinical studies in the SOM OB/GYN dept. I'm on 3 publications and numerous posters/presentations. I was a founding member and foster mom at an animal rescue, science mentor for an elementary school, volunteered at VA with Hospice patients...I know there is more but can't remember off top of my head. Hundreds of shadowing hours. Great LOR's (especially from the two physicians who I worked on the clinical studies with).

I am considered coming from a disadvantaged background (grew up in a cult living in poverty, first-generation college student...makes for a really great PS). Not sure if that is classified as URM for AMCAS, but I do know they consider me coming from a disadvantaged background.

State of residency is WA and will remain so even after relocating. They are highly preferential to accepting WWAMI residents.

I like what I am reading. You need a decent MCAT score and you may have a shot. But, Washington is a though state to be from, I assume you and your spouse are open to relocation.

 

[efle]

Oh jeez lets see if I can remember! I think undergrad GPA was ~3.7ish. List of EC's is so long - I spent 2 years doing undergrad research in a Biology lab and then a Pediatric Genetics lab. I also was a sub-investigator on two clinical studies in the SOM OB/GYN dept. I'm on 3 publications and numerous posters/presentations. I was a founding member and foster mom at an animal rescue, science mentor for an elementary school, volunteered at VA with Hospice patients...I know there is more but can't remember off top of my head. Hundreds of shadowing hours. Great LOR's (especially from the two physicians who I worked on the clinical studies with).

I am considered coming from a disadvantaged background (grew up in a cult living in poverty, first-generation college student...makes for a really great PS). Not sure if that is classified as URM for AMCAS, but I do know they consider me coming from a disadvantaged background.

State of residency is WA and will remain so even after relocating. They are highly preferential to accepting WWAMI residents.

You're looking great with a decent MCAT.

 

[efle]

Washington is a though state to be from

Is it? They interview majority of WA applicants, have a super broad stats range, and have a brand new public school opening up right now too.

 

[libertyyne]

Is it? They interview majority of WA applicants, have a super broad stats range, and have a brand new public school opening up right now too.

I always hear them complain. I created a LizzyM chart for states a while back and I think they were in the list as being worse than California. I'm on mobile so don't have access right now.

 

[libertyyne]

OP you also need letters of rec from 2science professors and one none science. I know that can be a pain to get for non trads.

 

[Lawpy]

I always hear them complain. I created a LizzyM chart for states a while back and I think they were in the list as being worse than California. I'm on mobile so don't have access right now.

you could make a thread with those data + analysis

 

[libertyyne]

you could make a thread with those data + analysis

After gaining acceptances the drive to look at this process evaporates. I am currently learning how to use machine learning. I might make a project out of it.

 

[Doctor-S]

... My question is: do you think medical school admissions will frown upon the fact that I left grad school due to my husband being relocated for work?

First, welcome to SDN. 🙂

In response to your question: not as far as I am concerned (husband relocating for job; and need money for living expenses; and want to earn MD degree and not PhD degree).

However, it is advisable to discuss your plans to "withdraw from PhD program" with your school - in advance - because there might be some special rules/protocol re: leaving PhD program (in which you are currently enrolled) to apply to MD-degree program instead. In your original post, it sounds as if you plan to apply to medical school "this year" and after you withdraw from your current PhD program "this year" - so check ahead with some school advisers before you make any definitive plans regarding this course of action. I wish you the best of success.

 

[Gibbward]

Hello all,

Thank you in advance for any responses. So years ago I had the intention of applying to medical school, but made some poor life choices which resulted in that not happening. I ended up going into the corporate world where I worked in IT (trained Physicians and medical staff on how to use an EMR) and by that point I felt my science knowledge wasn't strong enough anymore to take the MCAT. I decided to apply to grad school and was accepted into a Pharmacology PhD program (I am currently only in my 1st year). While I thought I'd enjoy it, I realized that grad school is not the path for me. I enjoy the upper level class, and they've deepened my knowledge greatly, but I do not enjoy the bench research. However, we just got news that my husband is being relocated for his job and I do not want to live apart from him (not to mention we couldn't afford that). It is providing me the opportunity to leave the PhD program, study exclusively for the MCAT, and apply to medical school this year. My question is: do you think medical school admissions will frown upon the fact that I left grad school due to my husband being relocated for work?

I also quit my PhD program, when I realized the grad school path wasn't for me. I did finish the Master's portion of my program so I "graduated" with an MA in Chemistry, and I definitely would suggest you get a Masters from your program if you could.

Leaving grad school hasn't harmed me in any way (I will be starting med school in the fall!). Now, I have not been openly saying that I left a PhD program, not that anyone's really asked me directly anyway. I usually say that did graduate work after college but after finishing my Masters, I realized that I wanted to pursue medicine, and that was that. No one's really asked me anything else about that. Plus, your husband moving away seems like a legit reason too me anyway since you're not super committed to the program.

EDIT: I will also add that you should maybe take an extra year or two right after your grad program to do some extra volunteering/shadowing so that you can separate yourself a bit from the grad work and confidently say that "yes an MD is what I want to do and I verified this by doing these activities".

 

[p3f301]

Hello all,

I'm glad I came across this thread. I'm currently in my second semester in OT school, expected graduation date is December of 2018. I was originally shooting for med school but made a decision to go to OT school instead. I guess when you take the wrong road you realize where your real passion lays at.. I decided I want to go for med school just 2 days ago, and I'm having many questions..

I plan to finish my MSOT, then apply for the 2020 cycle. However, when I checked some med school pre-reqs, they say they PREFER these pre-reqs to be within the past 5 years. I took my english courses the first 2 years of undergrad, so by the time I will be applying for med school they will be 8-9 years old. Anyone has experience with this? I assume people that go to med after their PhDs would be in the same boat as me.. How do you go about this? Do you retake these courses?

Thank you so much in advance!

 

[libertyyne]

Hello all,

I'm glad I came across this thread. I'm currently in my second semester in OT school, expected graduation date is December of 2018. I was originally shooting for med school but made a decision to go to OT school instead. I guess when you take the wrong road you realize where your real passion lays at.. I decided I want to go for med school just 2 days ago, and I'm having many questions..

I plan to finish my MSOT, then apply for the 2020 cycle. However, when I checked some med school pre-reqs, they say they PREFER these pre-reqs to be within the past 5 years. I took my english courses the first 2 years of undergrad, so by the time I will be applying for med school they will be 8-9 years old. Anyone has experience with this? I assume people that go to med after their PhDs would be in the same boat as me.. How do you go about this? Do you retake these courses?

Thank you so much in advance!

Not all schools have that requirement.

 

[DMPP123]

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[Gibbward]

Our Pharmacology dept doesn't have a masters program, but for PhD candidates who don't want to complete the program they can leave with a masters. I believe you need to have completed all the course requirements and about 3 yrs in the program. I'm only in my second quarter of my first year so unfortunately masters isn't an option. I definitely don't want to openly say I left, but considering I want to apply to the same medical school where my PhD program is (UW)...I'm worried how they will view me leaving the PhD program during my second quarter for my husband relocating.

EDIT: and yes I will be doing some more volunteer work/shadowing this summer

Gotcha. That's unfortunate that you can't get a Masters out of you program, but it is what it is. And it's really hard to say how the MD school will react to you leaving because of your husband relocating. One question I can see them asking, "If DMPP123 left this area for her husband, why would she be willing to come back to this area if she gets into med school here?"

And also, are you thinking of applying this coming summer so you can start school in in 2018? It sounds like you have a TON of ECs already. How long ago were those volunteering activities?

 

[DMPP123]

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[efle]

I always hear them complain. I created a LizzyM chart for states a while back and I think they were in the list as being worse than California. I'm on mobile so don't have access right now.

There's no way they are higher LizzyM than UCs/USC/Stanford, they are a 31/3.7 median!

From the AAMC table, matriculants stats for each state:

WA 509.1 3.68
CA 510.7 3.68

Edit: and nation overall is 509 / 3.7

 

[libertyyne]

There's no way they are higher LizzyM than UCs/USC/Stanford, they are a 31/3.7 median!

From the AAMC table, matriculants stats for each state:

WA 509.1 3.68
CA 510.7 3.68

Edit: and nation overall is 509 / 3.7

40% of California applicants matriculate.
36 % of Washington applicants matriculate.

 

[efle]

40% of California applicants matriculate.
36 % of Washington applicants matriculate.

To their state schools or to anywhere? Higher numbers on the CA matrics is the better indicator than % of each state matriculating regardless. For example more than 60% of Vermont residents matriculate but their median is a freaking 514.

 

[libertyyne]

To their state schools or to anywhere? Higher numbers on the CA matrics is the better indicator than % of each state matriculating regardless. For example more than 60% of Vermont residents matriculate but their median is a freaking 514.

I am assuming matriculate anywhere.

 

[DokterMom]

Sounds more to me like you didn't much care for your PhD program and are seizing upon this convenient excuse as justification for bailing. A reasonable question would be "If you are so committed to pharmacology, why wouldn't you transfer into another program in your new location?"

Our Pharmacology dept doesn't have a masters program, but for PhD candidates who don't want to complete the program they can leave with a masters. I believe you need to have completed all the course requirements and about 3 yrs in the program. I'm only in my second quarter of my first year so unfortunately masters isn't an option. I definitely don't want to openly say I left, but considering I want to apply to the same medical school where my PhD program is (UW)...I'm worried how they will view me leaving the PhD program during my second quarter for my husband relocating.

Yeah - uh. Well, if the two programs every talk to each other, your reason/excuse for leaving the area initially, then flexibility to return could all sound very flimsy and mushy. While normally you wouldn't want to advertise so many career changes, I think you're going to have to own this one.

 

[Gibbward]

Yes my husband and I have discussed and he will relocate to wherever I get into medical school. He works in IT and thankfully has a position where he could get a job almost anywhere. However, relocating rather than finding a new job is the best option for us right now since he has recently been promoted and received a huge pay increase. Having at least a year of experience as a manager under his belt will be beneficial if he has to eventually relocate for me.

All my EC's were from 2012-2014. It's a few years ago, so this summer I'll probably do some more volunteering since I won't be in school. While not an EC, I did recently work for 2 years troubleshooting and training physicians/staff on EMR's. I have a lot of experience with Meaningful Use and ICD10, but that was a paid job so not sure if that matters to admissions committee.

DokterMom's point I think is where it might come down to in terms of your excuse for leaving your PhD. You defight get questioned as to whether you're just using your husbands relocation as an excuse to leave the program. This could affect how UW sees your application, or it may not! I mean this might even come up in all interviews. Now some interviewers might not think it's a big deal, but others might, so I guess just prepare for the worst.

Also, paid work is definitely okay with adcom members and that seems like a pretty good experience! I still personally think that it would be wise to not apply this coming cycle and instead do a bunch of different activities and apply next year, granted I'm always more risk-averse and I don't want to give any reason for AdComs to reject me.

What I still think is an issue is that you're gonna be applying right after quitting Grad school. For me, having recent long term activities showed that I've reflected on what I really wanted to do and that I'm now really committed to medicine. On paper, it just tied my story a little better and it really helped my app out since people had no reason to question me quitting on my PhD program.

Now I'm Not an adcom, and I'm not even in med school yet so I could definitely be wrong and you might have a lot of success if you applied! So just take my advice with a grain of salt