Back-up plan?

[Picklesali]

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I'm sure most of you won't have to worry about this... but have any of you thought about what you would do next year if you don't get in anywhere?

- Would you do more research? More clinical?
- Peace Corps?
- Reapply MD/PhD? Reapply MD-only? PhD only?

 

[OncDoc19]

I'm sure most of you won't have to worry about this... but have any of you thought about what you would do next year if you don't get in anywhere?

- Would you do more research? More clinical?
- Peace Corps?
- Reapply MD/PhD? Reapply MD-only? PhD only?

This has definitely been on my mind too. If I didn't get in anywhere and didn't get any of the scholarships I have also applied to I would:
1. Curl up into a ball and cry for about a week
2. Reapply MD-only to schools I applied to this year. I applied MD/PhD only to all of my schools this year. My feeling is that if I don't get in it is likely due to wanting to do a non-trad MD/PhD. I would try to apply internally to the MSTP and if that didn't work I would try to do my PhD after medical school through a fellowship like Robert Wood Johnson. I definitely want to do MD/PhD but I just don't think I am doing this year that would siginificantly increase my competitiveness as an MD/PhD candidate in the history of medicine.

 

[marctam86]

weep bitter tears.

im hopeful though, and you should be too.

maybe once a few more interviews roll in, we'll all feel better.

 

[solitude]

I'm sure most of you won't have to worry about this... but have any of you thought about what you would do next year if you don't get in anywhere?

- Would you do more research? More clinical?
- Peace Corps?
- Reapply MD/PhD? Reapply MD-only? PhD only?

Also curl up in a ball and cry for at least a week, a la OncDoc.

I think I would try to de-stress for a while during my year off: travel, work at a golf course for a while, eventually do some clinical volunteering.

I would then apply MSTP to a much wider range of schools (I took a fairly risky approach but it has saved me lots of money and time -- and hopefully will pay off), and maybe apply MD-only to a few of the schools where I had been rejected MSTP.

By the way, OncDoc, have you had any interviews yet? How have they been? (Sorry for thread hijack.)

 

[solitude]

im hopeful though, and you should be too.

yeah ditto to this. It seems like everybody on this board has their act together and is getting tons of interviews. I've been surfing this board for a few years and I don't remember off the top of my head a single regular poster that didn't get into one MSTP. Even the applicants who got into just one MSTP ended up at a damn good school.

 

[BoSoxMack]

I think that a research job of some sort would be in order because I am just bleeding money from all these apps, until i see what I want to do:

1) take the GRE's (its too late for most schools for Fall 08), and apply to competative PhD programs, then consider med school

2) consider my chances as a re-applicant to MD only programs, as many researchers are only MDs

But you have to think positive folks....😎, no acceptances have even been mailed out yet...

 

[Dodo23]

Oh my, good question; hadn't really thought about this. I'm applying rather widely, and I'm applying to both the MD and MSTP programs at all my schools except in places where I had to pick only one (in which case I picked MSTP-only). So if I didn't get in anywhere, I would curl up into a ball and cry for a month...

I'd probably try to get a full-time job in a research lab abroad, maybe somewhere in Europe (I had a similar opportunity at one point in college but had to give it up because I had too many prior commitments). I'd try and fit in some more clinical work as well. Then I'd re-apply, giving serious thought to my chances as an MD-only re-applicant or an MSTP re-applicant... I'd probably do MD-only and try to get into the MSTP program internally. And if none of those worked out, I guess I could always apply for PhD-only programs.

Here's hoping none of us has to put our 'plans' into action. Chin up everyone! It's early days yet.

 

[OncDoc19]

Also curl up in a ball and cry for at least a week, a la OncDoc.

I think I would try to de-stress for a while during my year off: travel, work at a golf course for a while, eventually do some clinical volunteering.

I would then apply MSTP to a much wider range of schools (I took a fairly risky approach but it has saved me lots of money and time -- and hopefully will pay off), and maybe apply MD-only to a few of the schools where I had been rejected MSTP.

By the way, OncDoc, have you had any interviews yet? How have they been? (Sorry for thread hijack.)

Here's to hoping neither of us are in a ball crying at the end of this year.

I haven't had any interviews yet - 4 invites though. My first is at UCLA next week. Scary . I'm also attempting to court Harvard, Penn, Yale and UChicago so hopefully that pays off.

 

[Inuranic]

I would start (and star) in a mud-wrestling reality TV show based out of rural Finland. It would be a "Bachelor meets Survivor meets Dancing with the Stars" setup with loads of attractive women all graciously being allowed to wrestle me.

Sounds like a hit!

 

[Picklesali]

yeah ditto to this. It seems like everybody on this board has their act together and is getting tons of interviews. I've been surfing this board for a few years and I don't remember off the top of my head a single regular poster that didn't get into one MSTP. Even the applicants who got into just one MSTP ended up at a damn good school.

Are you telling me that you've seen a positive correlation with post count and acceptance rate?😉 Seems to me that the more time spent on SDN equals less time spent in the real world (building up and working on apps) and therefore less of a chance getting in. Or perhaps there is a separation between "regular" poster and "super crazy freak" poster that we should include in our analysis.😀

 

[j-weezy]

Are you telling me that you've seen a positive correlation with post count and acceptance rate?😉 Seems to me that the more time spent on SDN equals less time spent in the real world (building up and working on apps) and therefore less of a chance getting in. Or perhaps there is a separation between "regular" poster and "super crazy freak" poster that we should include in our analysis.😀

And which would I be??? Word your response carefully....

-j

 

[meowkat444]

superstar rock fiddle player, OBVIOUSLY.

 

[MSTP08]

sorry, had to...

I've sent in my application to the Real World. So I'm hoping to hear back from that. I'm putting A LOT of my eggs into that basket, the MTV basket. I'm also thinking about getting a gun, and dealing crack. Being a crack dealer. Not like a mean crack dealer, but like... like a nice one. Kinda friendly like, "hey, what's up guys? Want some crack?" I'm just waiting on those two things to flesh themselves out.

 

[OncDoc19]

superstar rock fiddle player, OBVIOUSLY.

See you in a week in LA! So excited to finally meet some SDN people (ok well I met solitude a while ago).

 

[chylo]

I would cry.

But probably keep working in my current lab job & reapply, maybe take a few more classes or retake the MCAT if I got the impression that those numbers were holding me back, hopefully get publications out etc.

Most places I've applied I've asked to be considered for MD only as well although really I'd rather be doing the double degree & hope that if I only get into MD places I'll be able to apply internally.

I also want to do an ironman. I'm really sad that injuries will get in the way of me doing a tri of that length (okay, running at all?) in the next year & I doubt I'll have the time for that level of multi-sport training as a med student. If I had an extra year, that'd be my 'fun' thing to keep me going.

I never biked (or swam extensively) until I got injured, but I'm kind of in love with both now. I'm holding out on buying a road bike (I have a hybrid) until 1. I stop being afraid of going FAST & 2. I know where I'm going to school (so I know if it's feasible to ride frequently enough to merit that kind of investment).

Yeah... so it's finally feeling like fall & I really, really wish I could run!

 

[dazlindz]

i would hope that i got in md only somewhere, and then think about being an academic physician w/ an md or apply internally for the phd... i don't think i could stand another round of applications. or if it's yale, i would do that fifth research year and then see where that leads me. but don't despair! there are plenty of ways to fulfill one's physician-scientist dream. md-phd just happens to be the easiest.

 

[solitude]

i would hope that i got in md only somewhere, and then think about being an academic physician w/ an md or apply internally for the phd... i don't think i could stand another round of applications. or if it's yale, i would do that fifth research year and then see where that leads me. but don't despair! there are plenty of ways to fulfill one's physician-scientist dream. md-phd just happens to be the easiest.

If you get in MD-only, you can essentially always take time off during your MD to pursue a PhD. Schools are very nice about this if you're willing to take the hit and let those loans accumulate (or not, if you have enough family money or scholarships). So even if your worst-case scenario is MD-only, remember that you can still fulfill the MD/PhD, albeit with a few more administrative haggles and $$$.