Can this process be more confusing?

[hanjg]

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I'm not kidding. How are you ever supposed to get your hands around this process?

What I know-

I'm lucky to be from Texas.
I have a good to very good CV.
My 11/11/11 M sophomore MCAT might keep me from applying to some schools. (Timed essays must not be my thing. 😕) I have decided , after much teeth gnashing) not to re-take.
My cell cycle research is very good (although I have no published articles).
I have an excellent GPA in a demanding course-load.
I am committed to doing research in my career.
I am equally committed to clinical work.
The research that excites me the most is related to what I've been doing with my cell cycle research, hence my interest in Oncology.
I have little to no interest in primary care. (I value it. I just know it's not for me.)


....and that's about it. 😱

I am almost prepared to say that the curriculum and outlook at CCLCM is perfect for me. (5 years, great match list.) But I think applying to one school is probably not a great idea. 🙄

I also am very interested in doing research at a particular lab in Oxford (there are others that would be almost as interesting) through the NIH/Oxford Program, (or possibly through one of the scholarship programs prior to med school). I have recently thought about the MD/PhD at UT-H/M.D. Anderson and will be looking for similar unique programs. And of course I'll continue to read everything I can here when I should be sleeping.

.

I am applying to my Texas schools in May and need to have my OOS list to my Pre-med committee before the end of this semester. I have contacted my LOR writers, started my PS, worked on my sample apps and my CV, looked at countless secondaries, made a list of schools that participate with NIH in the Oxford Program, and have come to the conclusion that I don't know 😱 about where to apply. I have a few days off over Easter and I hope to have my list done. Could somebody look at my Mdapp profile and give me some feedback and suggestions?


What are some schools that have similar programs to CCLCM , that train Physician Investigators, where someone with my profile and interests would have a snowball's chance of attending?

 

[Neuronix]

You have a reasonable chance at 5 year and MD/PhD programs. Sure the MCAT is a bit low, but the rest of your application seems quite good. The only other set 5 year program I'm aware of is Pitt's program (they call it PSTP). Keep in mind that you can always take an extra year for research at any medical school you attend. Though CCLCM or Pitt give the bonus of typically throwing in a full scholarship.

Keep in mind that Texas schools only care about in-state for MD-only. Fully-funded MD/PhD programs typically do not consider state residency, and it's for sure that the powerhouse institutions like Baylor and UTSW won't as MSTPs. So if you're only going to apply to MD/PhD and 5 year programs be sure to apply to a range of places nationally.

I'll let someone else comment on the NIH/OxCam program, as I know next to nothing about it.

 

[CCLCMer]

You have a reasonable chance at 5 year and MD/PhD programs. Sure the MCAT is a bit low, but the rest of your application seems quite good. The only other set 5 year program I'm aware of is Pitt's program (they call it PSTP). Keep in mind that you can always take an extra year for research at any medical school you attend. Though CCLCM or Pitt give the bonus of typically throwing in a full scholarship.

Change that to saying that CCLCM automatically throws in a full scholarship for all the students, and I mostly agree, except I don't agree that hanjg's MCAT is a bit low for programs like CCLCM. 33 is pretty close to the Case average for both of the MD programs, actually.

I'm lucky to be from Texas.
I have a good to very good CV.
My 11/11/11 M sophomore MCAT might keep me from applying to some schools. (Timed essays must not be my thing. 😕) I have decided , after much teeth gnashing) not to re-take.
My cell cycle research is very good (although I have no published articles).
I have an excellent GPA in a demanding course-load.
I am committed to doing research in my career.
I am equally committed to clinical work.
The research that excites me the most is related to what I've been doing with my cell cycle research, hence my interest in Oncology.
I have little to no interest in primary care. (I value it. I just know it's not for me.)


....and that's about it. 😱

I am almost prepared to say that the curriculum and outlook at CCLCM is perfect for me. (5 years, great match list.) But I think applying to one school is probably not a great idea. 🙄

I think you sound like a great candidate for CCLCM. But you're right, you shouldn't only apply to one program. Case and CCLCM don't have ED, so you would be taking a big risk. Definitely apply to Pitt's CSTP because that's a great program too. It was one of the other schools I was considering besides CCLCM, and it was a tough choice in the end.

What are some schools that have similar programs to CCLCM , that train Physician Investigators, where someone with my profile and interests would have a snowball's chance of attending?

I think you would have a decent chance of getting in almost anywhere you want that takes out of state people, except maybe Wash U. I remember that AECOM had a research MD program too, and so does Harvard (HST). I'm sure there are more, and like Neuronix said, you can always take a fifth year for research anywhere you go if you want to. So don't feel like you have to only apply to formal five year programs.

If you have questions about CCLCM, feel free to PM me. Good luck with your apps!

 

[hanjg]

many, many, thank you's. I really appreciate the responses.