Chances for MD/PhD Program

[gjgjrhcka]

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Hi All,

I will be applying MD/PhD program this coming cycle, but I would appreciate any feedback you could give me.
I was wondering about my chances for MD/PhD program. Here is my stat.

-30 MCAT (10PS/7VR/13BS)
-3.84 sGPA/3.85 cGPA
-4 years of research experience (2 yrs of undergrad research at Molecular Biology lab and 2 yrs of research at Physiology lab as Research Assistant)
- 3 pubs ( 1 first author, 1 third author, 1 fourth author), 2 more manuscripts to be submitted soon with middle author.
- Poster presentation at research conference in medical school
-100 hrs of clinical volunteer
-120 hrs of shadowing of three different physicians
- 60 hrs of non- clinical volunteer

As you can see, my primary concern is my low verbal score on MCAT. I should say this is because English is my second language. I do not know if admission committee would take this into consideration, but I wish my research background would compensate it.
Thank you very much for your help ahead!

 

[Maebea]

The data indicates that individuals with a 30 MCAT have a 1 in 5 chance of being offered admission. If your publications are in respected journals, I believe your research experience will overcome any concerns about the MCAT at even them most competitive programs.

 

[Fencer]

Are you an international student, or US permanent resident? This makes A LOT OF difference. PM me if needed.

 

[Microglia]

Hi All,

I will be applying MD/PhD program this coming cycle, but I would appreciate any feedback you could give me.
I was wondering about my chances for MD/PhD program. Here is my stat.

-30 MCAT (10PS/7VR/13BS)
-3.84 sGPA/3.85 cGPA
-4 years of research experience (2 yrs of undergrad research at Molecular Biology lab and 2 yrs of research at Physiology lab as Research Assistant)
- 3 pubs ( 1 first author, 1 third author, 1 fourth author), 2 more manuscripts to be submitted soon with middle author.
- Poster presentation at research conference in medical school
-100 hrs of clinical volunteer
-120 hrs of shadowing of three different physicians
- 60 hrs of non- clinical volunteer

As you can see, my primary concern is my low verbal score on MCAT. I should say this is because English is my second language. I do not know if admission committee would take this into consideration, but I wish my research background would compensate it.
Thank you very much for your help ahead!

Assuming US citizen, your research background will compensate for the MCAT a bit, but it probably is still a significant disadvantage for your chances at top programs. Could go either way depending on how stellar you're research actually is.

 

[gjgjrhcka]

The data indicates that individuals with a 30 MCAT have a 1 in 5 chance of being offered admission. If your publications are in respected journals, I believe your research experience will overcome any concerns about the MCAT at even them most competitive programs.

Thank you for your attention and encouraging comment Maebea. I am not sure how you define "respected journals" as it is all relative, but all published papers I have so far have impact factor of ~5. Two more papers that will be submitted soon ( and hopefully accepted by the time I submit application) will have high impact factor, which is about 15. These new two manuscripts will both have clinical significance, along with good story supported by cell, animal, and human data. For one of them, abstract is submitted for poster presentation and I will be presenting it. I believe I do have strong research background, but I am not sure how admission committee will view this. If you could give me any idea concerning my research experience and rest of my application, I would appreciate it. Thanks

 

[gjgjrhcka]

Assuming US citizen, your research background will compensate for the MCAT a bit, but it probably is still a significant disadvantage for your chances at top programs. Could go either way depending on how stellar you're research actually is.

Thank you for your comment Microglia. I am a U.S. citizen. Given that MD/PhD program is highly selective, however, I do agree with you. I understand admission committee would like to see applicants with excellent stat on every aspect of application. After hours and hours of web browsing, I picked about 20 schools (both MSTP and non-MSTP) that I am thinking to apply. Few of them are top programs, while majority of other are mid to low tiers. As I know my MCAT will be a significant disadvantage for my application, I will apply broadly. Before submission, I am thinking to email individual program director to ask my eligibility for their program, but I am not sure if this is a good idea. If you could give me an idea about this plan, I will appreciate it.

 

[Student's T]

I wouldn't email program directors. Just apply broadly. Each program places a different emphasis on MCAT scores, and it sounds like otherwise your application is good (as long as you have strong letters).

 

[evo]

I wouldn't email program directors. Just apply broadly. Each program places a different emphasis on MCAT scores, and it sounds like otherwise your application is good (as long as you have strong letters).

+1 You should be totally fine, assuming you have good LOR and essays. Don't email and apply broadly, some programs have verbal cutoffs which will exclude you, but a lot other great programs don't. I got a 7 on my VR too, and I didn't have any pubs by the time I applied either.

 

[Microglia]

+1 You should be totally fine, assuming you have good LOR and essays. Don't email and apply broadly, some programs have verbal cutoffs which will exclude you, but a lot other great programs don't. I got a 7 on my VR too, and I didn't have any pubs by the time I applied either.

I'd amend this a little. You could be totally fine, like evo was. I'm sure for every evo there's someone else with a similar scenario who didn't make it, though. As far as the percentages of the 2 groups go..I'm not sure I could speak to that. But clearly it's possible to be in the accepted group.

I wouldn't email the program directors, as they all would likely react in different ways to such an email, and many of then could have a negative impression from that. Overall, I'd say it's worth applying and to go for it.