Considering md/phd...

[franniemeow07]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi All;

I've been lurking for awhile and have been reading archived threads to get an idea of what applying for these programs entails. A brief profile...

my overall GPA: 3.59
my BCPM GPA: probably a little lower, around 3.4

I'm a Biochemistry/Biology double major at a state school, and am in my 2nd year of genetics research here at the U. I plan on taking a year or two off before applying, in an attempt to make significant progress on a project that I'm independently working on, and I'm also just beginning a clincial research project that will probably last for about a year. I've also done a summer internship at Amgen in the Oncology department. In addition, in terms of clincial experience, I've done a bit of volunteering and will be shadowing doctors over spring break.

I know my GPA's quite low compared to the average MD/PHD applicant, and I'm wondering what kind of MCAT score (i.e. a range, like 36+? 38+? would be able to "get my foot in the door" and/or be competitive at top tier programs. Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

[franniemeow07]

*sniff* no thoughts?

 

[Circumflex]

There is no hard rule for MCAT score, but 36 would be great. A 3.6 GPA is fine. It is unclear how far along you are in undergrad - you said you had 2 years of Genetics research under your belt. Are you graduating this semester?

If not, I would not plan to take 2 years off just to participate in research - that is not your job (yet) - that is the PI's responsibility. Yours is to get an education. Yes, you need to have research experience, but it sounds like you have that covered. Your focus should be on making good grades and kicking #$% on the MCAT. Those are the main things that will help you. The fact that you had a significant role in some cool research will not help you that much. Yes, it is impressive, but numbers are what get you in the door, not experience. I would cut out all but a little of your research activities because they can be a major distraction. The admissions committee will ask you "If you want to go to medical school, why did you put it off for 2 years to work on a research project?" Be focused.

However, if you are graduating this semester, then do research while you are applying, but give yourself enough time to prepare for the MCAT. If you do not do well, none of the other things will matter. Good luck.

 

[gbwillner]

Hi All;

I've been lurking for awhile and have been reading archived threads to get an idea of what applying for these programs entails. A brief profile...

my overall GPA: 3.59
my BCPM GPA: probably a little lower, around 3.4

I'm a Biochemistry/Biology double major at the University of Washington, and am in my 2nd year of genetics research here at the U. I plan on taking a year or two off before applying, in an attempt to make significant progress on a project that I'm independently working on, and I'm also just beginning a clincial research project that will probably last for about a year. I've also done a summer internship at Amgen in the Oncology department. In addition, in terms of clincial experience, I've done a bit of volunteering and will be shadowing doctors over spring break.

I know my GPA's quite low compared to the average MD/PHD applicant, and I'm wondering what kind of MCAT score (i.e. a range, like 36+? 38+? would be able to "get my foot in the door" and/or be competitive at top tier programs. Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Any mid-high MCAT get's your foot in the door. Yeah, the GPA-s a little low, but not prohibitive. You just may have to look at a broader range of programs.

 

[Dr.Watson]

My GPA is similar and I got an MCAT of 35. I got interviews at a majority of places I applied and even ended up turning down quite a few. I'm in my top choices - so it all worked out!

A low GPA might get you screened out at some places (it did for me - Wake Forest, WTF?), but if you have a great research background and you really know what it means to be an MD/PhD and why it's a good fit for you then adcoms that read your app should want to interview you. I think that's why it worked out for me. So - apply broadly and early, keep up the research, and make sure those essays sparkle.

 

[ThatOne]

Yes, I second Dr. Watson on the APPLY EARLY!!! (with added emphasis)

My GPA is close to 4.0, and my MCATs were great too, but I've gotten a lot of rejections mainly because I cut things too close to the deadline, I think. I didn't submit my AMCAS until late August, and they didn't get around to verifying it until the first week of October, so I was definitely behind the curve in submitting my secondaries.

 

[franniemeow07]

There is no hard rule for MCAT score, but 36 would be great. A 3.6 GPA is fine. It is unclear how far along you are in undergrad - you said you had 2 years of Genetics research under your belt. Are you graduating this semester?

If not, I would not plan to take 2 years off just to participate in research - that is not your job (yet) - that is the PI's responsibility. Yours is to get an education. Yes, you need to have research experience, but it sounds like you have that covered. Your focus should be on making good grades and kicking #$% on the MCAT. Those are the main things that will help you. The fact that you had a significant role in some cool research will not help you that much. Yes, it is impressive, but numbers are what get you in the door, not experience. I would cut out all but a little of your research activities because they can be a major distraction. The admissions committee will ask you "If you want to go to medical school, why did you put it off for 2 years to work on a research project?" Be focused.

However, if you are graduating this semester, then do research while you are applying, but give yourself enough time to prepare for the MCAT. If you do not do well, none of the other things will matter. Good luck.

Hey everyone, thanks for all the replies. I guess I forgot to mention that I am a senior, so I'll be graduating at the end of spring quarter. I don't know how many of you knew right off the bat that doing MD/PhD was for you, but I'm coming to this decision rather late, after thinking seriously about everything you could possibly think of: graduate school, medical school, law school (!), Teach for America, and getting a research associate job in industry. I always knew that MD/PhD programs were around, but I guess I always had thought that you had to be some sort of minor diety to be admitted (you know, ivy league/4.0/40/published papers, that sort of thing). In some of my darker hours I shudder (with fear) to think how many of these people are out there, who basically throw any chances of me being able to get accepted anywhere...

I think my plan will basically be studying for/taking a prep course for the MCAT this summer, while doing research throughout the summer and into the next year, and probably applying the summer after that. I don't know how many people take the actual full year (or pseudo half-year) off before applying, but I am pretty sure that if I stay on the project that I'm on for a bit, there is the possibility of getting a paper out of it (or so my PI says).