Hi all,
Thanks for providing this service; the confidential consult is such a great resource.
Had a question as I am gearing up to graduate this spring and take two gap years before hopefully matriculating to MD/PhD programs (would be submitting apps at the end of the first gap year). For a little bit of background, I go to a large private school (nothing fantastic); 3.85 cGPA, 3.76 sGPA with positive upward trend, planning on taking MCAT spring of 2020 so I have it in time to submit primaries in June 2020. Most of my EC aren't particularly inspiring: little club involvement, ~100 hrs non-clinical volunteering in my freshman year (although this was an experience that I was really excited about), ~40 hours and counting of clinical volunteering in a position that I started a few weeks ago but hoping to continue on for some time. ~20 hours of shadowing but have ideas on how to keep this going. My main EC (and the one that has led me to considering MD/PhD) is my research involvement. I've been involved at a lab since the end of high school so should have 4.5 years there by the time I graduate, including the last two years just about full time, for approximately 5000 hours. In between, I also spent three months full-time at another lab doing similar research through a summer exchange program which was also a great experience (counted within the 5000 hours). So far, I'm buried on a long list of authors for a paper that came out a few years ago and my only poster presentation has been through another summer program (so just limited to the members of that program). I do have authorship on some posters presented by others in the lab. With that being said, there are two papers in the works that should be coming out by the time I submit primaries (one of which I'll be 2nd, the other I'll be ~5th). Here is my conundrum: I love this lab and have gotten great mentoring but recently thought about the possibility of moving to a new lab for a technician position after graduation. Was hoping to get your advice on what would be best for MD/PhD applications.
The new lab I could go to is with a pretty big-name PI in my field of work and seems to be doing pretty interesting stuff. I am very confident in my ability to be productive if I were to start there in a few months. I would most likely be working on new projects and the lab doesn't have a long history of techs so it is unlikely I would make it onto any papers or posters by application season. It's in a new state that I'd be interested in living in and it would be super cool to work for this PI. The PI is often traveling but I get the sense she makes at least some effort to meet with her lab so I don't doubt that I would be able to make an impression on them in the several months before I'd need their LoR. The LoR is the main factor here. Because I have one longitudinal research experience, I am worried that I'll really only have that one glowing letter from my current PI. The lab I was at on exchange could potentially give me a LoR (and will probably have to) but it may not be great as the PI was not around for most of the time I was there and there were some issues with my travel there that may not have left a great impression. So in this sense, I figured having a second/third LoR from this new PI could be important for MD/PhD purposes. Another factor here is that the new PI is a pretty big deal within one of the institutions that I would love to do my MD/PhD at. I know I haven't even taken MCAT yet and my EC are admittedly poor so I have no business banking on single programs but just a consideration.
As for staying at my current lab, I love the work and the people so that part is not a question mark. The other thing is that the papers that are in the works are wrapping up at an awkward time where they may not be submitted until the end of the year. I really want to see these through since I feel like I have put in quite a bit of work, especially the one I am second author on. However, I also don't want adcoms to think I just waltzed into this tech position because it was comfortable/easy/convenient. My current PI would love to have me back and mentioned that staying on would give me an opportunity to move up in the authorship list and that this would give him time to send me to a major conference to present a poster. (We have worked together for quite some time now so I believe him when he says this.) He mentioned that this would also give us momentum going into the follow-up papers: I know these won't be ready by the time I matriculate but I could see this being a benefit as they may be published soon after I matriculate and could be mentioned as nearing submission during application season. I know I would have the two authorships regardless of if I stay or go but staying could influence my place on the list and whether I am on future papers. I also suspect leaving would mean my LoR from my current PI would be slightly less stellar than if I were to stay. I know MD/PhD programs love to see in-depth, long-term experiences.
So that is my conundrum. Do I stay at my current lab where I love the work and people and potentially have a chance to show more for my long commitment there? The papers coming out should be relatively decent impact so I could definitely see that catching the attention of faculty at programs that I hope to apply to. Having a major poster presentation would also be a nice touch to show that my long commitment was fruitful. I certainly don't want it to seem like I worked there for so long and just came out of it with a few middle authorships on the papers the lab put out in that time. On the other hand, I know LoRs are important as well. Would having another LoR from a PI (who is much more established than my current one) go a long way too? I wouldn't get papers right away but having their LoR might be useful on its own. I concede that this letter may not be as personal given that I would not have known them for as long and because they are so busy but would still be something. I know I definitely have to work on getting my volunteering/shadowing up in the next few months and determined that these would be similarly accessible at either location.
Would love to hear all your thoughts as it relates to what MD/PhD committees are looking for. I'll keep working on the rest of my app but wanted to know what you all thought as it relates to this job situation. Thank you so much in advance!!
