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So I have already started my master’s degree (fully funded by a scholarship awarded by the university on the basis of a research proposal) at an international university, doing research effectively full-time. I started this after my Fulbright year doing research in the lab full-time as well. Given the combined stressors of being international during this whole process and not being sure if I’m ready or competitive for this process, I don’t think I’d be ready to apply to programs until after my master’s degree ends (which would be in 2027; that would mean I apply in my 3rd gap year). I’d like to ask if I have a chance at strong but not absolutely top-tier programs (think Albert Einstein, Mount Sinai).
Stats:
- 4.0 GPA, summa cum laude + departmental honors
- No MCAT yet (would probably take it in July if I decided to stick to MD/PhD).
Research:
- High school research for 2 years which yielded two publications, one of which I was a second author on for significant contributions. NOTE: Won’t be asking a LOR from this person due to the amount of time that has passed.
- Undergraduate research for 3 years (3 academic years + 2 summers =~ 2300 hours) in a structural biology lab. No publications, but 2 oral talks at our school’s summer research program + 2 posters at undergraduate-focused conferences).
- Summer research for 3 months (=~ 400 hours) in a virology lab through a competitive summer research fellowship. Gave an oral talk and a poster at the end of the fellowship, but I am not expecting any publications from this.
- (CURRENT) Postgraduate research in a foreign structural biology (1 year in Fulbright + expected total 1.5 years during master’s program =~ 3000 hours). I didn’t give any posters or have any publications during the Fulbright year, but I am planning on presenting posters at a couple of conferences (probably 3-4) during my master’s degree. Additionally, although my project likely won’t get to the publication stage, I would most likely end up as a 2nd author on one paper.
Clinical Experience/Volunteering/Extracurriculars:
- Organic chemistry paid TA (~900 hours total over 2 years). Made worksheets, held several review sessions and office hours weekly, worked a lot with the professors to ensure the quality of materials and fair exam preparation.
- 150 hours clinical experience in a university organization. We held free public clinics in underserved areas where we did things like taking blood glucose/blood pressure/urinalysis from patients and then had them consult with physicians on-site.
- 250 hours non-clinical volunteering in the same club, but I held a leadership position where I organized several educational events relating to the disease our club focused on across a variety of audiences (children to elderly), talking about the disease and resources available like clinics/insurance.
- President of our chemistry club in my senior year (~100 hours). Hosted some social and professional events for majors and anybody interested in chemistry.
Awards:
- The Fulbright is my most stand-out award, by far. I also did awarded a government-specific fellowship in tandem, so that would be listed alongside the Fulbright.
- Received several monetary university awards from our school to fund semester/summer research (approx. 3x) plus a specific award from our department, which I was nominated for.
- Nominated for and received a departmental award for being the most notable student in that division carrying out research.
- As I mentioned before, I received a competitive fellowship from my current university to fund my entire master’s studies (I was the only person in the university to receive it).
Recommendation Letters:
- 3 letters from research professors (expecting all to be strong)
- 1 letter from the professor I did my TA job under + 1 letter from science faculty who I knew really well for my involvement in the chemistry club and overall department
- 1 letter from a scientist in the lab where I work currently (super strong because although he’s not my direct advisor, I work with him super closely and he has directly seen me in several contexts and has stated he would write a glowing letter).
Assuming I do well on the MCAT (not trivial, I know; aiming for above a 519 if I take it), I think my current lack of shadowing and actual hospital experience is a real weakness of my application. I’m thinking of using the time between semesters when I’m visiting family to do hospital volunteering/get shadowing done (ideally 50 hours). I’m also worried about what could be perceived as my lack of productivity relative to my research hours (but structural biology takes quite some time to bring something to publication).
What are your thoughts? I’m really attracted to the idea of an MD/PhD because I want to pursue medicine and research (and I think my research interests in structural biology are perfect to bridge clinic and the lab), but the fact is that I will be 25 if/when I apply in 2027 and 26 if I enter in 2028. I am aware that a lot of people enter their MD/PhD programs at older ages, but the chance that I could be rejected everywhere is legitimately terrifying and I don’t know how I would cope with a reapplication cycle. My alternative would be to apply to PhD programs during the end of my master’s degree, which I also would not be opposed to, since I want a research career predominantly (I am viewing this as the “safer” option, although by no means is it absolutely safe).
Stats:
- 4.0 GPA, summa cum laude + departmental honors
- No MCAT yet (would probably take it in July if I decided to stick to MD/PhD).
Research:
- High school research for 2 years which yielded two publications, one of which I was a second author on for significant contributions. NOTE: Won’t be asking a LOR from this person due to the amount of time that has passed.
- Undergraduate research for 3 years (3 academic years + 2 summers =~ 2300 hours) in a structural biology lab. No publications, but 2 oral talks at our school’s summer research program + 2 posters at undergraduate-focused conferences).
- Summer research for 3 months (=~ 400 hours) in a virology lab through a competitive summer research fellowship. Gave an oral talk and a poster at the end of the fellowship, but I am not expecting any publications from this.
- (CURRENT) Postgraduate research in a foreign structural biology (1 year in Fulbright + expected total 1.5 years during master’s program =~ 3000 hours). I didn’t give any posters or have any publications during the Fulbright year, but I am planning on presenting posters at a couple of conferences (probably 3-4) during my master’s degree. Additionally, although my project likely won’t get to the publication stage, I would most likely end up as a 2nd author on one paper.
Clinical Experience/Volunteering/Extracurriculars:
- Organic chemistry paid TA (~900 hours total over 2 years). Made worksheets, held several review sessions and office hours weekly, worked a lot with the professors to ensure the quality of materials and fair exam preparation.
- 150 hours clinical experience in a university organization. We held free public clinics in underserved areas where we did things like taking blood glucose/blood pressure/urinalysis from patients and then had them consult with physicians on-site.
- 250 hours non-clinical volunteering in the same club, but I held a leadership position where I organized several educational events relating to the disease our club focused on across a variety of audiences (children to elderly), talking about the disease and resources available like clinics/insurance.
- President of our chemistry club in my senior year (~100 hours). Hosted some social and professional events for majors and anybody interested in chemistry.
Awards:
- The Fulbright is my most stand-out award, by far. I also did awarded a government-specific fellowship in tandem, so that would be listed alongside the Fulbright.
- Received several monetary university awards from our school to fund semester/summer research (approx. 3x) plus a specific award from our department, which I was nominated for.
- Nominated for and received a departmental award for being the most notable student in that division carrying out research.
- As I mentioned before, I received a competitive fellowship from my current university to fund my entire master’s studies (I was the only person in the university to receive it).
Recommendation Letters:
- 3 letters from research professors (expecting all to be strong)
- 1 letter from the professor I did my TA job under + 1 letter from science faculty who I knew really well for my involvement in the chemistry club and overall department
- 1 letter from a scientist in the lab where I work currently (super strong because although he’s not my direct advisor, I work with him super closely and he has directly seen me in several contexts and has stated he would write a glowing letter).
Assuming I do well on the MCAT (not trivial, I know; aiming for above a 519 if I take it), I think my current lack of shadowing and actual hospital experience is a real weakness of my application. I’m thinking of using the time between semesters when I’m visiting family to do hospital volunteering/get shadowing done (ideally 50 hours). I’m also worried about what could be perceived as my lack of productivity relative to my research hours (but structural biology takes quite some time to bring something to publication).
What are your thoughts? I’m really attracted to the idea of an MD/PhD because I want to pursue medicine and research (and I think my research interests in structural biology are perfect to bridge clinic and the lab), but the fact is that I will be 25 if/when I apply in 2027 and 26 if I enter in 2028. I am aware that a lot of people enter their MD/PhD programs at older ages, but the chance that I could be rejected everywhere is legitimately terrifying and I don’t know how I would cope with a reapplication cycle. My alternative would be to apply to PhD programs during the end of my master’s degree, which I also would not be opposed to, since I want a research career predominantly (I am viewing this as the “safer” option, although by no means is it absolutely safe).
