Engineering to med school

[floured]

Hi all, thanks for taking the time to read through this. I have a strange background, and I am wondering what is the best path for me to take.

I am an engineering student at a top 10 engineering school. I have also done 3 years of biomedical research and I am applying to medical school this cycle. I have a great passion for both technology and my research, and I plan to remain involved in both during my medical training. Initially it made sense to me to apply MD PhD and choose a PhD in bioengineering, but I have only ever worked in hard sciences labs and I'm not sure if I can commit to that type of PhD without any experience. I know I want to do research in the future as well as see patients, but I am uncertain if a PhD in hard science is right for me. As I am writing my PS, I have found that my application will be very focused around research regardless of what I apply to.

Is it wise to only apply MD for now at schools with strong engineering programs and then look for opportunities after acceptance? Or is this really the time to decide? I am also concerned that it will be more difficult to be accepted to a MD PhD program versus a MD program, and since I am unsure it seems like applying MD only is the best option. Has anybody gone through a similar dilemma?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[eteshoe]

You're gonna want to make a choice with regards to the PhD portion so that it'll guide your school list construction (if you choose MD/PhD). You can also look at computational bio or biophysics programs as well since you have the background (in addition to BME/bioengineering PhDs). A MD/PhD is not necessary to be a physician scientist (so applying straight MD is a viable option), however, it is a nicely structured program if you see yourself being heavily involved in research in your future career.

 

[Neuronix]

Initially it made sense to me to apply MD PhD and choose a PhD in bioengineering, but I have only ever worked in hard sciences labs and I'm not sure if I can commit to that type of PhD without any experience. I know I want to do research in the future as well as see patients, but I am uncertain if a PhD in hard science is right for me. As I am writing my PS, I have found that my application will be very focused around research regardless of what I apply to.

To me, you sound like a good candidate for MD/PhD programs. Wanting a significant technical research component to life with extensive lab experience to back that up is a good candidate. You don't need to know exactly what you want to do coming in the door, as long as you have some idea.s

Bioengineering does make it a little tricky because only some schools allow it and there can be special hurdles. But, as eteshoe points out, there is plenty of overlap between engineering and other sciences. For example, I did my PhD in biophysics and our lab had Bioengineering students. I'd recommend people to do biophysics in that lab because the requirements were less and you had more flexibility.

Or is this really the time to decide?

Why spend a year or two on tuition when you could have come into the MD/PhD program from the start? Why do you need more time to decide? Once you start med school, you're not going to have much or any time to be in lab, so med school probably won't help clarify things for you.

I am also concerned that it will be more difficult to be accepted to a MD PhD program versus a MD program, and since I am unsure it seems like applying MD only is the best option. Has anybody gone through a similar dilemma?

Everyone goes through that dilemma. We'd have to know your stats to advise you. If you have the stats, you should do what you want. If you don't have the stats, it's a different discussion. I've seen people come through here with 3.9/39 worried about stats and people come through here with 2.9 / 29 worried about stats. Those are two entirely different situations.

 

[floured]

We'd have to know your stats to advise you. If you have the stats, you should do what you want. If you don't have the stats, it's a different discussion.

Thank you so much for the feedback. I suppose I can turn this into a chance me thread as well.

I know these stats aren't horrible, but I'm not sure I can compete with other MD/PhD candidates on these forums 😱. Do I have any chance for some of the more competitive programs? You brought up a good point that my interest in bioengineering really narrows down the number of schools.

Why do you need more time to decide?

I don't need more time to decide, I am just concerned that I won't get in anywhere that would give me opportunities to continue with engineering. I have read of some programs such as Keck and Harvard HST that look really awesome, but they seem very competitive.

 

[Neuronix]

Thank you so much for the feedback. I suppose I can turn this into a chance me thread as well. I am ORM and my stats are:
MCAT: 517 - 70 percentile VR 🙁 but ~99% on everything else

Roughly the historic equivalent of a 9, 14, 14 (37). Pretty good. I doubt many places would screen out the VR score. GPA of 3.8 is strong also.

I know these stats aren't horrible, but I'm not sure I can compete with other MD/PhD candidates on these forums 😱. Do I have any chance for some of the more competitive programs? You brought up a good point that my interest in bioengineering really narrows down the number of schools.

You need to come up with a list of at least a dozen MD/PhD programs you think are good enough. If you can do that, yes, you will have good chances.

Frankly, you are a stronger MD/PhD applicant than MD applicant. If you apply MD only you will likely have more difficulties at bigger name programs due to limited volunteering, shadowing, and other ECs. Your main EC is research, which is more helpful for MD/PhD.

 

[floured]

Roughly the historic equivalent of a 9, 14, 14 (37). Pretty good.

A 517 is 96 percentile which matches up with a 35 if that changes anything. Is it really true that a person can be a stronger MD/PhD applicant than an MD applicant? The impression I got is that MD/PhD at top schools is so much more competitive than just MD. If this is true, would it be ideal for me to apply MD only to get into the best school I am capable of getting into, that can provide me with the best resources, and then go looking for bioengineering/research opportunities after matriculation?

I guess I can answer my own question in a way: Say I apply to JHU, which is a reach for me. Would I have a better chance as an MD applicant or a MD/PhD applicant? MD acceptance rate is at 1.8% while MD/PhD acceptance is at 5.4%. I can see the reasoning for being a stronger MD/PhD applicant if I have the stats and the research, but then again I would assume the competition within the MD/PhD applicant pool is much more fierce. Any feedback on my reasoning? 🙄

 

[Neuronix]

A 517 is 96 percentile which matches up with a 35 if that changes anything.

It doesn't change anything.

The impression I got is that MD/PhD at top schools is so much more competitive than just MD. Is it really true that a person can be a stronger MD/PhD applicant than an MD applicant?

Absolutely. MD programs want to see diversity, all sorts of ECs, lots of volunteering/shadowing, etc. MD/PhD is more formulaic about GPA, MCAT, and research experience. The stats are similar for MD and MD/PhD at top programs (except state schools, but the stats are similar for out of state admits). The differentiator is that the MDs typically have more ECs and the MD/PhDs typically have more research experience.

If this is true, would it be ideal for me to apply MD only to get into the best school I am capable of getting into, that can provide me with the best resources, and then go looking for bioengineering/research opportunities after matriculation?

No. If you want to be a physician-scientist, apply as a physician-scientist. You will find the resources at any MSTP that will admit you.

Say I apply to JHU, which is a reach for me. Would I have a better chance as an MD applicant or a MD/PhD applicant?

It's impossible to say. In any case, you are going about this the wrong way. You pick a dozen or more programs that have enough resources for you to explore your interests, and see which one(s) you get into. You pick the programs (MD vs. MD/PhD) based on whether you want to be a physician or a physician-scientist.