Gap year/chances?

[daisymae4]

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Long time lurker, first time poster. I did read the stickies before posting, but I would like some advice about how to continue as my only contact person who is knowledgeable about the MD/PhD is a student a year older than me who applied this past cycle.

I am currently a junior at a state university. Did 2 years of dual enrollment in high school which is bringing down my GPA. My GPA at my current institution has had a strong upward trend (4.0 the past 3 semesters). I would love to apply this cycle since I know for sure I want to pursue an MD/PhD but I am unsure if I need to do a research gap year. Biochemistry and molecular biology major with double minors in psychology and neuroscience.

Overall GPA: 3.756 (Institutional: 3.870, dual enrollment: 3.577)
sGPA: 3.5 (down due to dual enrollment, 4.0 in many upper level science courses)
MCAT: 516 (127, 128, 131, 130)

Strong letters of recommendation from 3 PIs I have worked under and 1 professor from an upper level science course. Not sure if MSTPs require non-science professors, I haven't seen that requirement on any program websites but please let me know if I need to ask someone for another letter.

Many extracurricular, on the executive board for 2 on campus organizations. Active participant in many others. Co-founded a non-profit that collects medical supplies and distributes them to clinics in underserved communities. 100+ volunteer hours, at least 50 of them in a medical setting. ~30 hours of shadowing.

I conducted research since 2nd semester freshman year and will have over 2000 hours by the end of this summer. Unfortunately, I had to jump around a bit due to professors moving to different universities and my minor requiring that I conduct research in a specific field. First lab I worked in was more of learning the ropes of a lab, learning basic techniques, and optimizing the protocol for the upcoming project. Professor moved at the end of the semester to a different university. In the second lab I worked in, I had an independent project and an oral presentation in a small local seminar series. My minor required that I move to a neuroscience lab, so for the past three semesters I have been working under a graduate student on his project. I keep asking for more independence or an independent project and will start one over this summer or this fall, depending on if I participate in a summer research program, but probably nothing substantial enough by the time applications open up this summer. That lack of my own project in the lab I have been in the longest is why I am considering a gap year. I have presented the project I have been working on at one local and one regional conference and will present on the independent project at a national conference this fall. My PI has promised authorship on a paper at the conclusion of the study and a possible first author abstract, however it is highly unlikely that it will be submitted before I apply. I also did a summer internship at the NIH where I was very independent and worked on my own project in addition to a few others, resulting in a local presentation and fourth author on a paper.

I feel prepared to take on the challenges of an MD/PhD program and can talk about each project I worked on extensively, I just don't know if my lack of an independent project at the lab I have been in the longest will hold me back. I would love to move straight into a program since I work best when I can keep my momentum and I feel prepared for the work a MSTP requires. I do not have my heart on a top program, just one that is strong in my research field. Any advice on how to proceed?

 

[Future MD/PhD]

I think you'll be fine going straight through if you don't have your heart set on a top program. It may help if you clarify which programs you'd like to apply to, but your stats are not bad and you have a decent amount of research under your belt from my perspective. My understanding is that you've been doing research every semester and every summer since the spring semester of your freshman year (so 5 semesters, including the current one, and 2 summers). That's more than 2 years of research. You may even benefit from asking program directors directly (before you apply) if your research background would suffice or if they think you should take a gap year. Can anyone comment on whether it's a good idea to ask directors if they think you'd be a decent candidate? I feel like I've read that on a thread somewhere but perhaps I'm wrong.

 

[HamiltonPineapples]

Try and get some more shadowing with a physician-scientist this spring/summer so you are able to comment on the lifestyle and career path.

Unless you plan to take more courses during a gap year to improve your GPA (I believe community college courses count toward undergrad GPA, or if you do a masters) then there is really no need. I don't think you need an additional gap year (how will it improve your application significantly?).

For this cycle, from the most recent update in the 2017/2018 cycle questions thread:
Average benchmarks for applicants with at least one MD/PhD acceptance (with new MCAT - n=597):
cGPA - 3.81
sGPA - 3.78
MCAT - 516.4

Consider mentioning your low GPA is partly due to years of dual enrollment in your application somewhere. Apply broadly and early as always. Do your secondaries right away.

 

[s_med]

(1) I feel prepared to take on the challenges of an MD/PhD program and can talk about each project I worked on extensively, (2) I just don't know if my lack of an independent project at the lab I have been in the longest will hold me back.

(1) is more important and will overshadow (2). Independent projects/publications can help but if you understand and can explain the scientific rationale underlying projects you have already worked on, taking an extra year is unlikely to be productive. I second the recommendation to shadow an MD/PhD. Keep up the A grades. The GPA could be an issue for some highly selective programs (the usual coastal culprits) but should not significantly hold you back from a successful broad application cycle.

 

[daisymae4]

Thanks everyone!!