Going straight into Ph.D.?

[snowwoman]

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Hi everyone,

So long story short, I am thinking of going and doing my M.D./Ph.D. with a focus in developmental psychology. I have just finished my B.Sc. and just got a job at a research lab, full-time. My new supervisor mentioned I don't have to do my M.Sc. to do my Ph.D. My undergrad supervisor said I'm ready to go straight into my Ph.D. because she says I have the skills for it.

I was volunteering/working/studying under 5 research labs during my undergrad years (active in 3 simultaneously at any one point). Also wrote my undergrad thesis. CGPA: 4.0 (haven't written my GRE).

So my question is 1) Has anyone done this and what are your experiences (pros vs. cons, for example), 2) Does a bachelors really prepare you for your Ph.D., 3) What about statistics?, 4) Any other advice?

Honestly, my worry...is stats 😛

Thanks!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Every MD/Ph.D. program I considered required the Ph.D. portion to be in a hard science area that was directly relatable to things you'd see in medicine. I don't think a program would entertain a developmental psychology Ph.D., as most MD/Ph.D. programs like to see their people in academic medicine doing medicine-y things. 😀

 

[snowwoman]

Every MD/Ph.D. program I considered required the Ph.D. portion to be in a hard science area that was directly relatable to things you'd see in medicine. I don't think a program would entertain a developmental psychology Ph.D., as most MD/Ph.D. programs like to see their people in academic medicine doing medicine-y things. 😀

Hi Therapist4Chnge!

I forgot to mention I'm in Canada and there are quite a few programs that allow it. Especially if you apply into the "neuroscience" portion of developmental psychology. So I guess I would have been more accurate saying "developmental neuroscience".

Oh, and if anyone is wondering if I've done anything besides research since M.D. program want to see that you're an all-rounder, I've volunteered in hospitals (including one full-time gap year) for some 6 years in four different departments--pediatric, rehab, emergency and palliative. I also did an average of about 15 hours/week of volunteer work in 4 different community organisations/hospitals while studying full-time during my undergrad years.

I just don't want to jump into a Ph.D. program thinking (with a slightly big head) "I can do this" without being realistic about how demanding and rigorous the program is. Especially when you add the M.D. portion into it 😀

So I'd appreciate any help and advice!

 

[paramour]

Every MD/Ph.D. program I considered required the Ph.D. portion to be in a hard science area that was directly relatable to things you'd see in medicine. I don't think a program would entertain a developmental psychology Ph.D., as most MD/Ph.D. programs like to see their people in academic medicine doing medicine-y things. 😀

I ran across a couple of MD/PhD (psych) programs in the States, but they're very few & far between (and most of them place a *heavily* emphasis on research; big surprise, eh?).

 

[PsychPhDone]

I'm only familiar with the US model of MD/PhD programs, which wouldn't typically have a psychology PhD component. Maybe a Canadian who is familiar can chime in?

 

[snowwoman]

I'm only familiar with the US model of MD/PhD programs, which wouldn't typically have a psychology PhD component. Maybe a Canadian who is familiar can chime in?

Hey PsychPhDStudent,

What about just the psych. component? Can you advise or give insight on that? If you did a masters prog., what do you think the pros and cons are of going directly into your Ph.D.?

Thanks!

 

[snowwoman]

I ran across a couple of MD/PhD (psych) programs in the States, but they're very few & far between (and most of them place a *heavily* emphasis on research; big surprise, eh?).

Nope, no surprises!

 

[PsychPhDone]

Hey PsychPhDStudent,

What about just the psych. component? Can you advise or give insight on that? If you did a masters prog., what do you think the pros and cons are of going directly into your Ph.D.?

Thanks!

OK I totally misunderstood your original question! Most PhD programs in the States just give a Masters along the way. So most of us just have a bachelors. And even those with Masters don't get most of their credits transferred. I don't know about Canadian programs but I wouldn't normally recommend anyone go for the masters unless they weren't in psych for undergrad or their GPA was low.

 

[snowwoman]

OK I totally misunderstood your original question! Most PhD programs in the States just give a Masters along the way. So most of us just have a bachelors. And even those with Masters don't get most of their credits transferred. I don't know about Canadian programs but I wouldn't normally recommend anyone go for the masters unless they weren't in psych for undergrad or their GPA was low.

Oh wow...Most people do their masters first here for Psych. Many programs don't even let you skip the masters portion.

My cgpa is as good as I can push it to and I did my undergrad in Psych., so that's not a problem. Didn't realize there was such a difference between the two countries!

Thanks for the input!

 

[wigflip]

I think the thing about going straight into a PhD is that once you're in it's a moving train that stops for no one. If you need a break, want to rethink your direction, bone up on stats, it's hard to find the time once you're in because you'll always be racing against the clock (normative time for your department). I was told I was ready for XYZ by mentors, but I really could have used some more time before jumping into my doctoral studies. It would have made me a more productive and happier scholar (and I may have decided to go a different path as well...).