Grad student-when should I apply?

[naturallyneha]

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Hello,
I am doing my M.S. in Biomedical Engineering (2nd semester), and am trying to decide when to apply for the M.D./Ph.D. program . I have almost 1/2 of the pre-requisites left to do still because of deciding on this late(in the 1st sem of my MS). Also, I am an international student, having done my Bachelor of Engineering degree in India.

The point is this:I know my application will look a lot better if I apply for Fall 2008, but it also means I will have a year's break..(where i will be just filling in time) in between my M.S.graduation and M.D./Ph.D matriculation. Will having completed 2 years of education and research in the US, not to mention pre-reqs at the time of application be worth applying a year later? or should i just go ahead and apply for fall 2007. incidentally, i have not taken the MCAT so far, and can only take it in august if i want to take it this year,
Thanks!

 

[CaipirinhaQuinho]

I will finish my MS in BME this semester and starting md/phd in the fall. I think that your accomplishments during the masters will go very far in the eyes of the adcoms. That being said, you would probably be a lot better prepared if you went for it after a year off. Also, will you have time to study this summer for MCAT? If the test goes badly then you will have to retake and the year off will not sound so bad. I would hold off until you're better prepared. It wouldn't be too bad if you can get funding for research during that year.

 

[SeventhSon]

look at my mdapps, i'm starting to feel like I'm regretting not taking a year off to get a solid extra year of research under my belt. I'm getting some great interviews but I think when it comes down to the final decision, adcoms look at my research (no pubs, 3 summers only at time of applying) and feel much more comfortable throwing 400k or whatever at someone who has taken on huge 1-year-1.5year projects start to finish even though my "numbers" would suggest that my potential to succeed in research is there.

If you want to make yourself more presentable, take the extra year off that you can dedicate just to research. I think it's a great way to unwind after school and gear up for another journey anyway. Civic makes a good point too.... you have the option to take the MCAT twice as well.

good luck

 

[naturallyneha]

Thanks for the advice...I just went to one of these Kaplan practice tests, with absolutely no preparation for the MCAT, and did really badly..ha ha..methinks April 2007 will be a good time to take the MCAT🙂..will also be able to do some volunteering in the nearby hospital meanwhile for a year, and get all the pre-reqs out of the way then before the MCAT.Thanks again!