Graduate Student Reconsidering Medical School

[taikai]

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Hi.

I'm a 1st year PhD student intending to specialize in virology/immunology.

after snooping around in research for some time, I began to grow interest in clinical research and the opportunities as a md/phd. so i'm beginning to regret my decision to go to grad school right after undergrad.

i was wondering if people can give me some advice...

to reach my goal, i was considering 3 options:
1.) drop phd/obtain a masters instead and apply for med school
2.) finish the phd program and apply for med school
3.) transfer to the md/phd program in my school

>have not taken mcat yet
>i need to take one more physics course;(where should i take it? online?community college?)
>4.0 gpa in graduate school right now (protein chemistry, immuno)
>3.35 cumulative gpa from UC Berkeley
>i did bad during my first two years in undergrad because i was balancing school and work to support my living expense/housing
>part-time job, research, tutor in biochemistry and molec bio in undergrad
>manuscript for undergrad research being prepared for a science journal
>did well in upper division sciences courses
(3.6 gpa: immunology, microbiology, cell bio, genetics/genomics, microbial genetics/genomics/proteomics,biochemistry/molec bio, virology, pathogenesis, microscopy)

help!!!!

 

[plumhill]

I wouldn't drop your PhD program, because that might make med schools worry that you'll drop out of med school due to another change of heart. The latter two options seem like your best bet, although I don't know if you can transfer into an md/phd program now, since for many of those programs you start your PhD after finishing your first two years of med school. A good number of people go on to medical school after having finished another graduate level degree so you aren't too late.

If you want to do clinical research, you can still do that and be a professor at a med school or whatnot with your PhD; the only thing you can't do with a PhD is practice. So it'll be worth it for you to go back and get your MD ONLY if you want to practice in the future.

 

[typicalindian]

Option 3 is the best one.

 

[Starlightembers]

Option 3 is the best one.

It's also not a particularly easy thing to do, from what I have read via this forum; this is especially true considering that OP's GPA is below average for MD -- nevermind MD/PhD.

OP:
Take the MCAT.

This will also be of use to you. Take a look at the last question especially.

 

[Danlee07]

i've been looking into the 3rd option. There is a small sliver of a chance to transfer into a MD/PhD. You have to take the MCAT ASAP because for the schools I've looked at, you have to apply at latest in the 2nd year. Did you take the biochem subject test? And does your PI even have a hint of what you're thinking about?

 

[Gut Shot]

Hi.

I'm a 1st year PhD student intending to specialize in virology/immunology.

after snooping around in research for some time, I began to grow interest in clinical research and the opportunities as a md/phd. so i'm beginning to regret my decision to go to grad school right after undergrad.

i was wondering if people can give me some advice...

to reach my goal, i was considering 3 options:
1.) drop phd/obtain a masters instead and apply for med school
2.) finish the phd program and apply for med school
3.) transfer to the md/phd program in my school

>have not taken mcat yet
>i need to take one more physics course;(where should i take it? online?community college?)
>4.0 gpa in graduate school right now (protein chemistry, immuno)
>3.35 cumulative gpa from UC Berkeley
>i did bad during my first two years in undergrad because i was balancing school and work to support my living expense/housing
>part-time job, research, tutor in biochemistry and molec bio in undergrad
>manuscript for undergrad research being prepared for a science journal
>did well in upper division sciences courses
(3.6 gpa: immunology, microbiology, cell bio, genetics/genomics, microbial genetics/genomics/proteomics,biochemistry/molec bio, virology, pathogenesis, microscopy)

help!!!!

The first thing you will need is to articulate a more compelling reason to go to medical school.

Second, I would agree with Starlight that you should take the MCAT. If you need another physics class the order of preference is 4 year college/university > community college >>> online course.

Of the options you listed, #3 is rare. I've only known two people who pulled it off, and one of them was well connected within the school.

#2 (finishing) will be longer and more grueling than you can currently imagine. Doesn't sound very appealing, does it?

Bailing out if you can obtain a Masters is likely the most palatable option. You'll only blow a couple of years and still have something to show for it. This may burn some bridges, however, so tread carefully.

Of course the most expedient path is to simply drop out, enroll in the nearest physics class, take the MCAT in April or May, and apply to MD programs in June. Some schools may look at your decision to leave a PhD program unfavorably, others may not care (people change paths all the friggin' time). This option will almost certainly burn some bridges, however, so tread very carefully.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Actually all three are viable options, but you're going to need to show you are 1) among the very best in your G1 cohort as evidenced by your rotation supervisors' recommendations, and 2) score high on the MCAT. Option 3 requires you to have insight into whether a slot is available for you; as pointed out, this is not always an available route unless the PI you select is also very active in MD/PhD training (and that's no guarantee either). Yes, you still need to fulfill all science prereqs if you haven't taken physics.

People have finished Ph.D.'s and entered medical school afterwards, such as Sandeep Jauhar ("Intern") and Francis Collins (director of NIH).

 

[Ebola4Breakfast]

Hi.

I'm a 1st year PhD student intending to specialize in virology/immunology.

after snooping around in research for some time, I began to grow interest in clinical research and the opportunities as a md/phd. so i'm beginning to regret my decision to go to grad school right after undergrad.

i was wondering if people can give me some advice...

to reach my goal, i was considering 3 options:
1.) drop phd/obtain a masters instead and apply for med school
2.) finish the phd program and apply for med school
3.) transfer to the md/phd program in my school

>have not taken mcat yet
>i need to take one more physics course;(where should i take it? online?community college?)
>4.0 gpa in graduate school right now (protein chemistry, immuno)
>3.35 cumulative gpa from UC Berkeley
>i did bad during my first two years in undergrad because i was balancing school and work to support my living expense/housing
>part-time job, research, tutor in biochemistry and molec bio in undergrad
>manuscript for undergrad research being prepared for a science journal
>did well in upper division sciences courses
(3.6 gpa: immunology, microbiology, cell bio, genetics/genomics, microbial genetics/genomics/proteomics,biochemistry/molec bio, virology, pathogenesis, microscopy)

help!!!!

I took option #2. It's definitely not an option for those with a passing interest in research. My goal is to balance clinical research and clinical care, so it wasn't a big deal for me. I absolutely agree with Gutshot though. You need to flesh this decision out much more so than you've described. A little discontent is par for the course, and it almost to be expected at some point in a PhD program (or probably any other professional degree program, I'm guessing). It just comes with the territory. From start (belatedly jumping through the pre-med hoops) to finish (completing my PhD, starting a postdoc, applying/getting acceptances), it took me around four years. Patience is key.

You'll have to clearly articulate why you want to go into medicine, if not in your primary statement at least during interviews. This can be especially true for you, whether you drop out or switch courses. Personally, no one grilled me over it but I clearly addressed it in my personal statement. Either way, you'll still need to jump through all the same old hoops that will help you figure out whether you want to pursue medical school: clinical experiences and shadowing.

With some extra effort, some things can be merged into your PhD program. Translational research projects can potentially provide a different approach to getting clinical research experiences. Recruiting participants, collecting biological samples, etc. This can put you in contact with physicians where you can pick up some shadowing opportunities. Hope this helps somewhat. PM me if you have any specific questions.

 

[Doc2doc2]

I'm a viral immunologist and went the #2 route, except I applied for medical school during my postdoc. My advice:

First of all be certain that you want to go medical school. Since you are at a medical center, find someone/people you can shadow a few times. I was lucky that my pi, an MD/PhD let me do so. If you like the experience and only want to do medicine, complete that Physics course, take the MCAT, take that masters degree and leave the program. If you want to do both, you need to complete your PhD.

Find out if there are clinical research or translational science programs in your school. Many large medical centers are beginning to have such programs for students or postdocs interested in clinical research. This is a much easier route than going to medical school, especially if you may not want to practice medicine.

In my experience, it is rather difficult to get into the MD/PhD program from graduate school, especially if your undergraduate grades are not stellar. I know two people in my class who applied unsuccesfully.

I really did not think about medicine until my 3rd year and I seriously considered all those other options way into my postdoc before taking the MCAT. If I had to do it all over again, I would have taken the MCAT and applied to medical schoolas soon as I was cleared to defend. I am interested in both research and clinical practice.

You are just starting out and have a lot of flexibilty. Take advantage of that right now so as not to live in regret. I do not know about your school, but most first year grads are still doing rotations at this time. If this is your position, choose your mentors carefully so they can help guide you. Feel free to pm me too.

 

[235788]

It's also not a particularly easy thing to do, from what I have read via this forum; this is especially true considering that OP's GPA is below average for MD -- nevermind MD/PhD.

OP:
Take the MCAT.

This will also be of use to you. Take a look at the last question especially.

👍👍 I personally think an MD/PhD would be extremely difficult to get. If you truly want that, do the Ph.D then go to med school. MD/PhD students are typically the brightest of the bright. The one i know, had a 3.9 35mcat and tons of research and a couple pubs -- and here the kicker: They aren't even at a top 50 school. To each their own.

 

[r1oid]

You might want to move this to the MD/PhD forum. Here are my 2 cents and probably what you will hear there as well.
-Your #1 problem will be your GPA, grad GPA will not count for much. Its going to keep you out of a lot of MD/PhD programs and straight MD programs. To counter this you will need a very good MCAT. Let that be your priority time and work wise if you are seriously going to pursue this.
- People will suggest you just focus on getting into an MD program and then try and do research there or try and transfer into a combined program once you are in.
- If you are going to apply MD/PhD you will need to have a reasonably sound body of work. That is not to say publications, but a lot of actual research time (~2 yrs +) that will translate to you being reasonably conversant in the subject, not just the methods. That is where getting a masters may help you.
- If you are going to go MD only which may be the "easier" route you need to bone up on the patient exposure time,
Good luck, it can be done but its a lot of work.

 

[taikai]

thanks for all the input!!! i really do appreciate it.

i first thought i was going to study "exclusively" in basic biological sciences, but after working on micro/immuno, I finally (took me awhile) realized the field's vast implications/applications in medicine.

i will be entering my 3rd rotation in a neuroimmunology lab, and I'll be sure to ask my PI for his opinion (he's a MD/PhD).

for now im going to stay in my program and lay out a plan if I do pursue a MD track 😀

 

[aSagacious]

Moving to the 'what are my chances' forum.

 

[Starlightembers]

Moving to the 'what are my chances' forum.

Wouldn't this be better suited for the Physician-Scientist (MD/PhD) board? He's not asking what his chances are for admission, he's asking for general advice [based upon his current situation and stats]. Even if he was specifically inquiring on chances, though, those on the MD/PhD board would likely be able to answer this more easily than those who frequent WAMC? [who mainly post about MD/DO-only chances]. Heck, this very topic has been discussed on those boards before; MD/PhD-specific WAMC are also frequently posted there.