How to strengthen my application

[Zesty]

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Hi everyone! I am just hoping if I could get some advice on how to improve my chances of getting into medical school (DO or MD). I've recently decided to pursue medical school upon graduation and need a little guidance. I am on a less traditional route into medical school as I plan on finishing at my current school with a BA in chemistry and a PharmD. Currently, I am a third year student at my university and plan on graduating in 3 years, 2023. I am hoping to plan my next 3 years in school so that I become a competitive applicant. Any insight is much appreciated! My current background:

P1 student in pharmacy school- did 2 years undergrad, now 4 years of pharm school (P1-P4)
Chemistry B.A. - will be completed by P2 Spring (I took all my chemistry courses prior to pharm school, now I have two seminars left)

GPA before pharmacy school: 3.76
Current GPA: 3.81
Science GPA: 3.84 (excluding pharmacy classes because I don't think they count)

non-clinical - 30 hours
volunteer - none
shadowing - none
EC's - Special olympics volunteer, APO, two pharmacy organizations, intramural sports (if this counts)
Leadership - Pharmacy technician trainer, a student committee, intramural captain (this most likely doesn't count)
Research - 3 months (plan on doing a lot more)
Work - 6 months pharmacy tech, 3 months pharmacy intern, 4 months student intern (wrote a research paper for a professor)

As of right now I plan on shadowing, volunteering, and applying to leadership positions much more because thats where I definitely lack experience. They are nonexistant because I only just decided to pursue medicine. I am joining more EC's as well (quiz bowl, chem tutoring, soccer club). I think it would be best to show I'm interested in medicine since I am coming from a pharmacy background, so I also am thinking of premed club. I do have a plan to take the MCAT my P3 year and then apply to med schools the summer before P4 year. If all goes well I'd hope to matriculate immediately after P4 year. Being honest with myself, I don't plan on any top medical schools as I doubt that it would be possible and in reality I'd be happy at most schools.

Here are the schools I currently plan on applying to:

Loyola University

SIU

Rush University

Carle

Central Michigan University

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Western Michigan University

Des Moines University

Midwestern University

Marian University

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

ATSU - Kirksville

MCW medical school

 

[Goro]

Too early for school lists.

Do not overextend yourself with ECs, but you will need:
50 hrs shadowing
150+ hrs clinical volunteering or employment
150+ hrs nonclinical volunteering

 

[Zesty]

Too early for school lists.

Do not overextend yourself with ECs, but you will need:
50 hrs shadowing
150+ hrs clinical volunteering or employment
150+ hrs nonclinical volunteering

Is it bad to form my list too early? I do have a general idea about the types of schools I want to go to after being in school already for 3 years. And I only mean the list to be a rough draft, I know it will most likely change by the time I apply.

EDIT: Oh I think you mean its to early to decide if the options are within reach for me. is that what you mean?

 

[Goro]

Is it bad to form my list too early? I do have a general idea about the types of schools I want to go to after being in school already for 3 years. And I only mean the list to be a rough draft, I know it will most likely change by the time I apply.

EDIT: Oh I think you mean its to early to decide if the options are within reach for me. is that what you mean?

It's foolish to make up a list because if you get a 500 on the MCAT that will make a very different list from one if you get a 510, or a 515, or 520.

Your state school should always be at the top of your list

 

[Zesty]

Okay, thank you that makes sense! I only chose schools that weren't highly ranked because I'm not sure what my chances will be later on. I also included nearly all of my state schools except for the top ranked ones.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hi everyone! I am just hoping if I could get some advice on how to improve my chances of getting into medical school (DO or MD). I've recently decided to pursue medical school upon graduation and need a little guidance. I am on a less traditional route into medical school as I plan on finishing at my current school with a BA in chemistry and a PharmD. Currently, I am a third year student at my university and plan on graduating in 3 years, 2023. I am hoping to plan my next 3 years in school so that I become a competitive applicant. Any insight is much appreciated! My current background:

P1 student in pharmacy school- did 2 years undergrad, now 4 years of pharm school (P1-P4)
Chemistry B.A. - will be completed by P2 Spring (I took all my chemistry courses prior to pharm school, now I have two seminars left)

GPA before pharmacy school: 3.76
Current GPA: 3.81
Science GPA: 3.84 (excluding pharmacy classes because I don't think they count)

Okay... I'm missing the real story. Why are you switching to medicine as soon as you're done with your PharmD?

Have you talked with financial aid at your pharmacy school? How much more can you draw from your allotment of financial aid eligibility for graduate/professional school if you wind up going to medical school?

Have you talked with anyone in medical school admissions about this abrupt transition?

 

[Zesty]

Okay... I'm missing the real story. Why are you switching to medicine as soon as you're done with your PharmD?

Have you talked with financial aid at your pharmacy school? How much more can you draw from your allotment of financial aid eligibility for graduate/professional school if you wind up going to medical school?

Have you talked with anyone in medical school admissions about this abrupt transition?

I am very fortunate and grateful that I will not have to worry about the cost of school and will not have to acquire financial aid.

At the root of my motivation, its mostly because I enjoy learning and want to have more opportunity in the future. Going into pharmacy school, I knew I would be learning the treatment aspect of healthcare but I realize now that I'd rather not limit myself and want to go into the preventative/diagnostic aspects along with more knowledge on providing care to patients. My end goal is to have a career where I can continue learn and have a direct impact on patients. I believe medicine can provide me this career where I can have a more direct impact on patients with more direct interaction and less participation in the background of things. This is why I think working as a physician in a clinic, hospital or wherever would be a rewarding career. Ideally, I would love to work in clinical research most likely in the pharmaceutical industry or at CROs. Although, a PharmD can provide me this route, after speaking with professionals in the industry, the opportunity to work in upper level positions is not as likely as it would be with an MD or PhD. So I would believe an MD would provide me with better job satisfaction and opportunity to grow my career. I also believe an MD could make me more qualified for other opportunities in the industry apart from clinical research positions. Going this route would most likely require fellowship after residency and I am more than okay with that.

In addition, unfortunately the PharmD job market is not very good right now with lots of graduating pharmacy students, which is why most graduates are currently forced into retail. This places more uncertainty on obtaining the career that I want after exiting school, which is something I don't like. Basically, I would be happy with a career as a pharmacist as long as I can get where I want to be, but its hard to say how possible it is. Apart from industry, I would also love to work in other areas of the pharmacy world, but I would happier in clinical research/industry where I'm on the brink of developing better treatment for patients.

So thats my thought process, I hope I covered everything. In summary, I don't wanna sell myself short for a less satisfying career than what I could've had. The only thing that would hold me back is the amount of time and effort that's required, but that's a sacrifice I willing to take.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

... Ideally, I would love to work in clinical research most likely in the pharmaceutical industry or at CROs. Although, a PharmD can provide me this route, after speaking with professionals in the industry, the opportunity to work in upper level positions is not as likely as it would be with an MD or PhD. So I would believe an MD would provide me with better job satisfaction and opportunity to grow my career. I also believe an MD could make me more qualified for other opportunities in the industry apart from clinical research positions. Going this route would most likely require fellowship after residency and I am more than okay with that.
... Apart from industry, I would also love to work in other areas of the pharmacy world, but I would happier in clinical research/industry where I'm on the brink of developing better treatment for patients.

I know pharmacy school career services offices don't have a lot when it comes to non-traditional careers in pharmacy. I do assure you that the CRO/pharma field is still quite hot and hiring even in the current economic calamity. No, it's not easy to get those jobs, but networking with people in the field is really important to understand what is really available. I have seen many people in CRO's with PharmD's who have adapted their skills to leadership positions because their organizations value them for what they've done, not what their degree is.

By the way, that transition is no easier if you have an MD or a PhD.

 

[Zesty]

For the PharmD's that you know of, do you know if they have completed a fellowship or went directly into industry after graduating? Also, when you say the transition is not easier with MD or PhD, are you saying getting into the industry or attaining leadership positions is not easier? Thank you for the insight though, you've been very helpful.

 

[GetAdmittedMD]

From my experience on an admissions committee, we did review a few candidates who were switching from pharmacy to medicine. The recurring question when these candidates were discussed at the admissions meetings was: "Why is this candidate switching from one field in healthcare to another?" My point is, make sure you have very clear and deliberate reasons for switching (i.e. the job market is better as MD should not be one you put in the application). I would suggest you weave your answer into your personal statement somehow and be prepared to answer questions about it during the interview season.

I had a PharmD in my medical school class and he ended up matching in a competitive orthopedics residency. FWIW

 

[candbgirl]

Why are you even finishing the PharmD program when you plan to go right to med school? At least that’s what I think your plans are. You don’t intend to ever work as a pharmacist?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

For the PharmD's that you know of, do you know if they have completed a fellowship or went directly into industry after graduating? Also, when you say the transition is not easier with MD or PhD, are you saying getting into the industry or attaining leadership positions is not easier? Thank you for the insight though, you've been very helpful.

The PharmD's I know of personally are still in pharmacy. However, there are many in industry that have various roles, and while their fellowships gave them some critical insight, it still is a huge hurdle to go from a traditional pharmacy setting to an industry mindset. My background is such that I know how true it is for MD's and PhD's since we don't teach a lot of those skills in grad/professional school. There are a few pharmacists who become regulatory writers for pharma, but they didn't get that insight from pharmacy school nor (I don't think they got it from) fellowship.