I Need Some Help: Age, Residency, Retesting, Research.

[Hohenheim]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I have some questions, and I would appreciate some answers. This is my first time posting, though I have been a long time reader.

1. What is the average age of the MD/PhD, MSTP matriculant? Is 27 too old? What is the lower end of the range? 22? 23? I understand this may differ from school to school - but I would like to hear people's experiences.

2. What is the average age of matriculation for just a regular graduate program?

3. For an MD/PhD student; what is Residency like? Does it begin after the entire MD/PhD has been completed? Does anyone have data for how long various residencies take?

4. What percentage of MD/PhD students matriculate after retesting? Are matriculating retesters rare among MD/PhD students?

5. How much are residents paid per field?

If you have a link to data on any of this, please feel free to post.

Thanks...

 

[solitude]

I have some questions, and I would appreciate some answers. This is my first time posting, though I have been a long time reader.

1. What is the average age of the MD/PhD, MSTP matriculant? Is 27 too old? What is the lower end of the range? 22? 23? I understand this may differ from school to school - but I would like to hear people's experiences.

2. What is the average age of matriculation for just a regular graduate program?

3. For an MD/PhD student; what is Residency like? Does it begin after the entire MD/PhD has been completed? Does anyone have data for how long various residencies take?

4. What percentage of MD/PhD students matriculate after retesting? Are matriculating retesters rare among MD/PhD students?

5. How much are residents paid per field?

If you have a link to data on any of this, please feel free to post.

Thanks...

1. Average age of an MSTP matriculant is 22-24 in my estimation. A significant number matriculate immediately after graduating college, but some take a few years off. 27 is not too old to matriculate, although you will definitely be on the upper end. Low range is about 21. There are a few extraordinary cases of students starting at age 20, but very very few (if any) matriculants are under 21.

2. I don't know as much about regular graduate programs, but I would guess the age range is about the same as for MSTPs, with perhaps more matriculants falling on the upper end. Again, 27 is not too old, although you will most likely be one of the oldest matriculants.

3. Residency for an MD/PhD student is almost always identical to the residency of a normal-MD student. The exception to this is some residencies have protected research time, but this seems to be more commonly a component of fellowships. Residency begins after the entire MD/PhD is completed. Residencies take a variety of time, depending on specialty. Some are 3-4 years, while others are 7 (e.g. neurosurgery).

4. I don't understand this question.

5. Residents do not make a lot of money, although it is enough to live on in most cases. As a resident you can expect to make between 30 and 40K USD.


Others are welcome to chime in if these answers are inaccurate or incomplete.

 

[Vader]

Certain residency programs have a fast-track option designed for physicians interested in conducting research. This shortens clinical time (i.e. to 2 years for internal medicine instead of 3), allowing one to pursue research at an earlier timepoint.

While this is currently one of the few post-graduate options for speeding up training for MD/PhDs, there are some programs in the works that combine residency training and fellowship research, or at least provide more time for the scientifically-oriented to conduct research during residency.

You should realize that the MD/PhD training is long and monetarily you could do much better. By the time you finish, you will be around 35 and just starting residency. Depending on your postgraduate training and if you are on an academic track, you will likely be able to get your first job (i.e. assistant professor) only after age 40.

That all being said, if it is what you really want to do, then being 27 now should not discourage you one bit from pursuing your goal.

Good luck!

 

[Hohenheim]

Thanks for answers.