Hi All,
I'm in the process of deciding where I want to apply and if MD/PhD makes sense for me and/or if it's feasible. I'll graduate with a 3.82 science gpa and I have a 41R MCAT, my issue, however, is research. I feel like I'm a little lacking compared to my peers. I decided to go into medical school the beginning of my junior year so this is all since then.
I have 1.5 years of research experience with a team at an ivy league school, but I worked extensively with them. It wasn't a "one or two hours a week" type thing. Over winter breaks I worked 40 hours a week or so, and during the school year and summer I averaged 10 to 20. All in all I'd estimate I spent well over 1500 hours. I got in at the start of a newer project and was involved in a lot of different aspects from assisting with imaging, setting up patient interviews and screening them, working with primate and rodent brains, etc. Over the last four or five months I was pretty much independent in my work. I'm listed on the publication as an author.
I also worked a little less extensively with another lab, and did my own research project for school credit.
My question is whether or not I should take an extra year to try to get more research, or if I can get in with what I have here. My recommendation letters should be shining. I don't mind taking another year, and I'm sure I could volunteer full time with the lab if I needed to.
I guess one more year isn't terrible in the grand scheme of things, but I'm already 23 and considering most programs would be 7-9 years I don't want to put off applications forever.
I'm in the process of deciding where I want to apply and if MD/PhD makes sense for me and/or if it's feasible. I'll graduate with a 3.82 science gpa and I have a 41R MCAT, my issue, however, is research. I feel like I'm a little lacking compared to my peers. I decided to go into medical school the beginning of my junior year so this is all since then.
I have 1.5 years of research experience with a team at an ivy league school, but I worked extensively with them. It wasn't a "one or two hours a week" type thing. Over winter breaks I worked 40 hours a week or so, and during the school year and summer I averaged 10 to 20. All in all I'd estimate I spent well over 1500 hours. I got in at the start of a newer project and was involved in a lot of different aspects from assisting with imaging, setting up patient interviews and screening them, working with primate and rodent brains, etc. Over the last four or five months I was pretty much independent in my work. I'm listed on the publication as an author.
I also worked a little less extensively with another lab, and did my own research project for school credit.
My question is whether or not I should take an extra year to try to get more research, or if I can get in with what I have here. My recommendation letters should be shining. I don't mind taking another year, and I'm sure I could volunteer full time with the lab if I needed to.
I guess one more year isn't terrible in the grand scheme of things, but I'm already 23 and considering most programs would be 7-9 years I don't want to put off applications forever.
