Is excess research experience what is keeping me without MD-only acceptance?

[SticknRudder]

So here's the story: Through college, I dabbled in lots of things science related and ultimately decided (after 3 years doing research as an undergrad) that research by itself was not for me: mainly because of the extreme disparity between effort out to emotional satisfaction in (i.e. 1 year of experiments for 1 happy moment). So, I decided to apply for medical school, which I always found an exciting opportunity with great challenges and diverse career potential.

With that said, I also found that doing research was very helpful in filling in the gaps that were glossed over in the textbook-only arena.

So, I decide to take a year off and apply during that year while taking some fun classes and also continuing research (which I start to really enjoy because I changed emphasis from insect biochemistry to pediatric nephrology). 2 publications later, and a couple more in the hopper, I am in the middle of the application process.

My EC's as an undergrad consisted of 2 years of volunteering at a Boys and Girls club (award for Volunteer of the Year), 1.5 years of hospice volunteering, and other small stuff like clubs, etc.


I applied to a broad range of schools - most which allowed for some sort of research emphasized MD, thinking that I could continue research if I so desired (which I did and still do). I interviewed at 5 schools: State school, Columbia, Cornell, Wash U, and Tufts.

I thought I was golden. My last interview was in November.


Fast forward to today: 3 rejections, and still waiting on WashU and Tufts.


So I ask: Did emphasis on research in my application (in terms of my most significant undergrad experience) hurt me? I only ask because I can't find any other flaw in my application.

I don't think numbers (GPA/MCAT) were the problem otherwise I would have been screened out for interview.

Couldn't have been lack of research or significant ECs.

The only other possibility that I can grasp is that my ommition of a LOR from my hospice coordinator hurt me (the coordinator I worked the most time with up and quit without even telling any of the volunteers. Her replacement was a great guy, but didn't feel comfortable asking him for a LOR on 1 month's notice).


HELP! Should I have applied MD/PhD if I knew in my hearts of hearts that I wanted to continue research, on some level, in the future?? I didn't because I thought the plain MD afforded me the same opportunity....

I'm getting the feeling that a reapplication is coming soon so I really would appreciate some advice.

Thanks All!

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[Neuronix]

MD-only admissions is a crap shoot--moreso than MD/PhD admissions in my opinion. Frankly, you didn't apply to enough schools and unfortunately, it backfired in your case. I would say your application sounds reasonably strong, and barring anything like a bad LOR or interviews, you should try applying MD-only again next year to more like a dozen or more schools.

Depending on your numbers, you may have had more success applying MD/PhD. This can be the case for the research-heavy applicant. Even if you do reapply as MD/PhD, I'd strongly suggest applying to more schools.

As for what adcoms are thinking... Who knows sometimes. I could try to speculate, but it would be just as random as their speculations I think. In any case, too much research never hurts, it's just not as important to the MD-only adcom. I figure they look at it as just another strong EC, and when you have so many EC loaded pre-meds, it's hard to choose between them.

Good luck with your reminaing schools! Maybe it will still happen for you this year...

 

[SticknRudder]

Thanks for the thoughts. It's always nice to have unbiased input.

I think it did definatley hurt me not to apply to more schools. I think I will pick a few MD/PhD programs to apply to and cast a really wide net for applications to MD-only schools.

 

[exigente chica]

Originally posted by mcbatuofa
So here's the story: Through college, I dabbled in lots of things science related and ultimately decided (after 3 years doing research as an undergrad) that research by itself was not for me: mainly because of the extreme disparity between effort out to emotional satisfaction in (i.e. 1 year of experiments for 1 happy moment). So, I decided to apply for medical school, which I always found an exciting opportunity with great challenges and diverse career potential.


I thought I was golden. My last interview was in November.


Fast forward to today: 3 rejections, and still waiting on WashU and Tufts.


So I ask: Did emphasis on research in my application (in terms of my most significant undergrad experience) hurt me? I only ask because I can't find any other flaw in my application.

I
HELP! Should I have applied MD/PhD if I knew in my hearts of hearts that I wanted to continue research, on some level, in the future?? I didn't because I thought the plain MD afforded me the same opportunity....

Thanks All!

I'm in that same situtation..I feel your pain...


Always next year.