Is this a good course of action?

[Icantplayspades]

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So I applied to medical school this year and have gotten no II and 3 rejections thus far. I’ve been invited to complete a Ph.D in a biomedical field which I know I would enjoy. I know my academic record is not great due to some immaturity but my grades have been improving in upper level courses. I was thinking that I complete an advanced degree, shadow, volunteer and retake the MCAT and apply after my Ph.D. Is this a pragmatic move?

Is it still too early in the cycle to make such a rash decision (keeping in mind my app was late)?

Thanks!

 

[centralTX]

I think that the right answer is always to do something that you know you would enjoy. Don't know your MCAT score, so you might not need to retake it. Maturity in graduate school courses might reflect well on your candidacy but from what I've read on SDN, your undergraduate grades are more important because they are more comparable across all applicants to medical schools (i.e. most will not have obtained PhDs). Volunteering cannot hurt you, so definitely do that. Shadowing will not hurt you but also won't help you after a certain point (100+ hours?). When do you have to let the PhD program know your decision? The cycle isn't over yet so you shouldn't abandon all hope of securing an II, but yes I think that time is certainly limited now.

 

[Icantplayspades]

I think that the right answer is always to do something that you know you would enjoy. Don't know your MCAT score, so you might not need to retake it. Maturity in graduate school courses might reflect well on your candidacy but from what I've read on SDN, your undergraduate grades are more important because they are more comparable across all applicants to medical schools (i.e. most will not have obtained PhDs). Volunteering cannot hurt you, so definitely do that. Shadowing will not hurt you but also won't help you after a certain point (100+ hours?). When do you have to let the PhD program know your decision? The cycle isn't over yet so you shouldn't abandon all hope of securing an II, but yes I think that time is certainly limited now.

I have to finalize my application to the PhD program next month (its a formality- I should easily get in). I'm just in a scenario where I do not want to be rejected and twiddling my thumbs for a whole year. I built a relationship with the PhD program and think I would really enjoy myself in their program.

This process is so weird- why would UG courses have more weight than graduate courses? I know graduate courses tend to reward thought beyond the material being taught while UG courses seem formulaic.

 

[Icantplayspades]

Don't do a PhD just to go to medical school.

Obviously I'm interested in the PhD for more than that reason but I was asking this question if I were to still have interest in clinical medicine past my graduate work.

 

[kb1900]

So you want to dedicate 5+ years to a PhD and then consider 7+ years of schooling + trakning for a degree to do what you originally wanted in the first place?

1) I'm wary of PhD programs that are so easy to get into that applying is a formality

2) it makes no financial sense and a PhD will not help you get into medical school

Seems like you just want to immediately go to graduate school because you have an offer on the table.

To your last point, graduate level courses tend to inflate grades substantially relative to UG courses

 

[Icantplayspades]

So you want to dedicate 5+ years to a PhD and then consider 7+ years of schooling + trakning for a degree to do what you originally wanted in the first place?

1) I'm wary of PhD programs that are so easy to get into that applying is a formality

2) it makes no financial sense and a PhD will not help you get into medical school

Seems like you just want to immediately go to graduate school because you have an offer on the table.

To your last point, graduate level courses tend to inflate grades substantially relative to UG courses

It’s only a formality in that I’ve made research relationships at the school and have a good reputation- the school is very reputable and highly ranked.

I understand most people on here go straight to medical school but I’m very poor and I cannot sit around and wait to get in for another year. The PhD would be interesting clinically relevant work and would allow me to live comfortably. I still could go to medical school after but I don’t have the luxury of taking more undergraduate work past graduation to bolster my app.

In addition, the tuition is covered for the PhD and I receive a stipend

 

[Icantplayspades]

What are some good masters/SMPs in the south which aren't super expensive?

 

[kb1900]

It’s only a formality in that I’ve made research relationships at the school and have a good reputation- the school is very reputable and highly ranked.

I understand most people on here go straight to medical school but I’m very poor and I cannot sit around and wait to get in for another year. The PhD would be interesting clinically relevant work and would allow me to live comfortably. I still could go to medical school after but I don’t have the luxury of taking more undergraduate work past graduation to bolster my app.

In addition, the tuition is covered for the PhD and I receive a stipend

The opportunity cost/loss of time while doing your phd while still planning on a $200k medical school is the reason it's a poor financial decision.

ID personally work on improving my app and getting into medical school 2 cycles from now rather than commit 5 years to a phd that really doesn't help my career in anuway. You'll still have to fix the same deficiencies you had in your original application anyway. A phd doesn't remove those weaknesses.

Clarifying potential reasons you haven't gotten an II yet and then formulating a plan B if you don't get in this cycle that targets those reasons is your path forward to medical school if you want to become a physician.

 

[Spectar]

Idk, I would just do an smp and if you really like the PhD that much do an MD/PHD after.

You might want to retake that MCAT with your score as well.

 

[Icantplayspades]

The opportunity cost/loss of time while doing your phd while still planning on a $200k medical school is the reason it's a poor financial decision.

ID personally work on improving my app and getting into medical school 2 cycles from now rather than commit 5 years to a phd that really doesn't help my career in anuway. You'll still have to fix the same deficiencies you had in your original application anyway. A phd doesn't remove those weaknesses.

Clarifying potential reasons you haven't gotten an II yet and then formulating a plan B if you don't get in this cycle that targets those reasons is your path forward to medical school if you want to become a physician.

Okay, so if my GPAs are low and my MCAT need works but I’ve graduated how would I go about improving?

I think my job pays for up to 6 credits so I could take science classes while studying to retake the MCAT next year. My GPA is lousy (3.3C, 3.1S) and my MCAT sucks (500) so how long should I work on my app?

 

[pewpew95]

Whether or not doing the PhD is pragmatic is entirely up to you and where you see your life headed... do you want to start a family, and if so would you be fine doing that while still in school? Are you okay with not having a job for at least 8 more years? Those are the questions I had to ask myself. Also, if you apply for the PhD program, are you obligated matriculate? Or can you wait to tell them if you'll attend until the cycle is completely over? One option in leu of doing a PhD, if you want the research training, is to do a 1 year fellowship through the NIH. I believe they have specific post-bacc training programs. That's what one of my friends did who is pursuing MD/PhD programs.

 

[Icantplayspades]

Whether or not doing the PhD is pragmatic is entirely up to you and where you see your life headed... do you want to start a family, and if so would you be fine doing that while still in school? Are you okay with not having a job for at least 8 more years? Those are the questions I had to ask myself. Also, if you apply for the PhD program, are you obligated matriculate? Or can you wait to tell them if you'll attend until the cycle is completely over? One option in leu of doing a PhD, if you want the research training, is to do a 1 year fellowship through the NIH. I believe they have specific post-bacc training programs. That's what one of my friends did who is pursuing MD/PhD programs.

I’ve done research in undergrad for 3 years and I’ve found it challenging but rewarding. I have no plans ( except going to med school) and I have no serious ties or relationship right now. I’m just not sure if I can say I’m 100% committed to research.

 

[Catalystik]

So I applied to medical school this year and have gotten no II and 3 rejections thus far. I’ve been invited to complete a Ph.D in a biomedical field which I know I would enjoy.

If you never get into med school, does a degree in this area have good job prospects? Are you content to stay in this field for the rest of your working life? If not, a better backup plan should be sought.

 

[Icantplayspades]

If you never get into med school, does a degree in this area have good job prospects? Are you content to stay in this field for the rest of your working life? If not, a better backup plan should be sought.

I know the field is booming right now but I feel like I’d always regret not trying hard enough to practice medicine.

 

[pewpew95]

I know the field is booming right now but I feel like I’d always regret not trying hard enough to practice medicine.

If this is what your heart is telling you, you should scrap the PhD and apply for a formal SMP program and do really, really well in it. And retake the MCAT with intent of scoring >505. You'll have a good shot at DO programs if you do both of the above.

 

[Icantplayspades]

If this is what your heart is telling you, you should scrap the PhD and apply for a formal SMP program and do really, really well in it. And retake the MCAT with intent of scoring >505. You'll have a good shot at DO programs if you do both of the above.

Which SMPs would you recommend?

 

[pewpew95]

Which SMPs would you recommend?

I don't know too many, and there is a sub forum specifically for post baccs, but the VCU CERT program is good if you don't need to retake any courses. They also provide MCAT prep and a guaranteed interview for their MD program provided you have a certain GPA.