is this feasible?

[3Xhelix]

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I know this may have been posted before, but I couldn't find it anywhere.
I applied but didn't get in to MD programs this year - not to make excuses, but i was really busy and unprepared for the interviews.

After the professor that I TA for found out, he talked to me about the possibility of an MSTP. He explained that a PhD could only make me a better physician in the long run (better critical thinking and analytical skills, etc).
His suggestion was that I enter a PhD program somewhere, work my ass off for a year, and then try to get into the MSTP program after that. I know he means well, but I'm not sure how likely this is to actually happen, no matter how well I perform. Does anyone on the forum have any input on how likely this is to occur?

A little background - I got a 30 on the MCAT, I have a semester of research (which i've enjoyed), and a 3.7 in a bio/chem double major.

Any input would be greatly appreciated
Thanks

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I don't see this happening much where a PhD student joins the MSTP program--it happens but it's rare. It is more common for an MD student to gain admission to MSTP.

A friend of mine who is in his third year of grad school with similar stats as yours has yet to be admitted to MSTP. He entered grad school with similar intentions.

 

[spinman]

No, not the best approach. Starting grad school only to change your mind and join an MD PhD program will make you appear to be confused or undecided.

MSTP programs, at least the quality programs, are actually much more difficult to gain admission to vs. the medical school counterpart. Don't join an M.D. Ph.D. to become a better doctor, that isn't the point. Your either are or are not a good critical thinker - sure grad school helps hone this quality but frankly it's a talent and so there is a distribution in the population.

If you want to be a doctor, become a doctor not a medical scientist. You are wasting the taxpayers money if you have only clinical aspirations. You have decent MCAT scores, 10's across the board or was one of the areas wose than the others? Strong letters of rec? Personal statement? The personal statement is key as al;l too often they are bland and sound like all of the others, not a good thing. You need to grab the attention of the reader and to make yourself stand out. You have decent-good MCAT scores and good-excellent GPA, you have a terrific chance of getting in on a second attempt, but you might want to ensure the rest of your CV looks good. Where are you applying? Your GPA and MCAT's willl easily get you into some of the better (2nd tier) medical schools without a problem.

 

[spinman]

BTW do you study triple helices? if so, who is your PI? Just curious.

 

[3Xhelix]

BTW do you study triple helices? if so, who is your PI? Just curious.

Thanks for the info guys. That's pretty much what I was expecting to hear.
Yes, i am doing a tiny bit of research with triple helices this semester. I won't bring up my PI's name, he says its a neglected area, he doesn't want to get scooped! 😀

 

[Pixie]

Here's the situation: 3.0 GPA from Harvard, same lab for 3 years, 2nd author on paper,
28 MCAT (plan to take again this August). Great recommendations especially from PI.
After graduation this May, I plan to get a job in a lab, hopefully NYC, take a couple of upper classes and apply June 2006 which gives me 2 years off. Does this sound realistic for admission to a MD/PhD program? Should I get a new plan? Please some suggestions.

 

[mendel121]

I don't see this happening much where a PhD student joins the MSTP program--it happens but it's rare. It is more common for an MD student to gain admission to MSTP.

Just to back this up - I faced a similar situation, did the PhD thing for a year, made a ton of progress, then thought I could transition to the MSTP, but was told by the program that I would need to take a leave from my PhD to join the MSTP, which was not a feasible option given that my PI would not have been willing to let the progress that I had made sit for 2 years (I would have had to start over in something else, thus a year wasted). So - I'm doing the two degrees seperately instead. If you want to do the MD/PhD thing, get into the MSTP first, or med school first, not the other way around.