lacking in research...

[Pandora's Box]

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Hi all,
I have a question about my chances at the MSTP programs, becasue I obviously do not have the amount of research others here have shown in the forum. I worked in one lab my Feshman year, and had a summer intership at a biotech company. In the the summer of my sophmore year I finally found the lab that I liked doing molecular nurobiology of learning and memory and have been working there since (1 year and counting). The experience was so great that I looked into PhD options as a backup for the MD route, not knowing the existance (or understood) of the MD/PhD programs. If I had known earlier I would have definatly chosen a lab and stuck with it. I have no publication but have been working on my own project and probably will get a great letter from my PI for MD/PhD, but my research inexperience worries me.
To furthur complicate things, if I do not apply to the MD only programs I would probably be a fairly competitive applicant: 3.84 from a good public, and 36P (12,12,12) on the MCAT, great clinical and leadership experience. I would really like to get an MD/PhD, but I would also like to get into a good school. The idea of spending 7-8 years in a place like Iowa really dosen't appeal to me (I hope no one is offended, that is just an example 🙂 ).
What are the odd that I'll get into a decent MD/PhD program with my research background and grades? Should I just try to get in MD only and apply to the program afterwords?

I know this was long, and thanks for any advice in advance.
Pandora

 

[surge]

I really don't think you have anything to worry about. Your GPA and MCAT are obviously great, and from what I understand you've been doing research since your freshman year, including summers (even if you didn't do it during your sophomore year). You're doing creative work and will have the letters of recommendation to show for it. Many of us (most, probably) didn't have any publications, either.

As long as you can show the passion and commitment, and do well on the interviews (know thy research), you will have no problem gettin into competitive schools (incedentally, U of Iowa has an excellent, and pretty competitive, MD/PhD program - which is not to say it would be cool living in Iowa 😉)

Good luck.

 

[tofurious]

I would agree with Surge, unless the good public school is a community college in Iowa. I think a lot of times we emphasize too much on demonstrated research experience rather than potential. There are a lot of "leeches" who get extensive publication for doing nothing other than counting cells or washing test tubes, while there are many good research students who invest time and effort into work without a published form of accomplishment. Besides, I think it's much better to get a good overall student and expose them to PhD research than to get a good PhD student with poor personal skills and try to teach them medicine.

 

[Primate]

Hi,

Since your numbers are pretty good, you don't need to worry there. As for the research, I think the best way to present it is that you've been involved in research for some time, albeit in different labs (agreed that missing soph summer is no big deal). More importantly, by far, you've apparently had your own project and will have a top letter from your boss. If you're able to really talk about your project and discuss what you brought to it (NB, I define have your own project as actually having contributed thought to it, not just being the only tech in the lab, for example - BIG difference - I assume here that you mean the former), you'll be fine. What ad-coms will look at is whether you can think creatively, have a burning desire to do research, if you're not a complete disaster in the lab (as assessed by your letters, mostly), and that the med school would be happy to take you on your own merits.

As for what type of student makes a better researcher, I'll leave that as an open question. What I will say, is that most adcoms are going to go with researchy types in the initial admit decision (less risky that they'll go into private practice after the MSTP has spent all that coin). That said, they are usually quite happy to take a good med student who got turned on to research. The rub is that you have to be a med student first to get an internal accept (and pay for that year or two). Just the way it is (in my experience).

Go for it - it's a blast.

Best of luck,
P

 

[Neuronix]

Originally posted by Pandora's Box
What are the odd that I'll get into a decent MD/PhD program with my research background and grades? Should I just try to get in MD only and apply to the program afterwords?

To answer these questions, excellent and no respectively.

You had more research experience than I did when I applied. You're hardly lacking in research. Remember all that primate said (e.g. LORs, personal statements, and interviews are very important) and go for it! I could definately see you in a top program next year.

Good luck!

 

[tofurious]

I've heard that Penn has a HUGE MSTP class. How many students do you have overall?

 

[Neuronix]

This year we took 16 from outside of Penn and 3 from the 1st year medical school class for a total of 19. I believe the school averages 18 - 20 incoming students per year.

This is the second largest MSTP class. The largest is at WashU.