MD or MD/PhD program?

[ECrunzie]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'll apologize in adavance for being the 100th person to post something like this, but ive been contemplating on this decision this whole year (i am in my senior year of undergrad, i currently have an acceptance offer from an MSTP program) and after looking thru most everything on these forums am still looking for that one piece of advice that will make my decision easier (which may or may not come from an online forum, but at this point im just trying to consider as much as i can). I do research at my undergraduate institution, and generally enjoy it, but it isnt necessarily the depth or degree of intensity research i would be conducting at a larger university with more fuding. When i originally applied to MD/PhD programs i maybe hadnt thought thru it as much as i should, i just sort of knew i wanted to be a doctor but also like some research. Throughout this year, as ive interviewed at multiple places, i really began to question of i truly wanted research to be the focus of my career, and if i would rather just spend the majority of my time with patients. I seem to have this notion (and please correct me if this is ill-conceived,) of if i go the MD/PhD route i will be trapped into putting a majority of my early career efforts into starting a lab/acquiring funding etc., and subsequently still spending less than half my time clinically, worrying about writing grants and papers when i would like to be with patients
Though i realize i dont need to know at this point, i think a lot of this may have a bearing as to specialty i would like to pursue (or vice versa). I have an interest in ER of ICU or possibly surgery, but i am also interested in ID and regenerative medicine (which would likely have more research avenues.
anyways, thanks again for taking the time to read this, im not expecting someone to make my decision for me, but any bit of advice would be appreciated

 

[debateg]

MD only should be a serious consideration. A very wise ex-scientist once told me that choosing a life of science is pretty much like choosing to be a professional artist. You will likely never be truly successful. You actually have a pretty high chance of failure. You will probably be poorly paid throughout. You will constantly be scrounging for work (e.g. writing grants) and afraid that if you cannot secure that work, you will lose your job. You probably will not be treated particularly well by your peers, who are quick to dismiss your work. Most of your non-science friends won't understand what you do and don't understand why you continue to do it despite all of the downsides. Unless science is your passion and you cannot imagine living without it, you probably will be pretty miserable doing it full time. Of course, if science is your passion, then you cannot imagine doing anything else. There are still plenty of options to do science "part time" (e.g. clinical / translational research) or later once you have established more of a career. It's not something to be ashamed of; follow your passion and you will be much happier in the long run.

 

[solitude]

MD only should be a serious consideration. A very wise ex-scientist once told me that choosing a life of science is pretty much like choosing to be a professional artist. You will likely never be truly successful. You actually have a pretty high chance of failure. You will probably be poorly paid throughout. You will constantly be scrounging for work (e.g. writing grants) and afraid that if you cannot secure that work, you will lose your job. You probably will not be treated particularly well by your peers, who are quick to dismiss your work. Most of your non-science friends won't understand what you do and don't understand why you continue to do it despite all of the downsides. Unless science is your passion and you cannot imagine living without it, you probably will be pretty miserable doing it full time. Of course, if science is your passion, then you cannot imagine doing anything else. There are still plenty of options to do science "part time" (e.g. clinical / translational research) or later once you have established more of a career. It's not something to be ashamed of; follow your passion and you will be much happier in the long run.

👍 We can't really answer your question, but if it were me and I had the degree of doubts that you are having now, I would do MD only. Then if the research bug bit me later, dive back in.

 

[TriagePreMed]

If you are insecure, definitely don't do it. I also considered MD/PhD or DO/PhD route, but after working for a year at a top lab (and seeing others here), I know that this is not what I would like to do with my life. I very much enjoy conducting some research and shedding light on certain problems, but I wouldn't want research to be the center of my life. If you change your mind, you can probably apply again as an MS-1 or do a research fellowship.

 

[ECrunzie]

thanks for the responses, im planning on going to second visits for both the MD and MSTP programs, and set up meetings with faculty member of whose research is of interest to me, and hope to get a good sense of what feels right at that point

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

For those of us holding MD and MD/PhD acceptances, which withdrawal deadline applies? I am assuming that I can only hold one MD/PhD acceptance past April 30, and then still have until May 15 to decide between that and my MD acceptance-- thoughts?

Edit: Here is what the AAMC says

"By May 15 of the matriculation year (April 15 for schools whose first day of class is on or before July 30), April 30 for M.D.-Ph.D. programs, each applicant who has received an offer of acceptance from more than one school or program choose the specific school or program at which the applicant prefers to enroll and withdraw his or her application, by written correspondence delivered by regular or electronic methods, from all other schools or programs from which acceptance offers have been received."

It seems to be program-specific in this language, which would make my above statement true, but I want to make sure.

 

[sakata8242]

If you are at all having any doubts I would suggest strongly considering an MD only path. MSTP is a long road and can often make you feel isolated, not just during the research years but also when you return to clinical rotations and don't know any of your classmates. You will also be at a disadvantage, having been away for 4-5 years, yet you will be graded according to the same standards as students who just took Step 1, and who aren't jaded after 4-5 years in the lab.

The life of a scientist isn't as rosy as they make it out to be in undergrad. The whole process really does drain you, physically, emotionally, and socially. Many of my colleagues and mentors can speak to being clinically depressed at some point or another and requiring anti-depressants/therapy. A number of my fellow MSTP classmates share similar sentiments, and some are not interested in research as a career anymore. Then there's the reality that academic research is becoming much more difficult and competitive with decreases in funding and fewer available entry level faculty positions.

I feel that to be truly successful at science, it has to be an obsession, not just an interest. I really wish someone had explained that to me before I accepted an MSTP position! As was said earlier though, follow your heart and do what feels right.

 

[obscurehero]

I'm not sure.

I think that the further you get in your training the more likely you are to be cynical about the whole process. I've read the other answers and they seem to be answering the question MD vs MD/PhD for a student trying to decide. While that's true, this applicant is currently has acceptances at both MD and MD/PhD programs. That's a different story.

It depends on what programs you're looking at what my advice might be. If the MD/PhD programs are structured like many of them with the first two preclinical years spent like any other medical student you still have two years to make this decision. It might be frowned on but I'd rather you picked the best school for you. You can't expect to know at this point in your life whether or not you want one or the other. I'm a current MS2 and I know that what I thought I was going to do has changed and I'm sure its going to change again.

I think you need to decide which school is the best fit for you. Then, from there, if all else is equal, I'd rather have a free education + stipend + 2 years to decide whether or not MD/PhD was for me. Now, some programs might make you pay back some of that money, but that depends on the program and the situation. Maybe my suggestion is unorthodox, but I'd rather not close the door just yet. I'm not saying you can't reopen the door to research, but you're in a different spot than a typical student that asks the MD vs MD/PhD question...

 

[ratherbefishing]

Other options include just doing a long research post-doc after med school/residency (better pay, more focused research on your interests, less hoops to jump through) and some programs allow you to do a PhD as part of the residency. NIH loan repayment can help make up some of the money you spent for med school.