MD/PhD and Deferring, Along with a Question Regarding Timeline

[Prolix]

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My goal is to become a MD/PhD. I was wondering if MD/PhD programs looked kindly on deferring a year?

I want to defer a year so that I can take advantage of an opportunity to study philosophy of science at Oxford, as super senior.

As I will be taking the MCAT this upcoming January, I could apply in 2017 for these programs. However, the only research experience I would have would be research done in the summer of 2017, and I would be asking for a year's deferment so that I could go to Oxford (that is if I get accepted with that little amount of research).

Or I could apply in 2018, go to Oxford in the spring of 2019, have more research under my belt, and not have to request a deferral. I am leaning toward this option.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MaxPlancker]

If you don't have multiple years of research, MD/PhD will be tough. How do you know you want to do MD/PhD? What are your motivations for it?

 

[Prolix]

I understand that. My desire to do a MD/PhD has been something I discovered in my sophomore year (I am a rising junior, so not long at all). I know that I want to do it, because I enjoy the scientific method, analyzing data, solving problems, experimenting, and following the answers that the data indicates. Granted, with the exception of experimenting, these are all things MDs do, however, my motivation is that I want to push the current level of knowledge in some small aspect, which I feel that with a PhD I would be better able to accomplish.

 

[eteshoe]

Option 2 is the most realistic choice.

 

[NonTrad16]

Don't apply expecting an official deferral (i.e. acceptance and school sanctioned time away before starting). If you apply for and obtain a position abroad, your application may be stronger for it, but not necessarily for the program you're attending -- it would be stronger for the extra year of undergrad research/volunteering, etc. That said, I don't know if I understand the timeline for your second option.

Would you apply for the Oxford program, start attending it, and while attending Oxford you would concurrently apply to MD/PhD programs? Medical school applications are a yearlong process, and your time at Oxford would be a gap year activity and not really used for admission consideration. You're admitted based on what you've already done, not what you're planning to do during the gap year. If you want anything you do in Oxford to be considered, you would need to wait until you're done (or near done) with your work there before applying to medical schools. (Additionally, if you're applying while abroad for several continuous months, interviews would be a mess...)

Am I reading your timeline wrong?

 

[Prolix]

The Oxford program is not to strengthen my application. I am doing it because I want to do it.

I was considering apply while doing the Oxford program, however, I see what you mean with the interviews. Would a wiser option be to do the Oxford program in fall of 2018 and do research in a post-bacc/apply in 2019?

 

[Prolix]

In some ways, I am wondering if I should do the Oxford programs. Yes, I would love it but it would set me back a year and about $18,000 in loans. I am wondering if a better choice would be to take a gap year to do research via a PREP program and skip the Oxford program.

 

[eteshoe]

In some ways, I am wondering if I should do the Oxford programs. Yes, I would love it but it would set me back a year and about $18,000 in loans. I am wondering if a better choice would be to take a gap year to do research via a PREP program and skip the Oxford program.

Just took a closer look at your first post and I would have to say that if your intention is to get into a MD/PhD program, you're going to need ~2+ yrs of sustained research experience. PREP programs, IRTAs or even plain old research tech positions will suffice as long as you show the initiative and work on your own projects & present on them (a publication would be also awesome but by no means necessary). As far as the Oxford program, I would advise you finish that off (if you want to spend the money) before starting your research program.

For example, you take spring 2017 to go abroad -> come back to the states to start a 2-yr research program -> research for almost a yr -> apply MD/PhD summer 2018 -> continue working -> matriculate aug. 2019.

Now in the above example, I took some liberties since I don't know how far along UG since the details you provided are a bit confusing.

 

[Prolix]

Just took a closer look at your first post and I would have to say that if your intention is to get into a MD/PhD program, you're going to need ~2+ yrs of sustained research experience. PREP programs, IRTAs or even plain old research tech positions will suffice as long as you show the initiative and work on your own projects & present on them (a publication would be also awesome but by no means necessary). As far as the Oxford program, I would advise you finish that off (if you want to spend the money) before starting your research program.

For example, you take spring 2017 to go abroad -> come back to the states to start a 2-yr research program -> research for almost a yr -> apply MD/PhD summer 2018 -> continue working -> matriculate aug. 2019.

Now in the above example, I took some liberties since I don't know how far along UG since the details you provided are a bit confusing.

Sorry about being confusing. I just finished sophomore year and plan to take the MCAT January 2017, which would be in my junior year. Although, I am wondering if I should take the MCAT senior year (January 2018), as that would allow a later expiration date for my MCAT scores? As for the research, sustained would mean research on the same project?

Thanks for the timeline; it's a great scaffold for helping me figure out what I need to do to be strong applicant.

 

[eteshoe]

Sorry about being confusing. I just finished sophomore year and plan to take the MCAT January 2017, which would be in my junior year. Although, I am wondering if I should take the MCAT senior year (January 2018), as that would allow a later expiration date for my MCAT scores? As for the research, sustained would mean research on the same project?

Thanks for the timeline; it's a great scaffold for helping me figure out what I need to do to be strong applicant.

Alright I get it now. I would (tentatively) push the MCAT since the scores tend to only be good for 3 yrs at most schools.

Sustained research doesn't necessarily have to be the same project - more like working on a project or two in the same lab, developing your research skills under a PI that would be able to attest to your aptitude and growth as a researcher. In my case I worked for 3 PIs before med school:

- PI#1: all 3 yrs of UG - 2 projects - one led to a poster and the other led to an elective lab course (PI basically wanted to know if a lab course he proposed was feasible for UG, so I ran all the experiments and optimized them)

-PI#2: worked for 2 yrs in an industrial R&D lab - 6-7 projects - led to a few different scale up projects (useful experience because it showed me the differences between academic and industrial research settings)

-PI#3: worked for about 2 yrs for my MSc - 1 major project - eventually led to a publication (though not before I applied to MD/PhD programs). Also should note I only did this degree because I wanted some cancer related research experience (my area of interest) and I won a fellowship so it ended up costing me nothing.

From these experiences I got some pretty good LORs. Now you don't need to go overboard like I did (I wanted work experience using my degree before I signed up for more school). If you can work for the remaining 2 yrs of UG, you can apply the summer after your Jr yr (and matriculate right after UG). If you just research during your senior yr, apply that summer, continue in a 1 yr PREP program, then matriculate - that also works. Or you could research your last 2 yrs of UG, take a gap yr and research as well and come in w/ 3 yrs - many combos out there. But remember to keep your GPA up during all this (plus MCAT) since they will play heavily into how competitive you are in addition to your research experience.

The only thing I would add is to make sure you shadow some physician scientists - that way you'll get a better sense of this long training path gels with you. Sorry for the long winded response.

 

[Prolix]

Thank you so very much; the information that you are giving me is very helpful. If I took this path, I would be the first person from the school I attend to do a MD/PhD, so the more information I can get the better prepared I can be. I will definitely start shadowing physician scientists.

 

[eteshoe]

No prob and good luck!