MD, PhD eligibility

[biochemath]

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Hello,

I am a current pre-med student and had a couple of questions about my eligibility to get accepted into any MD-PhD program in the country. I attend a CSU campus and am majoring in biochem and math with a minor in bio. I have a 3.6 GPA and will graduate this upcoming spring. I have 2+ years of research experience, (two summer internships, and a year long minority program, with currently one abstract in press). I have written sample NRSAs and have tons of math/science course-work with a science GPA of 3.7. I volunteered for a year in a hospital and accumulated over 600 hours of non-paid community service. I also tutored during the first two years of my college years at a local high school and have studied abroad (short term). What are my chances and what does my MCAT have to be? I am also a first generation URM...

 

[delirium81]

This pretty much spells it out: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=539268

Wait... how can someone be a first generation URM? That makes no sense. Do you mean that your parents were immigrants and you are the first gen born in this country, and you are also a URM?

 

[supergirl7561]

They probably mean that they are an URM and a first generation college student.

 

[TUgrl04]

Hi guys,

Does anyone know of any schools where you can be dualed-degree (MD/PhD) but they DO NOT require someone to pass the (USMLE) license board exams?? Basically, utilizing the degree for research purposes.

Thanks!

 

[Choculitis]

Why would you get an MD if you don't want to practice clinical medicine? You might be interested in this program, which is basically the first 18 months of med school and then a PhD: http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/ime/interfaces/home.html

 

[Neuronix]

Why would you get an MD if you don't want to practice clinical medicine? You might be interested in this program, which is basically the first 18 months of med school and then a PhD: http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/ime/interfaces/home.html

Seems like a great way to get enamored with medical school then get thrown out into lab. Every year multiple people try to stick with their many newfound friends in the med school class and get denied. This is the biggest drawback of that program IMO. So keep in mind if you even consider this pathway that you are commiting yourself to PhD, NOT delaying a decision or getting a foot in the door.

Does anyone know of any schools where you can be dualed-degree (MD/PhD) but they DO NOT require someone to pass the (USMLE) license board exams?? Basically, utilizing the degree for research purposes.

This is up to the medical school. In the old days some MDs were expected to use their MD to go straight to post-doc, but this has become very rare. At Penn for example they require you to sit for the boards, but not actually to pass. You'd have to look up the requirements for the MSTPs to see. I think some of them still don't require taking the USMLE.

However, in the words of my 100% research post-doc advisor: "To get an MD/PhD and not become board certified is ****ing stupid." I strongly agree. I would proceed through an MD/PhD program assuming you will do residency in something, and then if you decide not to do residency, then go to post-doc. Don't close doors by not taking step 1. I guess you could always decide to take it later, but that's going to make it harder the further you get from your basic science cirriculum.