MD/PhD Gap Year Advice Needed

[cynthia.dinh]

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Hello!

I just finished my first year undergrad, and I know I'm asking far out into the future but I was just thinking about my future plans as a student. As I've been involved in research during my first year, I've had a great time and honestly am interested in pursuing the MD/PhD path. I know I might change my mind as I go further as I am early in my research career but right now this path is the most enticing to me! I am able to finish my undergrad in 3 years without having to rush, as I was lucky enough to come in with a lot of outside credits.
So far:
* 4.0 GPA
* ~800 research hours (going to present at a conference at the end of summer)
* ~40 ENT shadowing hours
* going to get EMT license hopefully over summer and start working in fall
I know these numbers don't mean a lot because I am so early on but after I complete my undergrad my school has a BS/MS program where you can get your masters in one year. Should I do this masters program in place of my "4th year" at college? I am planning to take my MCAT during this time and prepare for med school apps. I am hoping it gives me even more research experience and I've heard good things about doing it at my school. People have also told me though that getting my masters is not a smart idea and I should just focus on clinical work, continue research work, and applying for med school during a gap year. I just want to make sure I don't apply with an application I'm not happy with. I really want to do well and increase my chances of getting into a good MD/PhD program.

Any advice is appreciated, thank you all in advance! Even if the advice has nothing to do with my question I would appreciate any advice any of you have in regards to what I should focus on doing during my undergrad and beyond 🙂

 

[dimplesage]

What would the master's be in?

Generally, in my experience, adcoms are looking for longitudinal research in which there has been some level of productivity. I personally found it helpful to do research full time for my gap year as it allowed me to push projects forward in the lab and finally publish. Unless the MS is in something different from the BS or for the purposes of showing academic improvement and rigor after a lower undergrad GPA, I don't find them that helpful and they can be expensive.

In terms of other aspects to your application, perhaps consider volunteering in the community in addition to your clinical expereince as an EMT.

 

[cynthia.dinh]

What would the master's be in?

Generally, in my experience, adcoms are looking for longitudinal research in which there has been some level of productivity. I personally found it helpful to do research full time for my gap year as it allowed me to push projects forward in the lab and finally publish. Unless the MS is in something different from the BS or for the purposes of showing academic improvement and rigor after a lower undergrad GPA, I don't find them that helpful and they can be expensive.

In terms of other aspects to your application, perhaps consider volunteering in the community in addition to your clinical expereince as an EMT.

The master's would be in Biology and my school has 2 tracks (independent research or directed research) and if I do go towards the independent research track I will continue working in the same lab and my hope is to publish then. I think regardless I would spend my gap doing research but just thought that if I am going to be doing that might as well get my master's too. But it definitely will be more work and financial cost is definitely a big factor into my decision. In your opinion which path do you think is smarter to do?

Thank you for all the advice!

 

[dimplesage]

If it's essentially the same as doing independent research, I think it's more worth it to work as an RA or RT where you get paid for your work rather than you paying to do the same research. Are you saying that without the masters you would not end up continuing in your current lab? If possible, I would stay there as an RA/RT and try to publish still.

I think it is dependent on your PI tho and whether they have funding to take you on for a paid position. Also something to keep in mind is with MCAT and apps, you might be taking time off, so that might affect your decision.

 

[ophthoaspirant]

I agree. Having said that, I know someone who completed their undergrad at 18 with a 3.9+ GPA. Even after taking a gap year to do research, they were only 19. They felt that they needed more personal growth before entering an MD/PhD program. Hence, they did a research track masters and applied while working as a research tech after completing their masters. They got As from more than 25% of the programs they applied to. In their case, they had the time for both adequate independent research (with multiple publications) and also to do a masters to really stand out in a competitive pool of applicants. However, such circumstances are rare.

 

[Maebea]

Just to pile on here as one with 30 years of MD-PhD program experience. The only time I advise someone to do a Masters is if their undergrad degree was not in a science (e.g., sociology, english, music - and my program has admitted individuals who had these undergrad majors), or if they had struggles science coursework and need to establish that they have the chops to handle graduate-level courses. If things go as planned, I would advise you to graduate in 3 years and use the 4th year as a paid research year, preferrably working in the same lab. One thing to remember is that whatever you do in your 4th year will be moot as far as your application is concerned. You will submit your application in June before you really begin that 4th year, so you will not be able to write about any of the great things you accomplish during that year. Thus, you need to make sure that you are able to establish your research credentials by the end of your third year. If you continue at your current pace of 800 hours a year, you should accumulate 2400 hours by the time you submit your application, which would be sufficient.