md/phd v. md

[goldenstandard2]

is gaining acceptace to md/phd or md/mph programs really way more competitive than regular md programs?

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[Bacchus]

Yes.

 

[Snake Doctor]

Do you need a science degree? What if you are a social science major with significant research experience?

 

[ChubbyChaser]

is gaining acceptace to md/phd or md/mph programs really way more competitive than regular md programs?

For some schools the MD/PHD program is...but I think most MD/mph programs the MPH is something you decide on after your MD acceptance.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Do you need a science degree? What if you are a social science major with significant research experience?

You are probably ok then.

 

[HumidBeing]

Have you read through this forum? http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=94

It's the MPH forum. You might get some good input to your question there.

 

[BluePhoenix]

Do you need a science degree? What if you are a social science major with significant research experience?

Social science research doesn't usually count as research experience because they're generally not similar unless you're doing some hard core primate studies. I suppose if you wanted to go into psych or something then maybe, but if you're trying to get an MD/PhD in bio or biochem or whatever, then your social science research pretty much means crap.

 

[kami333]

Do you need a science degree? What if you are a social science major with significant research experience?

One of the guys in my lab got in MD/PhD with a polisci degree. Of course he did take a year off to work in a lab and had a pub in Nature.

 

[tiedyeddog]

One of the guys in my lab got in MD/PhD with a polisci degree. Of course he did take a year off to work in a lab and had a pub in Nature.

Wow, a pub in nature would be sweet...

 

[LizzyM]

As best I can tell, you need to meet the criteria for admission to medical school plus bring the research experience (publications /presentations/ funding will be looked at evidence of the importance of your efforts to the goal of advancing new knowledge) that will make you a good fit with the research being done at that school. This can mean either that you have been working in the same field or that you have learned skills that are used in labs on campus and that you could walk in and get to work.

MD/PhD students are encouraged/required to rotate through various labs before and after first year of med school to find a lab with which to affiliate. After 2nd year, the student takes course work toward the PhD and does research culminating in the defense of the student's dissertation. One then goes on to the clinical clerkships (hospital and outpatient training) and electives before graduation where the MD and PhDs are awarded.

Typically, these holders of MD/PhD degrees spend a significant amount of time in the research setting each week (writing grants, conducting research, mentoring and teaching other members of the lab team, writing journal articles, lecturing and giving presentations to peers at professional meetings) as well as providing some clinical care or supervising residents and fellows who provide care or serving as a consultant to primary care providers and specialists.

 

[Snake Doctor]

Social science research doesn't usually count as research experience because they're generally not similar unless you're doing some hard core primate studies. I suppose if you wanted to go into psych or something then maybe, but if you're trying to get an MD/PhD in bio or biochem or whatever, then your social science research pretty much means crap.

Oh I'm not doing social science research (although I have done that before). Actual bench work. I'm just curious at the process though. I might switch back to a science major actually since I'm interested in MD/PhD or even just a PhD by itself. I feel that being a social science major is okay for just MD admissions, but for MD/PhD, it's hard to be successful without learning as much as one can in one's area of interest, aka upper division courses.

Thanks for all your help guys!