Hey guys, I'm really glad I found this site.
Before I start and explain what's been on my mind, I want to say thanks in advance for anyone who sees this and helps me out.
I'm a 4th year undergraduate student. I did part of my undergrad in the States and then transferred to the UK. I'm just about finishing up my last term.
Recently I was offered a PhD position to stay here at Oxford for Medical Physics. It is a really great opportunity; I like the group a lot and especially the research I'll be doing. On the other hand, for some time now I've been really interested in the MD/PhD programs that we have back in the States. Ordinarily, I would just apply to these programs and see if I get in somewhere. I don't have that luxury. Applying to MD/PhD programs would mean an almost 2 year gap for me.
Where I do my research is really important. If I don't really have a shot at the top notch MD/PhD programs, then I wouldn't want to apply and waste their time. I would go with the PhD in the UK, save myself a years time and decide later on down the road if I'm still keen on medical school.
So I want to know is if I have a fighting chance at some of these top programs. I'd love to shoot for Harvard/MIT, Stanford, Duke and Yale. These places are really the only schools that are doing the type of physics I'm interested in.
I have a 3.81 gpa in Physics. I have not taken the MCATs yet, which is another huge thing I know. I have just submitted the revisions of my paper for my first peer reviewed journal. I'm the first author and the paper is going to Biophysical Journal (fingers crossed). I worked as an EMT for ~3 years. I enjoy being in a clinical setting and around people. I will say that I'm much more interested in translational medical research than clinical medicine. I'm really keen on radiology and radiation physics. I would love to get the medical eudcation/background that comes with it. That's me in a nutshell. Oh and I have a few department awards and grants here and there. I was nominated by my school for the Goldwater (didn't make it any further). That's it.
To be honest, and i'm not saying this in self-pity but I don't think I have too much of a shot at these top notch places. I'd be very happy to take what I have now, do my PhD first and then apply to medical school later on down the road if I'm still keen. What do you guys think? Should I just save my time and money?
Cheers
Before I start and explain what's been on my mind, I want to say thanks in advance for anyone who sees this and helps me out.
I'm a 4th year undergraduate student. I did part of my undergrad in the States and then transferred to the UK. I'm just about finishing up my last term.
Recently I was offered a PhD position to stay here at Oxford for Medical Physics. It is a really great opportunity; I like the group a lot and especially the research I'll be doing. On the other hand, for some time now I've been really interested in the MD/PhD programs that we have back in the States. Ordinarily, I would just apply to these programs and see if I get in somewhere. I don't have that luxury. Applying to MD/PhD programs would mean an almost 2 year gap for me.
Where I do my research is really important. If I don't really have a shot at the top notch MD/PhD programs, then I wouldn't want to apply and waste their time. I would go with the PhD in the UK, save myself a years time and decide later on down the road if I'm still keen on medical school.
So I want to know is if I have a fighting chance at some of these top programs. I'd love to shoot for Harvard/MIT, Stanford, Duke and Yale. These places are really the only schools that are doing the type of physics I'm interested in.
I have a 3.81 gpa in Physics. I have not taken the MCATs yet, which is another huge thing I know. I have just submitted the revisions of my paper for my first peer reviewed journal. I'm the first author and the paper is going to Biophysical Journal (fingers crossed). I worked as an EMT for ~3 years. I enjoy being in a clinical setting and around people. I will say that I'm much more interested in translational medical research than clinical medicine. I'm really keen on radiology and radiation physics. I would love to get the medical eudcation/background that comes with it. That's me in a nutshell. Oh and I have a few department awards and grants here and there. I was nominated by my school for the Goldwater (didn't make it any further). That's it.
To be honest, and i'm not saying this in self-pity but I don't think I have too much of a shot at these top notch places. I'd be very happy to take what I have now, do my PhD first and then apply to medical school later on down the road if I'm still keen. What do you guys think? Should I just save my time and money?
Cheers
