- Joined
- Oct 21, 2008
- Messages
- 85
- Reaction score
- 0
Last edited:
Need some help/advice!
- Thread starter wannabadr10
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2009
- Messages
- 738
- Reaction score
- 9
if you weren't set on MD/Phd to begin with, I don't think you should change your mind based on a letter you received. If you're not really gung ho about becoming a physician scientist, you shouldn't put yourself through the extra work/research/years required.
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2005
- Messages
- 28,734
- Reaction score
- 53,845
Call the school on Monday and ask how you can switch your AMCAS application to MD/PhD at UAB.
Most likely the mailing is based on your P and B scores in the MCAT. Impressive.
Your MCAT, gpa, and research experience tend to point toward a prediliction to research and the academic strength to succeed in a graduate program in biological sciences. So a school might just put that out there so that you consider it as an option.
Do you want to be a physician-scientist who spends a significant amount of time in the lab as well as a few half-days per week taking care of patients in an academic medical setting? This means that your work would be not just clinical care but teaching (medical students & residents & fellows as well as graduate students and pos-docs in your lab), and research including writing grants, writing papers, reviewing others' papers and grants, and making and attending presentations. If this is a line of work that appeals to you, then the MD/PhD might be a good option.
Most likely the mailing is based on your P and B scores in the MCAT. Impressive.
Your MCAT, gpa, and research experience tend to point toward a prediliction to research and the academic strength to succeed in a graduate program in biological sciences. So a school might just put that out there so that you consider it as an option.
Do you want to be a physician-scientist who spends a significant amount of time in the lab as well as a few half-days per week taking care of patients in an academic medical setting? This means that your work would be not just clinical care but teaching (medical students & residents & fellows as well as graduate students and pos-docs in your lab), and research including writing grants, writing papers, reviewing others' papers and grants, and making and attending presentations. If this is a line of work that appeals to you, then the MD/PhD might be a good option.
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2007
- Messages
- 1,783
- Reaction score
- 584
If you are serious about pursuing the MD/PhD application, you should check out the physician scientist forum - the people there may be able to give you more insight.
Just a couple of things to consider though,
1) A 30 is low for MD/PhD admissions. I had a 32 when I applied and I got REAMED by most of the schools I applied to. Everyone drilled me about it, and many people told me I wouldn't get in because of it. Just a warning.
2) Two summers of research experience is very low for MD/PhD admissions. Most applicants will have two full years or more of experience - including independent handling of projects, a strong role in designing projects and seeing them through to the end, and presentations/posters/publications. In MD/PhD world, it's the depth of your experience that matters, and you may have trouble convincing schools that you have gained that kind of experience in just a few short months.
Anyway, take a look at the forum. It may help.
Just a couple of things to consider though,
1) A 30 is low for MD/PhD admissions. I had a 32 when I applied and I got REAMED by most of the schools I applied to. Everyone drilled me about it, and many people told me I wouldn't get in because of it. Just a warning.
2) Two summers of research experience is very low for MD/PhD admissions. Most applicants will have two full years or more of experience - including independent handling of projects, a strong role in designing projects and seeing them through to the end, and presentations/posters/publications. In MD/PhD world, it's the depth of your experience that matters, and you may have trouble convincing schools that you have gained that kind of experience in just a few short months.
Anyway, take a look at the forum. It may help.
I got the same letter last cycle with a 33 (11,11,11) and absolutely no research experience. I was all excited by the prospect of no loans for 2 minutes, then I found out what it was. I put this on the level of the emails I got from podiatry and Caribbean schools, or the ones I got from undergrad schools after taking the SAT a loooooong time ago.
