newbie needs advice...

[Dr^2]

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so, after thinking long and hard about what I want to do when I grow up, I've decided to go for the MD-PhD... I'd already missed the boat for the 2006 applications (I'm a senior now) which is just as well because I'm really really confused about what to choose for my PhD field. I major in biophysics, but most biophysicist work at the molecular level - I'd rather do my research in something more palpably clinical, something that would leave less of disconnect between my research and my clinical work. Where can I learn about different MD-PhD combos and their research areas? How did y'all decide what PhD to pursue?

my other question is about my chances... it seems like everyone here has a 4.0 and a gazillion years of research experience. By the time I graduate, I'll have worked for 3 months in one lab and 12 months in another. I also think I'll try to spend my year off doing the NIH post-bac research year (or somewhere else if I don't get in). Do you think I should try and go for a master's instead (to boost my GPA and prove that I can do grad level work - I haven't taken any grad courses in college)

here are my numbers:

Total GPA ~ 3.6
BCMP GPA ~ 3.7
AO GPA ~3.5
MCATs = 42O

thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks so much for any advice!

 

[xanthines]

A 42O!!?? I think you're fine by the numbers. Trust me, you're fine in that department. As long as you lucidly explain your research, (ie what you were doing, how you did it, and what were the implications) you should be good to go. The only problem is that most people (most!, not all...) don't have any idea what they're doing when they first get to the lab. I certainly didn't.

I don't if anyone else agrees, but you could try to apply to a few schools (no more than 10, at the most, for emphasis and redundancy and redundancy). Bust your hump on the personal statement essay, research experience, and the why MD/PhD essay and send in your app ASAP to beat the deadlines. It might cost you some money, but you just might get in. I don't know if this is reasonable since I don't know what your schedule is like right now, though. It's definitely better to wait, if you feel like you can't come up with a decent essay(s).

Once you're in, you can do your PhD in pretty much any science-type department. Your PhD doesn't necessarily have to be a traditional biological science discipline either. Some schools will let you get PhD's in epidemiology, computer science, physics, history, etc etc etc, since those fields contribute significantly to medicine as a whole.

Anyways, it's more important to find a good mentor who will teach you to be a good investigator than to find a field you think you might like.

Just my two cents.

-X

so, after thinking long and hard about what I want to do when I grow up, I've decided to go for the MD-PhD... I'd already missed the boat for the 2006 applications (I'm a senior now) which is just as well because I'm really really confused about what to choose for my PhD field. I major in biophysics, but most biophysicist work at the molecular level - I'd rather do my research in something more palpably clinical, something that would leave less of disconnect between my research and my clinical work. Where can I learn about different MD-PhD combos and their research areas? How did y'all decide what PhD to pursue?

my other question is about my chances... it seems like everyone here has a 4.0 and a gazillion years of research experience. By the time I graduate, I'll have worked for 3 months in one lab and 12 months in another. I also think I'll try to spend my year off doing the NIH post-bac research year (or somewhere else if I don't get in). Do you think I should try and go for a master's instead (to boost my GPA and prove that I can do grad level work - I haven't taken any grad courses in college)

here are my numbers:

Total GPA ~ 3.6
BCMP GPA ~ 3.7
AO GPA ~3.5
MCATs = 42O

thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks so much for any advice!

 

[beary]

Anyways, it's more important to find a good mentor who will teach you to be a good investigator than to find a field you think you might like.

This is absolutely true. 👍

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

so, after thinking long and hard about what I want to do when I grow up, I've decided to go for the MD-PhD... I'd already missed the boat for the 2006 applications (I'm a senior now) which is just as well because I'm really really confused about what to choose for my PhD field. I major in biophysics, but most biophysicist work at the molecular level - I'd rather do my research in something more palpably clinical, something that would leave less of disconnect between my research and my clinical work. Where can I learn about different MD-PhD combos and their research areas? How did y'all decide what PhD to pursue?

my other question is about my chances... it seems like everyone here has a 4.0 and a gazillion years of research experience. By the time I graduate, I'll have worked for 3 months in one lab and 12 months in another. I also think I'll try to spend my year off doing the NIH post-bac research year (or somewhere else if I don't get in). Do you think I should try and go for a master's instead (to boost my GPA and prove that I can do grad level work - I haven't taken any grad courses in college)

here are my numbers:

Total GPA ~ 3.6
BCMP GPA ~ 3.7
AO GPA ~3.5
MCATs = 42O

thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks so much for any advice!

You sound very, very qualified. I encourage you to apply MD/PhD.

Could I pursuade you to pursue immunology? It's very tied into the clinical aspect of medicine. I am interested in immunology because it's involved in so many seemingly disparate fields within medicine: cancer, HIV and immunodeficiency, organ transplantation, infectious diseases, autoimmune disease (MS, Crohn's, lupus, myasthenia gravis, sarcoidosis, Graves', Hashimoto's, diabetes type I), asthma, allergies, cardiovascular disease (foam cells that form atherosclerotic plaques are macrophages that have gobbled up cholesterol), and possibly in neurodegenerative diseases (connections have been made to Lou Gehrig's, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, Alzheimers, and even a possible connection to Parkinson's).

 

[scneuro]

Like everyone has said, your app is VERY strong from the numbers point of view and you have some research. But what you didn't mention was clinical experience. Have you shadowed? volunteered? worked ina hospital setting? During your year off continue to do research and pick up some clinical experience that way interviewers can't hound you and say I've seen you've done a lot of work that merits admissions to the PhD program but why not just PhD alone, why MD/Phd, you have no clinical experience.

Just my thoughts, b/c I am always getting why the dual degree in my interviews.

 

[cadilakgrl]

I agree with scneuro. Apply next year and during the next year get some clinical experience if you don't already have it and work in a lab as a technician to explore your interests some more. I think it may be good to have a general idea of what area of research you would like to go into, but I don't think it is totally necessary. Also you will be asked about your reasons for doing the MD/PhD vs. a PhD, so without clinical experience this may be hard to justify. Taking the year to do research and volunteering will only make your application stronger and give you a better chance of getting into the school you want to. Good luck! your numbers by the way are awesome, don't worry about that part 🙂

 

[Dr^2]

Thanks for the advice and encouragement, everyone!

I think I'll definitely wait to apply. I've been in a classroom for 16 consecutive years, and it might be nice to get a break. Not to mention that I am in no way prepared to apply to anything at this time =P

I do volunteer at a hospital. At this point it’s just guiding patients around the behemoth, but it will get more clinical soon.

Thanks for the heads up about immunology, mercaptovizadeh! I plan on learning more about it =) that and neuroscience… I guess I’ll read a few issues of nature medicine and the like to see if anything else clicks =)

 

[Neuronix]

sbecause I'm really really confused about what to choose for my PhD field. I major in biophysics, but most biophysicist work at the molecular level - I'd rather do my research in something more palpably clinical, something that would leave less of disconnect between my research and my clinical work.

I currently work in a biophysics lab that develops new techniques for MRI/MRS. The potential for clinical integration is high, and often our techniques go from development to patient trials quickly (within a year or two). You can't do this sort of work at many MD/PhD programs due to the technology and specialized expertise involved, but I can think of a few places to apply if you're interested.

 

[Dr^2]

neuronix,

I would be very interested! An AAMC search by field didn't show up any biophysics programs (though I'm sure they must exist). Which schools were you thinking of?

Thanks! =)

 

[Neuronix]

Sorry it took me so long to get back to this thread, I was hoping to ask some people and they weren't particularly helpful.

I know of a few schools that have labs that do MRI development and are MSTPs. These are: Penn, Harvard, WashU, UCSF, Stanford, UCSD, Hopkins, NYU. There are a few problems with me trying to make a comprehensive list. First, there are more labs doing this work than I know of.

Second, just because a lab is affiliated with a school doesn't necessarily mean you can or would want to work there. For example, I don't know which schools have biophysics departments. Many schools push this off to the Bioengineering departments, which you can't work with at some programs. Also, it's hard to say whether a given program will allow you to work with the PIs in Radiology or if those are PIs who have PhD students. I would highly recommend the program here at Penn, but otherwise you'll have to do some research.

Good luck,
Eric