Not sure about MD/PhD

[SuperbStudent]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi there,

Currently I am a pre-pharmacy student at SUNY Buffalo. It is extremely competitive to get into the pharmacy school here because it is the highest ranked program in NY state and is solely GPA based for students entering as freshman.

However the more I think about it, I don't want to be a pharmacist, instead I want to do clinical research.

Currently I have taken 46 credits at my university (forget APs), and have maintained a 4.0 GPA. Now I have only taken so far Basic Chemistry, Evolutionary Biology, Cell Biology, Calculus 1/2/3, and Statistics.

Now as a sophomore, I am required to take a graduate level physiology class (this class is extremely difficult for me), Organic Chemistry (not as bad as physiology), Anatomy (fairly simple), Engineering Physics (not too bad), along with 4 credits of research (research is not a requirement, but I saw it as a great EC, not to mention I have not yet met anyone else in a D1 school doing research + the type of course load required for a 2 year pre-pharmacy track).
Now the problem is, I don't really see myself maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Being in these intense classes and attending 15-20 hours of research a week is too much.
Not to mention I have to take Microbiology, Physiology II, Organic II, Biochemistry (lower level biochem) next semester. I plan on continuing research.

Right now my plan is to do a PharmD -> PhD, but I really like MD/PhD programs and would switch in an instant if I knew I would be accepted by the time I graduate.
The problem is that, by having all Med School pre-reqs done by the end of my sophomore year, I am not sure I would have a GPA above 3.8 (I see it possibly going as low as 3.5/3.6.

So basically, would MD/PhD programs consider course load? On top of which I am doing extensive research?

I consider myself fairly competitive about being a regular MD applicant. But I am not interested in just a MD... I want to apply an MD's knowledge to research. On the PCAT I scored 96%tile in chemistry (I have seen however how the pre-med community says the PCAT is child's play compared to the MCAT) and 88%tile in biology (my English sections were very poor pulling my composite down to 86%tile).

Any thoughts on the government's SMART Scholarship also? And then afterwards applying to MD/PhD?

 

[blehm98]

from what i've gleaned off of past threads, MD/PhD applicants usually have years of research, i don't think it's uncommon for them to have started even in high school. Basic requirement is just as much research as possible, along with a very high GPA and MCAT score, plus the typical MD requirements (class). It's not like there's a different set, it's just you need to be better at everything you do in general and the research is an absolute must

 

[PTPoeny]

Right now my plan is to do a PharmD -> PhD, but I really like MD/PhD programs and would switch in an instant if I knew I would be accepted by the time I graduate.
The problem is that, by having all Med School pre-reqs done by the end of my sophomore year, I am not sure I would have a GPA above 3.8 (I see it possibly going as low as 3.5/3.6.

Why are you trying to finish your prereqs by the end of your sophomore year? You don't need to have them finished until you start, many people apply while planning to take some of the prereqs their senior year.

And in general, everyone is taking a heavy course load while doing research if they are applying to MD/PhD. The schools may take it into account, I have no idea, but your course load really doesn't sound that unusual.

 

[NickNaylor]

You need to figure out what you want to do and do what you need to do to achieve those goals. Switching from PharmD/PhD to MD/PhD is a pretty big deal. Frankly I also think you're overestimating your credentials.

Pick a route and work to achieve that goal. If you don't make a definitive choice, you run the risk of being a mediocre applicant. There is no "guaranteed chance" of getting into a MD/PhD program.

 

[Lil Mick]

If you want to spend your career doing medical research, MD/PhD might be a good option. Generally, we have at least a few years of research (I started at 13, others in high school or freshman year of college) by the time we apply or take time off for a fellowship (NIH, Fulbright...). It's not unusual for students to take graduate classes and do well while in undergrad (most students in my program had at least 2 or 3). We generally have more research/tutoring/TAing/conferences than shadowing... in the medical field, and our application process is more similar to applying for a top PhD program than to applying for medical school (if you're in non-biology fields, you might even have to take the general and/or subject GRE exams). 3.8 and a 35 MCAT are pretty typical stats for most MD/PhD programs, but it varies depending on the program (some less-established programs have lower stats). Hope that helps.

 

[whatbout2morrow]

Why not try UB's Bachelor in Pharmaceutical Sciences program, then apply MD/PhD instead?

 

[thesauce]

For clinical research, I would do a regular MD. You could consider taking a year off during medical school for a research fellowship such as Howard Hughes, CRTP, Doris Duke, or a multitude of others.

 

[eHombre]

For clinical research, I would do a regular MD. You could consider taking a year off during medical school for a research fellowship such as Howard Hughes, CRTP, Doris Duke, or a multitude of others.

+1. This. MD/PhDs are time sinks and are, in general, not necessary for medical research careers.

 

[Neuronix]

For clinical research, I would do a regular MD. You could consider taking a year off during medical school for a research fellowship such as Howard Hughes, CRTP, Doris Duke, or a multitude of others.

Seconded.

 

[smq123]

Moved to MD/PhD.

 

[SuperbStudent]

What about the Department of Def.'s SMART scholarship.

I was going to apply to it this year, saying I was a Biochem. major interested in research.
Would doing that, then completing my BS, working to acquire research experience in the DoD set me up as a competitive applicant for MD/PhD?