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Did anyone consider getting a PhD -- either in clinical psychology, neuroscience, or neuropsychology -- rather than an MD? If so, what persuaded you to pursue the MD instead?
I applied to MD programs this year and thus far haven't gotten in anywhere (though I'm on a few waitlists). My grades and scores were excellent; I believe the problem with my application was that while it was clear I was very interested in brain research, there was little to indicate I had any real interest in becoming a physician per se. And indeed, when asked why I didn't just go for a PhD rather than an MD during interviews, I didn't have a great answer.
So now I'm wondering whether I really should apply again next year, or possibly look at applying to masters or doctoral programs in some neuroscience or psychology field. A big part of my initial reason for applying to med school instead was that I thought I could wind up doing virtually the same sort of work in the end, but with more options and a higher income. However, considering that academic/research psychiatrists or neurologists make even less than their clinical counterparts, I'm not sure how true the income part is; when you factor in the added debt from med school vs. the (assumed) free cost of a PhD program, this seems even less certain. The way I'm starting to look at things, I could get a PhD in about the same time it would take me to get through med school and residency, and spend most of those 8-9 years doing work that is more directly related to what my interests are, rather than spending a good deal of time in med school and residency doing stuff that's only tangentially related.
Any thoughts?
I applied to MD programs this year and thus far haven't gotten in anywhere (though I'm on a few waitlists). My grades and scores were excellent; I believe the problem with my application was that while it was clear I was very interested in brain research, there was little to indicate I had any real interest in becoming a physician per se. And indeed, when asked why I didn't just go for a PhD rather than an MD during interviews, I didn't have a great answer.
So now I'm wondering whether I really should apply again next year, or possibly look at applying to masters or doctoral programs in some neuroscience or psychology field. A big part of my initial reason for applying to med school instead was that I thought I could wind up doing virtually the same sort of work in the end, but with more options and a higher income. However, considering that academic/research psychiatrists or neurologists make even less than their clinical counterparts, I'm not sure how true the income part is; when you factor in the added debt from med school vs. the (assumed) free cost of a PhD program, this seems even less certain. The way I'm starting to look at things, I could get a PhD in about the same time it would take me to get through med school and residency, and spend most of those 8-9 years doing work that is more directly related to what my interests are, rather than spending a good deal of time in med school and residency doing stuff that's only tangentially related.
Any thoughts?
