PhD Student Dreaming of MD

[Canopy2]

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Hello All,

I am currently finishing out my first year in a chemistry PhD program at a well-respected research university. While I wanted to become a pediatrician for the better part of my life, in my junior year of UG I decided to pursue a career as a professor after discovering that I really liked chemistry and research. While I still enjoy these things, I have realized that it is not what I want to do for the rest of my life - I yearn instead for a career that will allow me to more directly interact with and help other people. In short, I still dream to become a doctor and I think I will always regret it if I do not pursue this.

My plan for right now is to continue in my graduate program for another year so that I can earn my masters in chemistry (next spring). After this I was planning to work as a scribe and study for/take the MCAT (my pre-reqs are completed) in hopes of applying to med school about a year after earning my MS.

I am just a little worried that leaving a PhD program with a MS will hurt my chances of getting into medical school. I am wondering if it would be better for me to stick it out for the entire fives years, then apply after earning my PhD. I am on fellowship, so continuing in the program only costs me time - but I just find it difficult to justify spending three more years here if I know this is not my calling in life.

Aside from this detour in my path, I feel that I have a solid application so far - high undergraduate and graduate GPAs, lots of volunteer experience, some shadowing that will be supplemented by scribing, many leadership positions, scholarships and awards, etc.

Any opinions? Thank you in advance!

 

[Dare2Dream]

Sticking it out 5 years is a bad idea and may even hurt your chances. You should start volunteering and shadowing right away and if those experiences affirm your desire to pursue medicine, then you need to do everything to work towards that goal. In that case, completing a MS and moving on would be the best path.

 

[Dral]

Sticking it out 5 years is a bad idea and may even hurt your chances. You should start volunteering and shadowing right away and if those experiences affirm your desire to pursue medicine, then you need to do everything to work towards that goal. In that case, completing a MS and moving on would be the best path.

Agree

It shows you are more sure of medicine now versus finishing a PhD and then deciding to 'jump ship' (what it could appear like to some).

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Don't finish a degree you don't want. I know various people in medical school that bailed on programs and did well on interviews.

 

[wagonwheel23]

I bailed on my PhD and am applying in this cycle. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Goro]

Take the MS and start thinking about the ECs that you'll need and MCAT prep. Not everyone is meant for a life in research.

Medicine is a calling, but sometimes it's evolutionary, and for others, it's revolutionary.

Hello All,

I am currently finishing out my first year in a chemistry PhD program at a well-respected research university. While I wanted to become a pediatrician for the better part of my life, in my junior year of UG I decided to pursue a career as a professor after discovering that I really liked chemistry and research. While I still enjoy these things, I have realized that it is not what I want to do for the rest of my life - I yearn instead for a career that will allow me to more directly interact with and help other people. In short, I still dream to become a doctor and I think I will always regret it if I do not pursue this.

My plan for right now is to continue in my graduate program for another year so that I can earn my masters in chemistry (next spring). After this I was planning to work as a scribe and study for/take the MCAT (my pre-reqs are completed) in hopes of applying to med school about a year after earning my MS.

I am just a little worried that leaving a PhD program with a MS will hurt my chances of getting into medical school. I am wondering if it would be better for me to stick it out for the entire fives years, then apply after earning my PhD. I am on fellowship, so continuing in the program only costs me time - but I just find it difficult to justify spending three more years here if I know this is not my calling in life.

Aside from this detour in my path, I feel that I have a solid application so far - high undergraduate and graduate GPAs, lots of volunteer experience, some shadowing that will be supplemented by scribing, many leadership positions, scholarships and awards, etc.

Any opinions? Thank you in advance!

 

[Corova]

I finished my chem PhD and have spent the last few years post-docing trying to convince myself that I really wanted to be a professor and write grants/ direct research for a career. I'm currently filling out my secondaries. I don't feel like I've wasted the last 10 years of my life going down this path only to shift over to medicine, but I have to say, it would be nice to be finishing a residency now rather than applying to start med school in my early 30s.

 

[Predocpremed]

I'm kind of in the same boat as you, except I am in my 4th year of my chem PhD program, also at a well respected research university. I decided I am going to finish my program, but only because I put blood, sweat, and tears into advancing to candidacy, and by time I am ready to matriculate into medical school (Fall 2017), I will be finished with the PhD. Also, I think I will hate myself forever if I left after getting this far. I can tell you that it is not easy preparing for the MCAT while being a PhD student. As it is, I wake up early and study for maybe an hour or two each day before starting my 12+ hour work day, and pretty much spend all of my Sundays studying. I have little free time and my MCAT prep is going very slowly. It is very frustrating. If I made the decision to go to med school earlier in my grad school career, I would have left with the MS and not gone through advancement.

 

[j4pac]

I had a buddy who finish all of PhD but his dissertation...and he got into med school...and he has absolutely no regrets.

 

[Doug Underhill]

I'm applying right now as a Ph.D student who will defend as soon as they get their paper accepted.

I know a Ph.D student who left in his second year and applied to med school. He did not get in with a 3.5 uGPA/42 MCAT. I know of two Ph.Ds who applied in their final year of grad school who were accepted. One was a Canadian with a 4.0/35 (with 2 MCATs), and I'm not sure of the stats of the other.

These are just my anecdotal experiences.

 

[QofQuimica]

One year into the PhD program, yes, definitely plan on leaving with an MS. Try not to burn bridges with your PI; you'll need a LOR from him/her. And start getting clinical experience yesterday, not a year from now.

 

[Canopy2]

Thank you for the advice, I really appreciate all your input. It's nice to know that I am not the only one in this position. While it seems that the road ahead will be challenging, I am relieved to know that getting into medical school is not completely out of the question.