Questions on applying MD/PhD

[smeagol]

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Hi all,

After reading this thread (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527949) I've become concerned that my research experience will not be enough to be competitive at MD/PhD or MSTP programs.

I have no basic science research background. I've had 2 years of experience in the same lab doing animal science research. The first few semesters, however, I was a mere lab assistant and not doing actual research. Even though 2 years might sound substantial, it was always part time, ranging anywhere from 6-12 hrs per week. This seems to pale in comparison to students who seem to have done it for multiple years, and 20-40 hrs a week.

I have no publications. I have a draft of my work and my PI is reviewing it and making suggestions. It will not be ready for submission by the time AMCAS can be submitted (Jun. 4).

Because of this, I have contemplated applying to a mixture of MD/PhD and MD-only programs. From searching previous threads, it seems that I might have my chops busted for this. But my reason for doing so is simply the worry that I won't be competitive enough for MD/PhD or MSTP programs.

So my main questions are:

1) Is applying to a mixture of programs a bad idea? Will it appear as if I don't know what I want?

Honestly, this might seem like a very legitimate question. I might say that I want to do basic science research but I have no background in this area.

2) How common is it for schools to drop my application to MD-only if I am not competitive enough for MD/PhD? And if known, what schools will allow me to do this?

My MCAT/GPA shouldn't be a problem, but I will not be graduating from a 'top tier' university. I'm working on an MDapps profile at the time being and will have it available in a little while.

 

[Rowany]

Research isn't like volunteer work, where you're measured by the hours you've put in. What they will most look for is whether you understand what you're doing and can think critically, which you seem to be able to if you're writing a manuscript. Talk with your PI, and post-doc(s), who should be able to guage your abilities more accurately.

Plus, when you apply MD/PhD, if you check the box saying you'd also like to be considered for just MD, they will consider your application separately anyway. Just applying MD to some schools may feel like you shot yourself in the foot if you got in and you realize you could have gotten in MD/PhD. Also, different schools have different stringencies of criteria. Imho, I would just apply to more schools MD/PhD.

Good luck,
R

 

[JulyMorning]

Hi all,

After reading this thread (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527949) I've become concerned that my research experience will not be enough to be competitive at MD/PhD or MSTP programs.

I have no basic science research background. I've had 2 years of experience in the same lab doing animal science research. The first few semesters, however, I was a mere lab assistant and not doing actual research. Even though 2 years might sound substantial, it was always part time, ranging anywhere from 6-12 hrs per week. This seems to pale in comparison to students who seem to have done it for multiple years, and 20-40 hrs a week.

I have no publications. I have a draft of my work and my PI is reviewing it and making suggestions. It will not be ready for submission by the time AMCAS can be submitted (Jun. 4).

Because of this, I have contemplated applying to a mixture of MD/PhD and MD-only programs. From searching previous threads, it seems that I might have my chops busted for this. But my reason for doing so is simply the worry that I won't be competitive enough for MD/PhD or MSTP programs.

So my main questions are:

1) Is applying to a mixture of programs a bad idea? Will it appear as if I don't know what I want?

Honestly, this might seem like a very legitimate question. I might say that I want to do basic science research but I have no background in this area.

2) How common is it for schools to drop my application to MD-only if I am not competitive enough for MD/PhD? And if known, what schools will allow me to do this?

My MCAT/GPA shouldn't be a problem, but I will not be graduating from a 'top tier' university. I'm working on an MDapps profile at the time being and will have it available in a little while.

I have highlighted two things in your post. First one: you may work on your AMCAS, indicate which schools you are interested in (check off only MD), and submit the application. Most schools will not look at the application until it is verified by AMCAS, which would take about 10 days (roughly) if you submit it in early June (increasingly more time, if later). While your AMCAS is still in "limbo," get your PI to finish commenting on your draft, write the MD/PhD essay and the significant research experience assays, get back into AMCAS, and change the programs you are interested in applying to from MD to MD/PhD. AMCAS will allow you to do that (just in case, call them to confirm; they did do it last year). Sorry if it sounds complicated, but this way, your application will already be submitted and in line for verification while you are still working on your sig. research experience essay. This is what I did, and it worked out rather well.
Second: it does not matter which university you graduate from (ok, if you went to Harvard/Princeton/etc, that probably looks very nice on your application, but a lot of people didn't, and still got in without any problems).
To answer your question #2, if the school does not deem you a good candidate for their MD/PhD, they will ask you if you would like to be considered for MD-only program (although some schools won't do that - they only consider you for MD/PhD). This is definitely not unheard of, and it depends on the school.
You could apply to a mixture of programs, but, as mentioned in other threads, that puts your commitment to the MD/PhD track in question. If it makes you feel better, I went through a similar situation, thinking I wasn't competitive enough to get into MD/PhD, applying to a mixture of programs, not getting in the first application cycle, and applying again this past application cycle (difference between first and second cycle? - I was able to convince my interviewers that I knew and was confident that the MD/PhD training was right for me for my future goals, and I was going to stick with it).
Sorry for such a long post. Hope it helps!

 

[smeagol]

Thank you for your replies.

I have decided against applying to a mixture of MD-only and MD/PhD programs. After a bit of searching it does appear that a handful of schools will consider my MD application separately from the PhD portion.

I've started an MDapps profile and will be linked to my user name as soon as I figure out how it's done.

I do have 1 additional question now after reading the FAQ at HMS (http://www.hms.harvard.edu/md_phd/faq/).

Have many non-science majors been successful in MD/PhD admissions? Pre-meds are commonly told that one's major doesn't matter for MD admissions and was wondering if this still holds true for MD/PhD programs. Reading the FAQ at the HMS website has me a bit concerned now.