Should I bother applying to MD/PhD?

[deleted102545]

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I have done lab work for my professor for 3 years and experiments of my own for a Research Problems class and for Senior Seminar but I have never published anything so is it even worth applying to MD/PhD?

 

[Dimoak]

I'm no expert, but there are many many different MD/PhD programs offered throughout the country; I think that even more than half of the current AMCAS med schools offer such a program. Although having been published definitely helps, not having done so doesn't necessarily eliminate you from contention, especially considering you have research experience which certainly should help. If you're truly interested in a career where an MD/PhD would be beneficial for you, IMHO, you should go for it. 🙂

 

[Shatterstar17]

I have done lab work for my professor for 3 years and experiments of my own for a Research Problems class and for Senior Seminar but I have never published anything so is it even worth applying to MD/PhD?

I wasn't even in the lab for as long as you and I managed to do fine in the process. If it's actually what you want to do, go for it.

 

[ClarinetGeek]

I worked in a lab for 3 years...no pubs...things worked well for me. I just started my summer lab rotation today. During interviews, no one asked about pubs or why I didn't have any. So I wouldn't worry about pubs as road block in your application. Pubs simply serve a concerte example of your research demonstrating some aspect of working independently, competently, and effectively. You can/must demonstrate this during your interviews, essays, and most importantly, your PI's LOR. Best of Luck.

 

[Neuronix]

I have done lab work for my professor for 3 years and experiments of my own for a Research Problems class and for Senior Seminar but I have never published anything so is it even worth applying to MD/PhD?

I didn't publish anything as an undergrad until it was too late for my application. My advisor said specifically Penn would never take me with anything less than 2 publications. I'm now a 4th year at Penn. He was wrong.

That applicants need publications to get into top MD/PhD programs (or one at all!) is one of the most common and absolutely wrong myths I hear. To everyone reading this thread--don't worry about publication records when you're an undergrad!!!

 

[agp4]

I think everyone here's right - as long as you can demonstrate a commitment to research, you'll be fine. I seem to remember getting complimented on the interview trail for choosing a hard project and sticking with it, even though I was likely to not get any publishable data. Most interviewers understand that you're an undergrad and that involves a full-time course load, and I think it's okay to sometimes remind interviewers of that (gently, of course).

 

[MSTP?]

thanks!

 

[Shatterstar17]

does a powerhouse undergrad help or hurt?
i went to harvard and graduated with a joint ba/ma (in four yrs). problem is my gpa sucks: 3.5 total, 3.3 bcpm, 3.7 ao. my first mcat is a 32s, but i retook it in april bc i was sick and it screwed over my physics score. anyway, the rest of my app is killer (ecs, lors, research six yrs in well known labs).

will my app just be tossed in the too low # pile and never be read? will these #s prevent me from getting interviews? i'm applying to about 35 schools - all over the map.

thanks!

Ha. Well, I would ordinarily say that it would help (no one could tell you how much), but just through the grapevine I've heard a few things about grade inflation at big H. So coming out of there with not the best GPA probably makes it all neutral. 🙂 Still:

35 schools, wow..that's freakin excessive. Your GPA is low, yes, but if you really have six years of research in well-known labs and your MCATs improve, I can't imagine you'd have a problem getting into one top program or another if you pare that down to 15 or 20..but I guess there are no guarantees in the process. 😱

 

[SeventhSon]

I didn't publish anything as an undergrad until it was too late for my application. My advisor said specifically Penn would never take me with anything less than 2 publications. I'm now a 4th year at Penn. He was wrong.

That applicants need publications to get into top MD/PhD programs (or one at all!) is one of the most common and absolutely wrong myths I hear. To everyone reading this thread--don't worry about publication records when you're an undergrad!!!

it's amazing to me how often i've heard about pre-med advisors all over the map knowing absolutely nothing. It's scary. I can't say any bad things about the pre-med advising at my school, but my ugrad also puts as many people (volume-wise) into med school as anywhere.

 

[MSTP?]

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