some questions from someone new

[snowcreeks]

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I'm very glad that I've found this forum! I know everyone here has helped others about their indecisions, or offered great advice.

I'm a rising junior bio major, and I've been doing research for 3 academic semesters, 2 summers (and the next 2 summers also). So far I know I like research a lot, and being a doctor doesn't sound too attractive to me. I'm not sure whether I should go for a PhD or MD/PhD.

I have several questions:

1. Does it take usually 7 years to complete the MD/PhD program? Can it be shorter?

2. If you apply to MD/PhD, you have to comply with the med school requirement, taking the MCAT, but do you also have to take the "recommended" undergrad course work such as 1 year English, 1 year of Physics... etc? or even the "well-rounded, whole package"?

3. Is it possible to switch from PhD to MD/PhD?

4. What is the average stat for a MD/PhD admitted applicant? Many schools only take a handful of students each year and it looks ultra-competitive. My GPA might not pass......and don't know how my test score's gonna be.

5. MD/PhD program's med school portion, do you do residency or rotation? Or are you simply taking classes?

Thanks so much!

 

[MumbleJumble]

I will attempt to answer some of your questions, though I would encourage you to visit Habari's website (www.intransit.us), which may give you some insight into what md/phd programs are all about and also help you decide whether or not it would be right for you.

1. Depends on the school. Most schools tell you an average of 7.5 years, but it seems like most people get out in 8, a couple get out in 7, a very small minority take 6, and some take 9 or 10. It also depends on phd program (neuro and bme tend to take longer).

2. Yes, you need all the med school requirements. Most med schools actually require a year of english and physics plus lab. Some people mentioned having requirements waived, but from what I've seen it doesn't happen very often. There is no set model of courses you should take, successful md/phd applicants can have either strong science backgrounds or more well balanced schedules, research experience tends to be more important than course selection.

3. Usually, but it also depends on the school. I know it's possible at Hopkins. However, it tends to be more rare and more difficult than switching from MD.

4. Many threads on this question, wide range of answers.

5. I'm kind of confused on this question. Med school usually consists of 2 years of classes and 2 years of clinical rotations(again, varies by school), md/phd programs incorporate most of these 4 years with phd research rotations, classes, and thesis.

Hope that helps, check out the website.
-Steve

 

[Neuronix]

I mostly agree with MJ, but I want to disagree on a couple key points.

1. This isn't important, but Bioengineering here has a reputation for getting people out pretty quickly. Must be a Hopkins thing...

3. Switching from PhD programs to MD/PhD is a risky business at best. Here it's close to impossible, and I'd say that is true at the majority of MSTPs. It's possible at Hopkins, sure, but that's because they probably won't give you full-funding. That means that most MSTP programs will pay your medical school tuition and stipend for every year you're in the program (fully-funded). At Hopkins, they have a number of students who do not get tuition and stipend paid during medical school. So, they end up graduating with the massive medical school debtload. The fully-funded positions there are especially competitive, and so you're very unlikely to get one switching in from a PhD program.

4. Schools that post accepted student stats: <a href="http://www.bcm.tmc.edu/mstp/admissions_statistics.html" target="_blank">Baylor</a>, <a href="http://mstp.wustl.edu/admissions_FAQ.html" target="_blank">WashU</a>, <a href="http://www.med.cornell.edu/mdphd/student.html" target="_blank">Cornell</a>

5. To try to answer this question, you do rotations (~1 year worth, then electives) in medical school and most (>95% of) MD/PhD students will proceed to do a residency after medical school.

 

[snowcreeks]

Anyone know where I can find a good discussion forum on grad schools (biological sciences) online? Tried Princeton review, there weren't many posts.