I suddenly started agonizing over something that I can't believe I never realized: that starting a PhD now could hurt my med-school chances.
I decided earlier this year that I wanted an MD/PhD; I simply had to, I believe; it was my life's goal and it was nagging me.
I was facing several situations:
- my application needed to be strengthened (3.4 ugpa, 3.0 bcmp).
- I was in financial straights and could not afford anything that required a tuition
Because PhD progams would be relatively quick and easy to apply to, and would be paid for, I decided I could save a year by getting started on the PhD immediately. So I applied for the PhD programs first, and I got in, with a great stipend and full tuition. I planned to take a few more undergraduate science courses here and there to boost my uGPA, then apply to med school after two years, enrolling after my 3rd year of my PhD program by which time course requirements would be done.
It is only now dawning on me that this was probably not very smart.
First of all, will it look to med schools that I don't know what I'm doing? What if I get into a med school that's different from where my PhD is?
Also, I just moved into my new college town and am starting my PhD program next fall, and I rented a room from a med student who mentioned that her post-bac program really helped her. Now I'm realizing that post bac then MD/PhD applications might have been smarter.
I have no money: I just spent all of it moving and buying furniture, and wouldn't have had money anyway. If I do a post-bac, it probably won't be until the spring if not next year.
What do I do? Avoid mocking my convoluted and unintelligent thought process so far; I feel sheepish enough as it is.
I decided earlier this year that I wanted an MD/PhD; I simply had to, I believe; it was my life's goal and it was nagging me.
I was facing several situations:
- my application needed to be strengthened (3.4 ugpa, 3.0 bcmp).
- I was in financial straights and could not afford anything that required a tuition
Because PhD progams would be relatively quick and easy to apply to, and would be paid for, I decided I could save a year by getting started on the PhD immediately. So I applied for the PhD programs first, and I got in, with a great stipend and full tuition. I planned to take a few more undergraduate science courses here and there to boost my uGPA, then apply to med school after two years, enrolling after my 3rd year of my PhD program by which time course requirements would be done.
It is only now dawning on me that this was probably not very smart.
First of all, will it look to med schools that I don't know what I'm doing? What if I get into a med school that's different from where my PhD is?
Also, I just moved into my new college town and am starting my PhD program next fall, and I rented a room from a med student who mentioned that her post-bac program really helped her. Now I'm realizing that post bac then MD/PhD applications might have been smarter.
I have no money: I just spent all of it moving and buying furniture, and wouldn't have had money anyway. If I do a post-bac, it probably won't be until the spring if not next year.
What do I do? Avoid mocking my convoluted and unintelligent thought process so far; I feel sheepish enough as it is.