This year or next?

[Witty Web Name]

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Hello, I'm new here, allow me to introduce my situation:
I decided I want to do research and medicine my junior year. So I switched my major to biochemistry that year. Since then, (I am technically a "senior" now) I have taken 3 labs per semester. So far:
-I have received decent grades (math & science GPA > 3.8)
-I have been doing volunteer work at the ER.
-I have a good personal statement
-I have yet to take the MCAT
-I have an A.A. in Business (to make me look "well rounded")

The only problem is I have no outside of class research experience (Getting a summer job/internship working in a lab seems rather difficult). My question is "Assuming I do well on the MCAT, would it be worth it to apply to an MD/Ph.D. program this summer, even though the only research experience I could put down would be the research I am doing this summer?"

Or would it be better for me to wait till next spring, when I could talk about the research I will be doing this coming summer, my senior capstone project, and possibly one of those predoctoral fellowships (and of course courses such as physical chemistry, biochemistry, quantum mechanics, and differential equations will show up on my transcript instead of just "biology, chemistry, organic, physics, molecular bio, and calculus")

~Sorry for the long question as my frist post

 

[abeanatrice]

Hello, I'm new here, allow me to introduce my situation:
I decided I want to do research and medicine my junior year. So I switched my major to biochemistry that year. Since then, (I am technically a "senior" now) I have taken 3 labs per semester. So far:
-I have received decent grades (math & science GPA > 3.8)
-I have been doing volunteer work at the ER.
-I have a good personal statement
-I have yet to take the MCAT
-I have an A.A. in Business (to make me look "well rounded")

The only problem is I have no outside of class research experience (Getting a summer job/internship working in a lab seems rather difficult). My question is "Assuming I do well on the MCAT, would it be worth it to apply to an MD/Ph.D. program this summer, even though the only research experience I could put down would be the research I am doing this summer?"

Or would it be better for me to wait till next spring, when I could talk about the research I will be doing this coming summer, my senior capstone project, and possibly one of those predoctoral fellowships (and of course courses such as physical chemistry, biochemistry, quantum mechanics, and differential equations will show up on my transcript instead of just "biology, chemistry, organic, physics, molecular bio, and calculus")

~Sorry for the long question as my frist post

I think you would increase your chances significantly if you took a year off after getting your degree to do some research prior to applying to MD/PhD programs...maybe even two. My impression is that the most successful applicants have 2+ years of research in addition to stellar grades (>3.8) and excellent MCAT scores (34+). Its best if you can do your research in the same lab over a long period of time, so that you really get to know the project well. Publications are nice, but definitely not a requirement and the longer you are in a lab, the more likely you are to get your name on one or two. There are definitely programs that you can look into doing that last a year or two with funding. I'm not the best person to ask about those though since I'm a senior right now and am currently applying. I am sure other people can give you better advice on looking for those.

But basically, having solid research under your belt will definitely improve your chances of getting into a good MSTP, especially if you can do research that is sort of in your area of interest.

Good luck!

 

[b&ierstiefel]

You have excellent stats but without the research experience, I'm afraid to say that you will not be as competitive for MSTP programs. Most people who apply to MSTP have your stats + research experience. Of those people, the majority have 1-2 years whereas a few have more. However, a lot of these folks juggle their research schedule with classes so they're not really working a full research schedule.

To make yourself the most competitive applicant you can be, I would suggest that you take a year off to do dedicated research. That way you can focus all your energy to start learning how to think scientifically and complete a project (or two). If you can pull off a publication from this year of research, your application will be even more competitive.

By rushing the process (i.e., applying now with little or no research experience), you risk being accepted to a lower tier MD/PhD program or not being accepted at all. If the latter situation is the case, you've wasted a year (and money). So don't risk this situation, spend an extra year doing research, put together a well-rounded, complete, strong application and then apply. Judging from your post, you seem like a smart, motivated person. So the last thing you need to do at this point is rush things and sell yourself short. 👍

 

[Vader]

When applying to MD/PhD programs, you must be very sure about your goals of pursuing research and medicine. A major aspect of "being sure" is having a proven track record in research that has allowed you to really see what research is all about and if you would really like to dedicate yourself to 7-8 years of medical and graduate training.

I think the advice by the previous posters is sound--taking a year off to pursue research full time would seem like a good idea in your case. Provided your MCAT scores are good, the additional research, letters of recommendation from your PI/mentors, and more "experienced" overall outlook will significantly strengthen your application.

Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[staticfritz]

i'd also like to add on that taking a year off to work outside of a school environment can be really important in your personal development. My time off has really helped me gain some perspective on my goals, skill, and weaknesses. I feel much more confident talking about them and the future now than I would have a year ago....