I’ve scowered the forums and found similar situations, but maybe someone has insightful advice for my specific situation.
Heads up- go get a coffee, it’s kind of a long one.
Profile
Age: 28
BS: Microbiology, minor Sociology, State University, 2017
Worked full-time throughout undergrad.
GPA: 3.58
(Semester 1- GPA 2.9, hard time adjusting. Last semester- GPA 3.89)
MSc: Immunology and Inflammation, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2020
Danish Cancer Society Scholarship
Background
During my bachelor’s, I fell in love with immunology, also wanted to travel.
Combined the two and moved to Copenhagen to start a Masters in Immunology.
Had an interesting thesis project in a high-profile laboratory/industry with a cancer- (and later COVID) related thesis project. Contributing author on Nat Comm publication.
PhD offers of admission from Karolinska Institute (Stockholm), and University of Copenhagen to continue my master’s project.
Turned them down to instead accept a research assistant position studying adoptive cell therapies (ACT) for cancer at one of the world-leading institutes for specific ACTs. I took this position instead of the other options out of pure personal passion and intellectual fascination, even though it was not a PhD position and the pay is meh.
During my time since moving to Copenhagen:
Where I stand, things I’m reasoning with, and my question for you:
After my personal and professional experiences of the past 3 years, I want to be an MD. No questions asked.
The institute where I am employed as a RA has offered me a PhD position (3-year program) affiliated with U Copenhagen (where I did my MS). They are aware of my aspiration for post-PhD US medical school and I’m sure will allow me to dedicate time to MCAT-prep and the various other steps so I can have no more than one gap year after PhD. I would expect to start med school at the age of 33.
My other option is to return to the US after my RA contract is up, take a year for MCAT and to prepare, and apply for MD. With this, I’d expect to start at 30.
With my bachelor education, I feel I’m a mediocre-average candidate at best, depending on how I perform on MCAT. This is part of why I would not ever try for a US MD/PhD dual degree. I wasn’t exactly planning on trying to be a doctor during my BS as one could tell from my transcript.
PhD pros:
PhD cons:
Should I stay for another 3 years getting a decent salary and end up with a PhD going into med school? Will this hurt me at all in the long run besides missing out on a practicing MD salary?
I will have LoRs from PIs in Copenhagen, one from my bachelors (in the US), and one from the US doctor I shadow. Is this decent, or will nonUS PIs be disregarded no matter their international reputation?
Given this profile, what points help me and where do I need work, whether or not I continue with a PhD?
If you’ve stuck with me this long, you rock. I appreciate any and all input.
Again, thank you.
-thomas
Heads up- go get a coffee, it’s kind of a long one.
Profile
Age: 28
BS: Microbiology, minor Sociology, State University, 2017
Worked full-time throughout undergrad.
GPA: 3.58
(Semester 1- GPA 2.9, hard time adjusting. Last semester- GPA 3.89)
MSc: Immunology and Inflammation, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2020
Danish Cancer Society Scholarship
Background
During my bachelor’s, I fell in love with immunology, also wanted to travel.
Combined the two and moved to Copenhagen to start a Masters in Immunology.
Had an interesting thesis project in a high-profile laboratory/industry with a cancer- (and later COVID) related thesis project. Contributing author on Nat Comm publication.
PhD offers of admission from Karolinska Institute (Stockholm), and University of Copenhagen to continue my master’s project.
Turned them down to instead accept a research assistant position studying adoptive cell therapies (ACT) for cancer at one of the world-leading institutes for specific ACTs. I took this position instead of the other options out of pure personal passion and intellectual fascination, even though it was not a PhD position and the pay is meh.
During my time since moving to Copenhagen:
- I shadowed my father’s Rad Onc at Mayo Clinic during holidays (thankfully this doctor is happy to be my mentor)
- I lost my father to cancer in the midst of my masters studies
- Remotely volunteered with American Cancer Society doing grant review projects
- Got a unique/personal world view of healthcare outside of the US (I work at a hospital)
- First-authored a review paper (currently in editorial review)
Where I stand, things I’m reasoning with, and my question for you:
After my personal and professional experiences of the past 3 years, I want to be an MD. No questions asked.
The institute where I am employed as a RA has offered me a PhD position (3-year program) affiliated with U Copenhagen (where I did my MS). They are aware of my aspiration for post-PhD US medical school and I’m sure will allow me to dedicate time to MCAT-prep and the various other steps so I can have no more than one gap year after PhD. I would expect to start med school at the age of 33.
My other option is to return to the US after my RA contract is up, take a year for MCAT and to prepare, and apply for MD. With this, I’d expect to start at 30.
With my bachelor education, I feel I’m a mediocre-average candidate at best, depending on how I perform on MCAT. This is part of why I would not ever try for a US MD/PhD dual degree. I wasn’t exactly planning on trying to be a doctor during my BS as one could tell from my transcript.
PhD pros:
- Livable salary (I’m in Scandinavia),
- potential for a number of more publications,
- would give me more research experience and pull to help me with future research/grant applications in the future (right?)
- help me be less restricted to only clinical research
PhD cons:
- Burnout – I think my energy and can-do attitude has peaked and the longer I wait for the hardest schooling of my life the worse I will perform,
- maybe my PhD research is not as bountiful as I anticipate,
- maybe I decide I hate doing a PhD and I drop out which I assume will really hurt me in applying for MD school.
- Lastly, I get side-tracked. Maybe find an opportunity for a spin-out company, maybe find an opportunity in consulting, maybe get distracted by a financially lucrative option and end up 20 years later with the regret of not perusing my MD.
Should I stay for another 3 years getting a decent salary and end up with a PhD going into med school? Will this hurt me at all in the long run besides missing out on a practicing MD salary?
I will have LoRs from PIs in Copenhagen, one from my bachelors (in the US), and one from the US doctor I shadow. Is this decent, or will nonUS PIs be disregarded no matter their international reputation?
Given this profile, what points help me and where do I need work, whether or not I continue with a PhD?
If you’ve stuck with me this long, you rock. I appreciate any and all input.
Again, thank you.
-thomas