Value of Non-Medical Research in MSTP Application

[Chrishel]

---

Members don't see this ad.

After having lurked on SDN for some time, I finally decided to post because I can't seem to figure out where I stand in the whole application process.

I am at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, and I am getting a dual degree in Computer Science and Chemistry. My basic credentials are:

GPA: 3.74
BCPM: 3.73

MCAT: 36R (PS 14, VR 10, BS 12)

I have also been working on a research project for about 2 years for the University Archives to develop an open-source software package which will allow archiving institutions to manage their collections. This project has been accepted for a presentation at the annual Society of American Archivists meeting this August in Washington DC, and will likely produce several publications in digital library journals (of which at least 1 I should be the sole author).

My role in this project is as the sole developer. While I have faculty supervising me, and giving me a general sense of direction, I essentially have complete discretion over the project. Also, although I have no idea if it is relevant, I am being paid for this research.

I would like to pursue something along the lines of an MD/PhD in Bioinformatics, thinking that the combination of my computational and biological sciences background is probably somewhat unique. The school that seems in the forefront of my list to apply to is Harvard.

What I am trying to figure out is if medical schools will value this non-medical research at all. While I have been very active in many extracurricular activities on campus (most musically related), and have a strong work experience, I have essentially no volunteering or clinical experience.

Other schools I am very interested in for MD/PhD are:

Duke
UCSF
University of Washington

While UIUC is certainly strong for either CS or chemistry, it is not a great medical school. I especially want to go to a school that is strong both as a medical school AND as a graduate school because I am not totally certain whether I want to practice or go into research, and I feel that I will not be in a position to make that decision until I have been in medical school for some time.

I would appriciate any input anyone can offer as to whether I stand a chance getting into these top tier programs given my background, or if I should be looking to do an MD only, or if I am not likely to get into either type of program.

Thank you very much.

 

[Maebea]

I would say that you certainly have a chance of getting into the schools you list, but you should cast a wider net. Your background and research interests are different from the garden-variety MD-PhD applicant, so it is harder to predict how admissions committees will behave. MD-PhD admissions committees tend to be a bit conservative; they are sometimes reluctant to stray far from the beaten path. I believe that this is due in large part to the competition for NIH training grant funds; taking risks on candidates is not rewarded. With the number of MSTP slots being steadily eroded away by the flat NIH training budget (a few years ago, the number of slots was headed towards 1000; it will drop below 900 next fiscal year), schools will probably react by taking fewer students, and taking few risks on the individuals they do admit. Please do not misunderstand, you are not an academic risk; you could certainly do well at any of the schools you mentioned. The perceived risk stems from the fact that you are not the typical mechanistic molecular biology candidate that admissions committees tend to favor. It is for this reason that I encourage you to apply to more programs. I could be wrong, however, and all five schools you list could accept you. In that case, you will have expended some time and several hundred dollars that you did not need to.

 

[Chrishel]

I would say that you certainly have a chance of getting into the schools you list, but you should cast a wider net. Your background and research interests are different from the garden-variety MD-PhD applicant, so it is harder to predict how admissions committees will behave. MD-PhD admissions committees tend to be a bit conservative; they are sometimes reluctant to stray far from the beaten path. I believe that this is due in large part to the competition for NIH training grant funds; taking risks on candidates is not rewarded. With the number of MSTP slots being steadily eroded away by the flat NIH training budget (a few years ago, the number of slots was headed towards 1000; it will drop below 900 next fiscal year), schools will probably react by taking fewer students, and taking few risks on the individuals they do admit. Please do not misunderstand, you are not an academic risk; you could certainly do well at any of the schools you mentioned. The perceived risk stems from the fact that you are not the typical mechanistic molecular biology candidate that admissions committees tend to favor. It is for this reason that I encourage you to apply to more programs. I could be wrong, however, and all five schools you list could accept you. In that case, you will have expended some time and several hundred dollars that you did not need to.

By cast a wider net, are you saying apply to lower-ranked MSTP programs, or just increase the quantity of applications to improve my chances? Also does is it likely that my lack of volunteering and clinical experience is going to hurt me? Unfortunately, I'm worried it's too late to do anything about it at this point (I will be sending the application this summer).

 

[Vader]

It sounds like you would be a strong applicant for programs that offer bioinformatics or related field for the graduate work. I would second that you should really apply to more programs.

Not to put you on the spot, but you state that you have no clinical or volunteering experience. The question that inevitably arises is: why medicine?

 

[Gfunk6]

By cast a wider net, are you saying apply to lower-ranked MSTP programs, or just increase the quantity of applications to improve my chances?

The former is the correct answer. Apply to multiple schools in different tiers to maximize your success.

Also does is it likely that my lack of volunteering and clinical experience is going to hurt me?

It will probably hurt you if the medical school is involved extensively in MSTP admissions. However, MSTP committees tend to overlook such things if you truly have excellent research potential. Also, be prepared to answer this question well: "Since you don't have much clinical experience, how do you really know that a career as a physician is right for you?"

 

[Maebea]

Sorry for the vague response. You should apply to a broader range of schools to maximize your chance of being admitted. I would include UI-UC, as well as other elite and mid-level schools that have strong bioinformatics/computational biology programs. Keep in mind that places like Harvard probably have 500-600 applicants for 10-12 spots, whereas a place like NYU or Pittsburgh might have 300 for the same number of spots.

Gfunk6 & Vader raise an important point: the lack of clinical exposure has the potential to negatively impact your application. You really do need to have an answer for the "Why medicine?" question. The importance of having clinical exposure will vary among institutions, but it will play a role at most schools. You might still be able to get some exposure before the interview season.

Have you talked about your situation with Jenny Bloom in the MSP at UI-UC? My understanding is that she is very helpful.

 

[Chrishel]

Sorry for the vague response. You should apply to a broader range of schools to maximize your chance of being admitted. I would include UI-UC, as well as other elite and mid-level schools that have strong bioinformatics/computational biology programs. Keep in mind that places like Harvard probably have 500-600 applicants for 10-12 spots, whereas a place like NYU or Pittsburgh might have 300 for the same number of spots.

Gfunk6 & Vader raise an important point: the lack of clinical exposure has the potential to negatively impact your application. You really do need to have an answer for the "Why medicine?" question. The importance of having clinical exposure will vary among institutions, but it will play a role at most schools. You might still be able to get some exposure before the interview season.

Have you talked about your situation with Jenny Bloom in the MSP at UI-UC? My understanding is that she is very helpful.

I have not spoken with her, mainly because I was waiting on my MCAT scores to see if MSTP would even be in the realm of possibility.

Concerning why medicine... From about as early as I can remember, until early high school, I wanted to be a doctor. I also started programming at around age 5, and really enjoyed solving technical problems. Once in high school, I realized that the goal of a medical career was more my parent's than my own. I found much satisfaction with many of my musical activites, and was seriously considering pursuing music composition as a profession. Concurrently, I was also using my computer skills to advance in the professional environment. Later in high school, my plan was to pursue computer science in college to have a safety net in case my musical career fell through.

Just before college, and a bit into the first year, I had several family members become very ill and die. At that point, I had not actually been in a hospital in over 10 years. Being with them in that setting made me realize, that, although the goal of a medical career was my parents, my passion for caring for others was genuine. I also experienced a strong, gut sense that I truly belonged in the hospital helping those who suffer.

For the past year or so, I have been trying to piece together a way to put all of my passions and talents to have a meaningful purpose in life. I have definitely ruled out just a computer science-based career. As much as I like the idea of making cool new software, or creating products that bring convience to everyday life, I just don't think creating an ipod carries as much direct value as deducing the causes and treatements for life-threatening conditions. I have also come to realize that people with strong biological/chemical AND computational backgrounds are somewhat rare, and that I may be able to fit into a seemingly valuable niche where I have (or at some point hope to have) strong expertise in both fields. Many of the recent discoveries in medicine would simply not be possible without the power of modern comptuers, and I believe this trend will continue even more as technology advances further. Given my background, along with my strong desire to leave society in better shape than I found it, I aim for the opportunities of MSTP programs to help contribute to the next generation of revolutionary advancements in medicine.

Haha, wow, reading over that, I realize my stream of conciousness sounds a lot like a personal statement. Oh well, at least I have a head start on that now... 🙂

Hopefully you have a little bit better understand of where I am coming from. I greatly value all of your input, and if anyone else has anything to add or comment on, I would be more than happy to hear it, especially concerning how adcoms are likely to value my reasons for pursuing medicine.