Volunteering & Classes

[Neuralicious]

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Hey everyone at SDN!

CAUTION: WALL OF TEXT!!
Anyways be nice to me :/ I'm new, haha

Well I'm currently a sophomore at my university interested in doing an MD/PhD.
My major is biochemistry and have been in a research lab for almost a year now (began last summer) & am loving every moment of it.

Now I know that it is important to explain "why MD." My best explanation for this is only that there is crucial knowledge that can be used in basic research. But what are they really looking for with this type of question?

Also I have never done any volunteering in any clinical setting.
I am set up for orientation this week at a major cancer research hospital to hopefully volunteer this summer. I was hoping to work in histology/pathology to learn more about how they perform research.
Would you guys think it would be better if I volunteered in a more clinical setting? Or would it really matter?

Also I know that lots of students that apply for MD/PhD are heavy science nerds (like me ), but I am also interested in physical fitness and I tried talking to the special majors advisors for a BA in Exercise Science / similar degree (at our school only a BS is offered & I tried looking at all the classes & saw I wouldn't be able to complete it in 4 years). It's too bad... I loved physiology & love to exercise (when I have time of course)...
Also there is no point in simply doing a biochemistry degree. Of course I can take extra classes (like Microbiology/Linear Alg & etc.), but I want another major / minor. The problem is I don't really like English/Music/Art that much and everyone says don't do a second major unless you actually like the subject (to which I agree 100%).

I don't think there is any point in doing a second major in plain biology/plain chemistry either (seems kinda pointless to me)... I would rather just take a few extra classes in all those subjects.

The major reason I want to do a second major is because I took a lot of classes this year.
Now I have nothing required to take other than upper level biochemistry & physical chem...
I took a graduate level physiology and organic sequence this year.... and although I still have a 3.9x BCPM , I tanked 3 A- in graduate physiology, organic 1, & human anatomy 👎 (I WAS SOOOO CLOSE TO AN A IN ORGO & ANATOMY 🙁🙁🙁🙁🙁🙁🙁 )
I am already in much better standing this semester than the last sem for physiology 2, org 2 & basic biochem
I will even have my necessary research credits to graduate with a biochemistry degree done by the end of this year.
The reason I took all these at once was because at my school there is an accelerated professional school program which I was in for a while, until I realized I no longer wanted to do it. I only did the research because it interested me (now I am kinda paying for it).

Now, do you think the ADCOM would care if I took more hard core science classes or if I took some "easier" exercise science courses for my own interest? Would they ever bother to look at my specific application to see my interest in the subject & the many courses I would like to take in the field (I ask this because I know the ADCOM finds it interesting that students not involved in a deep science are interested in pursuing medicine)?
I expect during interview season I would be asked about it if they look at my course list.

 

[K31]

As a frame of reference, I've been a student interviewer for my program (NIH-funded MSTP) for the last 4 years.

First--take a deep breath and relax. You are in good shape for this point in your college career. Try to enjoy your college experience. I sometimes worry about the applicants with a perfect 4.0 GPA-- it just isn't natural. 3.8+ and no grade below a B and you are in good to go.

Research is of course the most important thing for MD/PhD admissions. If you are debating taking more classes to get a second major and spending more time in lab, absolutely choose the lab.

If you want to take some courses or get a minor in exercise science, by all means do so. Everyone takes courses outside their major for their own interest, and that is no problem whatsoever for MD/PhD admissions. I don't think I've ever asked about any courses an applicant has taken, and if I have it wasn't in a negative way. It may even give you something else interesting to discuss with an interviewer--we all have interests outside of science as well.

I don't see any point in taking extra science courses outside your major unless it is something you want to do--it won't add anything to your application. Again, spend the time in lab instead.

Also, while clinical experience is less important for MD/PhD admissions than for MD admissions, it is still something that needs to be done--I've seen otherwise good applicants rejected because they had no clinical experience and didn't appear to have taken any steps to get it. Admission processes vary widely by school, but at most institutions the MD/PhD applicants must be acceptable to the medical school, and they aren't going to be OK with somebody with no clinical experience at all. Second, you will be spending at least two years and probably more in a clinical setting and we don't want you to find out in medical school that you absolutely hate that setting. Therefore, it is important to get at least some clinical experience, whether that is volunteering or shadowing or whatever.

Finally, what are you doing posting on SDN on a Friday night? That's for when you are in grad school and are stuck in lab doing a long experiment. You are in college and there are so many better things you could be doing on a Friday, none of which have anything to do with MD/PhD admissions.