What they look for a in an MD/PHD applicant

[joshinjosh]

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I've got a couple questions...

Science nerd vs Well-rounded student
-I am a triple major in neurobiology, biochemistry, and bioengineering, so my course is butt loaded with only science courses. I've taken 1 years worth of english, 2 quarters of history, and a business class, but that is bascially all of my non-science classes. I was wondering, if mstp schools look for students with a broader background in their studies or do they look for science geeks like me 🙂 Should I have more variety in my coursework?

Research vs Clinical Volunteering
-Question 2. I am currently already working in a lab, in which I have committed one more year. Right now... I have the option to work in another lab (I would love to do it) and on top of that I also got accepted into an EMT training program that lasts one quarter. I dont think I will be able to handle working in 2 labs, school, and night (EMT) classes. So I have to choose between the two. I have a bunch of volunteer experience, but nothing too medically hands-on like volunttering as an emt. So what would you guys/gals choose; taking the EMT class with intentions of volunteering/working as an EMT or taking on the 2nd lab position or none?

Josh

 

[OncDoc19]

I've got a couple questions...

Science nerd vs Well-rounded student
-I am a triple major in neurobiology, biochemistry, and bioengineering, so my course is butt loaded with only science courses. I've taken 1 years worth of english, 2 quarters of history, and a business class, but that is bascially all of my non-science classes. I was wondering, if mstp schools look for students with a broader background in their studies or do they look for science geeks like me 🙂 Should I have more variety in my coursework?

Research vs Clinical Volunteering
-Question 2. I am currently already working in a lab, in which I have committed one more year. Right now... I have the option to work in another lab (I would love to do it) and on top of that I also got accepted into an EMT training program that lasts one quarter. I dont think I will be able to handle working in 2 labs, school, and night (EMT) classes. So I have to choose between the two. I have a bunch of volunteer experience, but nothing too medically hands-on like volunttering as an emt. So what would you guys/gals choose; taking the EMT class with intentions of volunteering/working as an EMT or taking on the 2nd lab position or none?

Josh

1. The answer to this question will vary by school. I have specifically seen on many school's applications that they want a certain number of humanities/social sciences credit (JHU is the highest I have seen - they want 24 hours). Just because you are applying MSTP doesn't mean you don't have to meet the med school requirements as well and those often in clude (offically or unoffically) a braod education. MSTP applicatns can usually get away with less volunteering/clinical exposure because it is unerstood that you devoted more time to research, but I havn't heard that they are lax about the broad education requirements.

2. Would you have time to work as an EMT and work in a lab? I don't think you need to work in both labs. Pick the one that you like best. It's ok not to stay in one lab for your whole undergrad. Its great if the first lab you pick is a perfect fit for you, but sometimes its nice to explore other fields as well. Only do the EMT class if you think you would have time to actaully work as an EMT. Otherwise, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities where you can have patient contact.

 

[Neuronix]

Science nerd vs Well-rounded student
I was wondering, if mstp schools look for students with a broader background in their studies or do they look for science geeks like me 🙂 Should I have more variety in my coursework?

I will disagree with OncDoc on this one. Adcoms usually don't scrutinize applications to this level of detail and they are looking for committed science nerds for their programs. It may shut you down at one or two programs where the MD committee has some sort of requirement, but I doubt it.

Looking at the Hopkins app... Is there somewhere it asks you for a breakdown? Almost nobody goes through applications to count your humanities courses. This goes double for MD/PhD committees who don't really care to begin with, and at Hopkins, like at most schools, they have pretty much 100% say over your app. Also on your AMCAS I can almost guarantee many of your science classes won't fit into BCPM and it will look like you are more well rounded than you are.

Research vs Clinical Volunteering
-Question 2. I am currently already working in a lab, in which I have committed one more year. Right now... I have the option to work in another lab (I would love to do it) and on top of that I also got accepted into an EMT training program that lasts one quarter. I dont think I will be able to handle working in 2 labs, school, and night (EMT) classes. So I have to choose between the two. I have a bunch of volunteer experience, but nothing too medically hands-on like volunttering as an emt. So what would you guys/gals choose; taking the EMT class with intentions of volunteering/working as an EMT or taking on the 2nd lab position or none?

Research is the desired pathway. You should have some volunteering. Think on the order of 100 hours during your whole undergrad. I would recommend focusing on productive research over EMT, but you have to go with your interests too. Is that something you really want to do, or are you just doing it to round out your app?

 

[Jorje286]

A little bit off topic, but how some of you guys manage to study full time, work in TWO labs, and still think about EMT volunteering? That just sounds crazy to me.

Studying full time and working for ~16 hours a week in a lab already nearly totally fills my schedule, because I obviously has to devote at least some of the weekend for studying.

😕

 

[Neuronix]

I always took a light course load, around 12-14 credits (12 being the minimum to be full time) per semester.