Will lack of research experience hinder MD/PHD acceptance?

[grw0o]

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I would like to apply for the MD/PHD program, but I have very little undergraduate research experience. I did research for one semester and didn't get anything published. My GPA is 3.65 so it's not stellar, and am expecting around a 26-30 on the MCAT. My undergrad degree is electrical engineering at Purdue.

My PRIMARY choice would be to attend UT Memphis, but I get the impression that only 3.8 gpa applicants with 30+ on the MCAT get in these competative programs due to the limited space.

What do you guys think??! I would hate to apply for the MD/PHD program and get pushed back another year where as I could get into the fall 2005 class by applying directly to the MD program.

 

[ambrosia]

As far as I know, MD/pHD programs are VERY competitive and place high importance on research experience. I don't think it's a huge deal that you don't have anything published, although publications certainly help, but you definitely need to have a few years research experience. MCAT scores of competitve applicants to the programs are usually extremely high (32+). If that's really the route you want to go, you can always just go normal MD for the first year, do research during that schoolyear, and start getting more research experience now, and then apply to join the program after your first year of med school.

 

[IndyZX]

its not easy to get into MD/PhD programs as is, and i dont think the prospects of an applicant with a 3.65/26-30 and minimal research experience are that great.

i think the lack of research experience (more so than lack of a paper) is going to be killer.

 

[dave613]

Why don't you try asking this question on the pre MD/PhD thread page?

And, it all depends ..what year are you in, in college? If you have enough time, you should pursue more research. If you end up with at least a year of research by the time your interviews come around, then , as long as you have a decent MCAT score-31+, you shouldn't have a problem making it into schools. It might not be the upper tiers, but I could see you getting into state schools etc.

Just my thought though, I might be wrong.

 

[hotlikebutter]

I would like to apply for the MD/PHD program, but I have very little undergraduate research experience. I did research for one semester and didn't get anything published. My GPA is 3.65 so it's not stellar, and am expecting around a 26-30 on the MCAT. My undergrad degree is electrical engineering at Purdue.

My PRIMARY choice would be to attend UT Memphis, but I get the impression that only 3.8 gpa applicants with 30+ on the MCAT get in these competative programs due to the limited space.

What do you guys think??! I would hate to apply for the MD/PHD program and get pushed back another year where as I could get into the fall 2005 class by applying directly to the MD program.

without research experience, the better question to ask is how do you know you want or can handle the PHD program? All my friends in MD/PhD and PhD programs go through alot more agony and stress than in their MD phases. Without having had real research exposure, you may not or the adcom may not think you dont know what youre getting into. My advice if you want to apply to med school now, is apply the regular MD, then once your in your first year find a lab and express interest in the MSTP programs while youre there. I personally think its too late to find a lab for research experience now. Good luck through the process either way.

 

[dca_55]

I think the lack of research experience could be a problem. Before deciding to apply to med school, I wanted to go to a PhD program and all of my advisors stressed prior research experience as the most important thing they look at in picking graduate students. I'm not sure if it's different for MD/PhD programs. Ask yourself why you want to do an MD/PhD instead of just an MD. From what I hear, a lot of graduates with just an MD can go on to primarily research oriented careers even without the "PhD". Not having the PhD doesn't mean you can't do medical research in your future career.

 

[Kazema]

Why are you going for MD/PhD? While it's easier to get funding to do research with the PhD you don't need it to do research. I think the lack of research experience will put big question marks in the minds of the adcoms for MSTP programs. The first of which would probably be, "Why MD/PhD?"

If you have a good answer for this and know for sure you want to do it, write about it in your PS. Otherwise I think hotlikebutter's advice is good; apply MD and actively seek out research opportunities once you're there to try to switch over to the MD/PhD track.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

The answer is yes.

 

[SaltySqueegee]

For the most part, all the above posters are correct.

-Check the MD/PhD forum for more information.
-30+MCAT (10+ higher each subsection is highly recommended but can be swayed in certain circumstances)
-Around A- GPA (aka 3.5) or higher.
-Research experience, which led to some sort of experience in presenting to a group, reporting and condensing information and results, or possible publication.


This of course is just a general list, and is on top of the normal MD requirements. Also, as some have pointed out, going for an MD/PhD, requires (suprise, suprise) expertise, and prerequisites of sorts for both areas. Research being one for the PhD, and clinical experience for the MD.

Best of luck, and please do check out the MD/PhD forum here on SDN.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

Applying for the MD/PhD without research experience is like applying for a home loan without any credit history. There is always the longshot possiblity, but no school would want to put such a large investment into a student who may or may not complete the program, just like the bank would rather loan money to someone who they know has done it before and is going to pay it back in the future. I strongly advise against applying for an MD/PhD until you get significant research experience.

 

[uclabruin2003]

true for everyone's answers above.

 

[SexyLexie729]

Here's my story: My friend had an 3.7 GPA and 34 on MCAT with extensive research. He got rejected from UWash for MD/PhD. Later that week, the dean of admissions told his PI (these guys are pretty good friends) that the reason that my friend did not get in was because he did not have a primary authorship. As a result, he is working on his paper as we speak. Take this with a grain of salt. Everyone that I know that got in was published. But I am sure there are good institutions that will take you with just extensive research (just not top tier programs). These programs are super competitive! Good Luck with your application process.