I'm actually applying MD/PhD, but we have to get through the MD committee too, so hopefully this post is still welcome in this forum. I was recently told by a few friends that I don't have a good chance at any of the top-level schools, primarily because I'm too one-dimensional.
- GPA = 3.96; haven't been verified by amcas yet, so not sure about the official numbers. Engineering double major, if that gives me any leeway, from a top-15 university.
- Clinical volunteering: it was only like 12 hours total, so I didn't put it on my application. I volunteered on three 'events' with a group that works with children and at another that needed a translator.
-Physician shadowing: just under 40. primary care, hospice, GE, anesthesiology
-Research: I researched every year and every summer. I'm not worried about this aspect. Concurrent with the more 'traditional' work-in-a-lab research, I also led a student-run research group. I'm almost always in the lab.
- Other activities: maybe unique, but very engineering-heavy.
-Nonclinical volunteer activities: just tutoring-type activity, and organized one outreach event for disadvantaged students
-Employment: outside of research, just grading/TA-ing (one course each)
Schools I'm aiming for
I haven't really built a list, so suggestions would be very much appreciated. The ones I have chosen are primarily based on my research interests.
High Reach: Harvard/MIT, Wash U, University of Washington, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, USC, UCLA
Reach: Vanderbilt, Duke
Target
I'm beginning to suspect even these are a bit out of range though
Case, Emory, UTHSCSA (this is the only one I feel comfortable with I guess, because I'm also applying PhD, to work with a mentor I'm currently collaborating with.)
There are no safeties in the MD/PhD game!
Just a few extra notes
- I haven't submitted my AMCAS yet. Final tweaks to my activities and PS should be done by this Wednesday. :eek: Yes, I know it's super-late.
- I'm not sure if it's worth putting the dozen hours of clinical volunteering. Your advice would be appreciated!
- One of my friends recently told me (he's also applying MD/PhD) that my MCAT is low for an MD/PhD from my institution, so despite the assurance from neuronix (the wizard of the MD/PhD thread), this is something that I kinda worry about.
- I'm really worried about my one-dimensionality. :scared: It really shows on my course choices and my activities that I really ****ing love engineering. Yet, for the things I want to do in the future, I would need significant training in medicine and engineering research, hence the MD/PhD. I have thought a lot about this and asked many people who are in positions similar to where I want to be, through a variety of different methods (i.e. MD-only or PhD-only) and they tend to get their research criticized by people with a stronger research or medical perspective, respectively. I'd rather pursue the dual training.
- That being said, is there anything I can do right now to improve my chances? I'm working in a more clinically-directed lab that lets me learn how to take bodies apart from surgeons and shadow them. (I don't want to be a surgeon, but it's fun to watch.)
Thanks! :love:
- GPA = 3.96; haven't been verified by amcas yet, so not sure about the official numbers. Engineering double major, if that gives me any leeway, from a top-15 university.
- Clinical volunteering: it was only like 12 hours total, so I didn't put it on my application. I volunteered on three 'events' with a group that works with children and at another that needed a translator.
-Physician shadowing: just under 40. primary care, hospice, GE, anesthesiology
-Research: I researched every year and every summer. I'm not worried about this aspect. Concurrent with the more 'traditional' work-in-a-lab research, I also led a student-run research group. I'm almost always in the lab.
- Other activities: maybe unique, but very engineering-heavy.
-Nonclinical volunteer activities: just tutoring-type activity, and organized one outreach event for disadvantaged students
-Employment: outside of research, just grading/TA-ing (one course each)
Schools I'm aiming for
I haven't really built a list, so suggestions would be very much appreciated. The ones I have chosen are primarily based on my research interests.
High Reach: Harvard/MIT, Wash U, University of Washington, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, USC, UCLA
Reach: Vanderbilt, Duke
Target
I'm beginning to suspect even these are a bit out of range though
Case, Emory, UTHSCSA (this is the only one I feel comfortable with I guess, because I'm also applying PhD, to work with a mentor I'm currently collaborating with.)
There are no safeties in the MD/PhD game!
Just a few extra notes
- I haven't submitted my AMCAS yet. Final tweaks to my activities and PS should be done by this Wednesday. :eek: Yes, I know it's super-late.
- I'm not sure if it's worth putting the dozen hours of clinical volunteering. Your advice would be appreciated!
- One of my friends recently told me (he's also applying MD/PhD) that my MCAT is low for an MD/PhD from my institution, so despite the assurance from neuronix (the wizard of the MD/PhD thread), this is something that I kinda worry about.
- I'm really worried about my one-dimensionality. :scared: It really shows on my course choices and my activities that I really ****ing love engineering. Yet, for the things I want to do in the future, I would need significant training in medicine and engineering research, hence the MD/PhD. I have thought a lot about this and asked many people who are in positions similar to where I want to be, through a variety of different methods (i.e. MD-only or PhD-only) and they tend to get their research criticized by people with a stronger research or medical perspective, respectively. I'd rather pursue the dual training.
- That being said, is there anything I can do right now to improve my chances? I'm working in a more clinically-directed lab that lets me learn how to take bodies apart from surgeons and shadow them. (I don't want to be a surgeon, but it's fun to watch.)
Thanks! :love: