<p>Hello. I am looking to enter an M.D. - Ph.D program and was wondering about your experiences of getting in/rejected. Also, how many research projects do you need to be involved in before they even look at you? I'm studying to get ready for the MCAT and pushing for as close to a 4.0 as possible. (I have a 3.5 right now). Do any of you have tips and/or warnings about what I'm getting into? I wanted to become a research-physician so I could do research to try and benefit people in the future and help people right now at the same time. Is that a bit too naiive of me to ask? Reading about the process in theory is so different from the real thing that I want to know what people actually went through so i don't end up making the wrong career choice.</p>
<p>This forum focuses more on BS/MD programs than ones after you’ve already completed a bachelor’s. I’d suggest SDN as a better resource.</p>
<p>Which section is this abbreviation for? Sorry for not knowing.</p>
<p>check out student doctor network 
the general consensus seems to be that taking a gap year and getting a few publications under your belt is best for md/phd programs</p>
<p>I will. Thanks for your help. A gap year, huh? Wow. I thought I had to go in right afterwards so I’d look good on the resume. Ok.</p>
My children’s pediatrician went to Rice, went right into a PhD program at Baylor Med, and then onto a Baylor Med MD with specialty residency.
She practices part time in a big private clinic.
My OB/GYN advanced practice nurse got her RN, went to Baylor Med’s RN midwifery program, did lots of research/trials, taught at Baylor Medical School (to med students, not nurses), and then started her own private practice.
A friend’s spouse went to German med school straight out of high school, became an MD at 23, no debt, no specialty residency, no PhD, and is the world expert at children’s liver transplantation. He is an employee of MD Anderson (so a Texas state government worker), does cutting-edge research that has led to breast cancer breakthroughs, and teaches at Baylor Med. He doesn’t make a lot of money but gets to treat critically-ill children and do world-class research, plus spend time with his little boys. He is truly happy person even he gets paid poorly for docs and though most of his patients die at under 12.
Lots of opportunities to do med research in Houston, even without a PhD or med degree. MD Anderson has its own research-based BS program; lots of them get in to the program after community college and then do research at MDA. There’s also UNT, UT, Texas Women’s, TSU, Prairie View, Rice (others I’ve missed), all entwined with research at the world’s largest med center.
@Phanstein665 No shoe fits all. So first understand the process to get MD in US and assess yourself where you are now and what is the gap. Do Google and see what are the resources can educate you to get a better handle. Besides SDN, even in CC search different threads (UMKC thread is also good to get medical related info). Also subscribe to AAMC. Reach out to your college Pre-med program office. Reach out to a medical student to understand the process. Medical schools has significant preference to in state students and URM (under represented minority). You referred MCAT score 4, which is neither old or new score scheme and that is used for HS or BS course grade.
Since you are interested in MD/Ph.D you need to prepare what will attract to both and each may have its own requirements and expectations. First for MD, at least in US, one of the MOST critical factor is what made you / how do you demonstrate that you want to do medicine. Not just for BS/MD, even for MD after BS, that is critical. That is why they prefer candidates who have explored medicine related fields afters BS (gap years) and wanted to ensure student is indeed aware of what s/he gets in. Of course, lot of candidates who go straight from BS and very strong in academics.
For Ph.D, you need to show your strength in the research you have done either in HS or in College during BS in science / medical humanities related fields.