<p>I am choosing the PhD route, but I currently work with a lot of MDs in research. Here’s my experience:</p>
<p>-Do not get a PhD and then and MD separately. This is the longest and most expensive route. If you want both, go for the combined program - it’s 100% free and schools tend to try to push you through the PhD faster.</p>
<p>-If you don’t want to end up being a doctor, don’t go to med school.</p>
<p>-Yes, there are benefits to being an MD in research. I’ve heard it’s easier to get grants and if your research ends up failing, you can still fall back on being a doctor.</p>
<p>-MDs in research take a lot longer to pay off their school loans.</p>
<p>-I’m sure this is not true for all the MDs in research, but all of the MD-PhDs in my lab have decided to give up the research and make way more money working 3 days a week as a doctor. I kind of question some of these people’s lab skills … the PhDs seem WAY WAY better prepared for research than MDs. MDs are kind of spread thin - they have clinic duty and can’t spend all of their time in the lab. (No offense to MDs, but this has just been my experience)</p>
<p>-Yes, PhDs don’t get paid a lot. I would guess that avg grad school stipends are around $25-28K/year. Post docs start at $39K and go up to $54K (depending on years of experience). If you want lots of money, this is not the profession for you.</p>
<p>There are a lot of things that suck about being an MD or a PhD. If you are aware of this and still think the profession is a excellent fit for you, go for it! I think in order to make it through, you have to really want to do the work.</p>