Non-Traditional Applicant Question

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to do research in physics. However, as a rising junior in an engineering physics major, I've realized that while I enjoy research, I wouldn't want that to be my primary calling. I've always had the notion that I would enjoy the challenges of being a doctor, and I've been most strongly considering the field of medical physics. </p>

<p>However, as an intern in a radiation lab, I am realizing that I may want to reconsider an MD, rather than a Ph.D. in medical physics. However, I've been preparing for graduate school in physics, and not medical school. </p>

<p>I was wondering what anyone's thoughts were on my situation:</p>

<p>Rising Junior at Cornell in Applied and Engineering Physics (3.75 GPA)</p>

<p>Research with nanoscience at Cornell and currently summer research with ionizing radiation at Columbia. I plan on continuing to work in the nano/biophysics group, and move into more biophysics within the group next year.</p>

<p>Growing interest in radiation oncology, rather than medical physics.</p>

<p>Extensive physics and math coursework, but no biology (will take a year of intro-chem junior year)</p>

<p>Obviously, I would be out of time to fulfill my medical school requirements and take the MCAT by the time I graduate, so I was considering studying for/taking the MCAT as a master's student. I can get a master's degree in one year at Cornell, and that would give me time to prepare for medical school. I was curious about medical school's opinion of a student with a master's degree in either Engineering or Medical Physics (at another school), and if this path is a reasonable one. Of course, I've been expecting to go attend school for at least an additional 6 years after undergraduate, so getting the masters and MD would be not any more of a schooling stretch than I've been "mentally preparing" for all my life...</p>

<p>Any advice on my situation would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!</p>

2

<ol>
<li><p>I think you would be a great applicant for medical school once you complete the medical school course requirement and take the MCAT. One problem that you will face is that since you are an engineering major, you were not required to complete gen bio 1/2, orgo 1/2, and biochem (for some schools). Did you take these yet? If not, were you going to take them in fall and spring? If you haven't completed them by the time you graduate then it might take longer than a year to complete your masters since you have retirements for that too.</p></li>
<li><p>You should also start getting some clinical experience (i.e shadowing, volunteering, etc).</p></li>
<li><p>Radiation oncology is one of the hardest specialties to get into, so if/when you get into medical school make sure you do very well and score high on your step 1. </p></li>
<li><p>As long as you keep grades up and complete all the requirements, you should have a great shot at getting in.</p></li>
</ol>

3

<p>You would be a great candidate in the non-traditional pool.</p>

<p>Don't let coursework concerns and MCAT timing get in your way. If you have done well in your engineering coursework, self studying bio, general chem and organic well enough to do well on the MCAT prior to completing the actual coursework is possible. (Real pre-meds will disagree with this, but engineers are scientists by nature, not necessity).</p>

<p>The usual hoops that traditional candidates jump through are less relevant to a non-traditional candidate. Specifically, time spent shadowing or volunteering might be a better spent doing some kind of bench work. Perhaps someone on Cornell's research support list is looking for a smart undergrad: <a href="http://www.med.cornell.edu/research/rea_sup/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.med.cornell.edu/research/rea_sup/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>MD/Phd might be a thought and perhaps a back door to regular MD admission for certain programs.</p>

<ul>
<li>a former non-trad candidate</li>
</ul>

4

<p>Looking back on what I said, I do agree with my$0.02 that with your chosen path bench research would be more practical for you. Esp since it will most likely be a requirement in the masters program you will enter.</p>

5

<p>Here is the research mentor list for Weill Cornell Medical College <a href="http://www.med.cornell.edu/research/offices/mentorsalpha.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.med.cornell.edu/research/offices/mentorsalpha.pdf&lt;/a>
This resource is intended for Cornell med students, but you might be able to secure a position because of superior scientific or engineering background compared to competing medical students. As an undergrad, you might have more free time to work on research than a med student.</p>

<p>Your current involvement at Columbia in ionizing radiation could be pursued to advantage. Serious research in any field, even a field without clinical utility, will be valuable on your application.</p>

<p>As a non-traditional applicant, you can (and perhaps should) present yourself as a scientist with an interest in medicine instead of a pre-med with an interest in science.</p>

6

<p>my$0.02, you mentioned the possibility of an MD/Ph.D, and I think I would agree that this is what I would ideally most like to do. I do enjoy research very much, and would like to go forward in my life with it, but at the same time, not limit myself to not being able to pursue medical research (I presume meeting with patients, and having medical knowledge as well as purely scientific can really boost progress). </p>

<p>However, I am concerned about the viability of this, as I know that MD/Ph.D. programs are very competitive, and I feel that I might already be at a disadvantage for considering this so late, as opposed to students who went through college preparing for it (health care based volunteering, relevant class work, etc). I mean, are there any programs I could possibly be competitive for? And what about the idea of pursing a Masters in a scientific field (say medical physics), and then getting the MD, and perhaps working in a more academic environment (research hospital, etc)?</p>

<p>I know this is a lot of questions, but at this point, I would like to hear from some people who know more about the technical stuff on how to get in, where to go, what is viable, etc. I already feel that getting an MD is something I would very much like to do. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

7

<p>Talking to the pre-med advising people at Cornell is probably the next important step in terms of assessing your competitiveness for MD and MD/PhD programs. MD/PhD program applicants tend to be heavy on the science and light on the humanistic activities, so don't let your lack of volunteering discourage you. Serious research time is probably the best investment if you are serious about the MD/PhD route.</p>

<p>A Master's in medical physics is likely to be of limited value in MD or MD/PhD applications; in fact, "medical" anything perhaps carries a stigma (like anything "studies" or anything "science"). A Master's in an engineering field or a "real" science field might be better received, but do you really want to invest a year or two as a stepping stone.</p>

<p>If you can find data on people in MD/PhD programs, I believe you will find that the majority did not hold a degree beyond a B.S. upon entry.</p>

<p>Here is a link to Cornell's MD/PhD FAQ's <a href="http://www.med.cornell.edu/mdphd/admissions/faq.html?name1=FAQ&type1=2Active%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.med.cornell.edu/mdphd/admissions/faq.html?name1=FAQ&type1=2Active&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>There are several discussions of MD/PhD programs on this board.</p>

<p>Good luck</p>