<p>I currently have a BS in Mathematics/Statistics with an emphasis in biological and biomedical applications and will soon be attending a top tier university in my field under a massive NSF-IGERT grant studying statistics and computational biology. Buuuutt...the more I've been thinking about it, the more I really want to engage in the biomedical side, and see my strong research background as a statistician as a great start towards a career as a medical scientist. The school I'll be attending has a great faculty and strong presence in genomic and proteomic research, but the majority is non-medical, and I find myself becoming disinterested in this prospect more and more. I've been looking around at a few MD/PHD options with collaborative departments in biostats, epi, and genetics (my specialty) as prime candidates if I were to choose such a path.</p>
<p>Of course, while I had a pretty intensive biological background for a math nerd, and I did well in those classes, I still would have to catch up on my organic chem and a maybe a physics course or two to wrap up the premed requirements, which would mean a bit of summer school during my program.</p>
<p>Now, I'm really starting to like this idea...but I feel my more...well...limited experience with regard to my medical education would put me at a disadvantage to attending a top joint program. I have amazing credentials in my field and got into nearly every school I wanted...but that's only half the puzzle, isn't it... Would a barebones prep for medical school restrict my options...or could a great MCAT score combined with remarkable accolades in the PhD component make me a desirable candidate? For example...I could easily get into John Hopkin's Biostatistics program again..but I'm sure the medical school would be a entirely different story.</p>
<p>Doubt is always the nag that never shuts up...I don't want to look back and think I gave up a job in medicine because I was great with numbers.</p>