[Leaving med school for grad school...would I be competitive?]

22 hours ago, Man_About_Town said:

Respectfully, absolutely do not take this advice. I am an MD that is now in a PhD program. If you are even questioning whether you like clinical medicine in your first year of medical school, then it is absolutely not for you. Every conversation I have with doctors my age is about our "Out from clinical medicine". I can count on one hand how many physicians I know that do not regret going to medical school.

In more detail:

1) I did research in undergrad and between MS1 and MS2 years. This is enough time to get a good publication out, but not to develop real research independence. The problem with medical school is that every step along the way in clinical training is a complete stop in research momentum. Imaging a PI having to restart his/her career every 4 years. That is what medical school, residency, clinical fellowship, etc do to you.

2) Entering a PhD program after med school (as I did) is not wise unless you enjoy 300k of student loan debt. Also, the pool of successful research scientists that are MD-only and have research skill gained from research fellowships post clinical training is shrinking. Many grants that apply to work in anything other than very basic clinical research want the PhD. 10-20 years ago this was not the case, but it is now. Compound that with the burden of clinical/teaching/admin duties as an MD and you get the point.

4) There is truth here, but the job market for PhDs, especially in industry, where a lot of interesting research now occurs, is hot.

Take the advice or leave it. There is a reason that almost 20% of doctors are planning to leave clinical medicine: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-physician-relationships/why-more-physicians-are-leaving-medicine-4-takeaways.html. I would guess that number from 2016 is closer to 25-30% now.

Thank you for your advice/response!

So to begin, I don't really hate clinical medicine, in fact I enjoy being in the clinic. I like people. I just absolutely hate everything about medical school. The mass memorization, the obsession with tests/grades, the out of touch professors/administration, etc. It should be hard, but it all seems like it is made as miserable as possible for whatever reason (I'm an M1, maybe there is a reason?).

1) Fair consideration. I think I will either go all in on medicine or leave for research. I know there is people who manage to come out of this with research skills and clinical skills ,but I am not that smart/hyper-motivated.

2) Definitely feel that. That is honestly the main reason I'm considering leaving. If not for the debt I'd prolly just ride it out for another year or so and see if it got better.

3) Is this true for genetics/genomics PhDs? Cause if I left that is what I would want to do a PhD in.

[2018 Applicant Profiles and Admissions Results]

Want to study genomics/bioinformatics. Have some math/coding background, but I feel I would need to improve it over my 'gap year' and during the early part of my PhD.

Undergrad Institution: Non-flagship state school
Major(s): Biology
Minor(s): Philosophy
GPA in Major: 3.7
Overall GPA: 3.75
Position in Class: Top 10%
Type of Student: Domestic, white, male 

GRE Scores (revised):  
Q: 161
V: 162
AWA: 5

Research Experience: 

- 2 years in an evolutionary genetics lab

- 1.5 years in a molecular bio lab

- 2 months in cancer research at St. Jude

Pubs: 1 late author publication in name journal, 1 first author publication in undergrad journal

Presentations: 1 talk at a national conference, 1 talk at an undergrad conference

Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Dean's award for most outstanding Biology major, finalist for the same award for the college of arts and sciences, obtained an undergrad research grant

Pertinent Activities or Jobs: 3 years as tutor, ~6 months as a lab manager 

Any Miscellaneous Accomplishments that Might Help: N/A 

Special Bonus Points: 

- Should have two very good letter from my PI in the genetics lab and the molecular bio lab; third letter may be kind of generic though:(

Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter:

Applying to Where:

NC State

UC Berkley

Penn State

MIT (long shot)

Baylor

Harvard (long shot)

 

Is this list any bit reasonable? If not which schools should I add/remove? Thank you!

[Leaving med school for grad school...would I be competitive?]

So long story short, I am strongly considering leaving medical school following my first year. I haven't enjoyed it at all and really miss research. As such, I was wondering what my chances would be a genomics/bioinformatics (my area of undergraduate research) PhD programs?

GPA: 3.77

GRE: none yet (MCAT was 94th percentile)

Research: 1 late author pub in prestigious journal, 1 second author pub clinical journal, 1 talk national conference, 1 talk national undergrad conference, 2 clinical posters

Awards: Dean's award (most outstanding graduating bio major), won undergrad research grant, was the school nomination for Phi Kappa Phi national award

Other: tutored for 3 years

Red flags: leaving medical school after a year