Neurobio freshman. Interested in sci and macular degeneration. Want to work with stem cells and computational models.

My primary interest is in sci because of personal reasons and just fascination

I wanted to get involved in research in hs and landed a position studying vision under a well reputed prof. This made me interested in the field and this experience opened a lot of doors for me I college

I still want to work with the brain as my primary focus during my career with sci and md but with the opportunities I am getting in college I am worried it could impact my acceptances into programs.

I’m wondering if advoms will think “he did research in vision but wants to do a mdphd focusing on sci” and this will hurt my chances for admission and later work

Obviously I’m passionate and grateful for the opportunities I have gotten but my personal drive to pursue sci research still feels unfulfilled.

Should I explore more opportunities later in college or use summers to build my experiences in it?

Hi all, I have low clinical hours (<50?) and need to get it up to whatever is the bar of having a chance at at least good MSTPs (maybe ~200 hours?). I have ~10 months to get this done, any ideas on good clinical experiences that I can do while doing I am doing full time research? I need something that would be <= 6 hours a week maybe max 8 hours. Does anyone have any thoughts on hospice volunteering does this count as patient care? Also don't care about anecdotal like I had 50 hours or I had 100 hours and it was fine, we all know there is a general standard that most MSTPs probalby expect...

Hey fellow masochists. Does anyone have a good consensus on when (or if) one should email PIs, as the PhD-only applicants do, to express interest? Currently applying to a variety of MD/PhD programs in the US. I know some secondaries have a place to talk about research and PI interests (my app is not yet verified - got too busy with a research program and didn't submit until 6/30, rip - but Tufts sent me a secondary that does include a question like that). Is that enough or should I also email? Thanks!!

I’m a second year undergraduate interested in applying to MD/PhD programs. One of the specialties I’m most interested in is plastic surgery, which is notoriously competitive to match into. Does being a graduate from an MD/PhD program increase your odds of matching/make you a more competitive candidate?

hi everyone, in the app cycle stressed out and wanted some input:

the good:

- T20 uni (no med school though)

- 5 lab affiliations (my uni, cleveland clinic, case western, university college london (studied abroad)... many concurrent with eachother

- 2 pubs w/ cleveland clinic (one second author primary paper, one later author review)

- 2 conference poster awards

- research prize from case western

- deans award for research from my uni (2 of us presented at grad, the schools most prestigious award)

- neuroscience research award for my major (2 of us also at grad)

- graduated from dual honors programs (meaning two distinct and defended theses)

- worked as a bartender/server and at the gym for side money

- TA'ed five different classes, across 6 semesters. TA'ed a total of 8 times

- currently in gap year as a research assistant fro an MD-PhD PI (new institution from previously stated)

- research hours are much above average. clinical hours are good (volunteered at local hospital throughout school), non clinical volunteer hours a bit low

- reason to believe (hopefully) my letters of rec are quite strong

the not so good:

- 3.56 cgpa (upward trend), 506 mcat mostly brought down by *cars (126/*123/128/129)

MD-PhD school list is: michigan state, case western, ohio state (from ohio myself), cincinnati, loyola, rosalind franklin, university of illinois chicago, university of illinois urbana-c, arizona, indiana university, louisville, oregon health and science uni (gap year), colorado, kentucky.

just not in a financial spot right now to retake the mcat, get a masters, or add more schools.... let me know if you think theres hope here & would love to talk with any current students

Hi all! I wanted to ask the community what the optimal placement for publications/presentations is in a CV. Is there generally a preference to keep publications/presentations in the section of the corresponding lab they were completed in, or should they be placed in a dedicated "PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS" section?

I've heard mixed opinions. Some research faculty I've asked say it's good to keep it cohesive and place it at the bottom of a research experience description, while others have said they prefer seeing all of the research productivity independently in its own section. Curious to see what your consensus is.

Thank you!

I was wondering if anyone else who's applied to skmc at thomas jefferson has gotten their secondary. Mine looks like it's an md-only application and I want to confirm before submitting that I'm not missing md/phd specific essays

I submitted my primary to one school for verification purposes (anticipating getting verified in the next few days) but am getting cold feet about following through with this app cycle vs taking another year to do research + retake mcat:

3.83/514, T20 undergrad
CA resident, ORM
2000 research hours (starting a research gap year now), two middle author papers, one first author paper hopefully this fall
handful of poster presentations (little under 10)
500 clinical hours
strong rec letter from PI + science profs
can talk more about background/PS via dm, just don’t want to dox myself

looking at average stats for pretty much all md phd programs I fall below the median, or barely at it - any advice?? id prefer not to take another gap year if possible but i worry about being a reapplicant

As I write secondaries, I keep freaking out whenever I have to re-disclose my legal/IA history, and I'm wondering if anyone with multiple infractions has gotten into an MD/PhD program and, if so, where?

I have one misdemeanor for weed possession and an IA for a separate drug-related incident. These events are both over 3 years old, and I don't use drugs anymore, but that doesn't really matter.

My stats are decent (if you ignore the past behavioral stuff):

3.9 GPA / 520 MCAT

3000+ hours of research

Two co-first-author manuscripts submitted, one accepted after primaries

300+ clinic hours

800+ volunteering hours

TN resident

Is this workable? I would love stories from people who had similar disciplinary issues and got in, but would also appreciate realistic feedback. Also, if you know of any schools that might look past these issues and recognize growth, that would be great.

Hello moderators,

I'd like to bring a user to your attention. I've noticed a recurring pattern of discouraging, hostile, and gatekeeping comments directed at people seeking career advice. While disagreement is fine, the tone often crosses into personal attacks and appears to discourage good-faith participation.

I'm a rising junior studying Cellular & Molecular Biology (minor) and Forensic Psychology (major). For the past few years, I've been working in research and have been planning on pursuing an MD–PhD, but lately I've been doing a lot of reflection about what I actually want my career and life to look like.

My research interests are fairly specific and sit at the intersection of:

• Environmental toxicology
• Mental health and psychiatric disorders
• Carceral environments (jails, prisons, detention centers)
• Health disparities and marginalized populations

I'm interested in questions like:

• How do environmental exposures in correctional facilities affect mental and physical health?
• What role do air quality, heat exposure, mold, heavy metals, deteriorating infrastructure, lead paint, industrial pollutants, and other environmental toxins play in psychiatric symptoms and cognitive functioning?
• Can these exposures contribute to the development, worsening, or persistence of mental health disorders?
• How can we design interventions, policies, or treatments that improve outcomes for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals?

Ultimately, I would love to be involved in developing new interventions, conducting translational research, directing a lab, mentoring students, writing grants, and helping shape the future of the field.

At the same time, I genuinely enjoy the clinical side of healthcare. I like the idea of being someone patients trust during important moments, having the ability to diagnose and prescribe treatments, and maintaining some degree of patient contact throughout my career.

The problem is that I'm struggling to determine whether the physician route is worth the additional years of training for the type of career I want.

When I imagine my ideal career, it looks something like:

• Running a research lab
• Designing studies
• Publishing and obtaining grants
• Mentoring trainees
• Leading interdisciplinary projects
• Having some direct patient interaction
• Potentially prescribing treatment
• Working in both an academic setting and, at least part-time, a hospital setting

However, I also strongly value:

• Family
• Friendships
• Travel
• Work-life balance
• Being present for major life events

I'm not someone who wants work to become my entire identity. I care deeply about my career, but I also want a fulfilling personal life.

Recently I've been considering taking one or more gap years because I don't feel fully prepared for the MCAT, and I've started wondering whether I should pursue:

• MD–PhD
• MD (possibly psychiatry)
• Clinical Psychology PhD
• Toxicology PhD
• Neuroscience PhD
• Public Health/Environmental Health related programs
• Another path I may not have considered

For those of you who are MDs, MD–PhDs, PhDs, clinical psychologists, toxicologists, environmental health researchers, psychiatrists, or anyone working in academia:

1. Does my research interest area sound more aligned with an MD–PhD, a PhD, or something else entirely?
2. If you were interested in environmental exposures, toxicology, mental health, and incarcerated populations, what career path would you pursue?
3. Do you feel the additional years of MD–PhD training were worth it?
4. If you're in academia, how realistic is it to maintain a fulfilling life outside of work?
5. Is there a career path I'm overlooking that would allow me to lead research while still having meaningful clinical involvement?

I'd appreciate any honest thoughts, especially from people who have been through these training paths and can speak to the realities rather than the brochure version of the career.

I’m currently an MS2 and I have taken and passed my USMLE STEP 1 exam. My curriculum is 2 years didactic and 2 years clinical. I am about to pursue a research year in cardiovascular disease. I know that I’m interested in surgery most (vascular, trauma, general). I am also slightly interested in plastics, but it’s very small interest. IM is not in my list of interests, but if it somehow ever happened, it would likely be interventional cards. My medical school classmates have recently begun MS3 and they have gone into the hospital. Before accepting my research year, I knew that I wanted take a research year in medical school. It was really about whether between 2nd/3rd or 3rd/4th. I have made the decision to do 2nd/3rd given that I received a prestigious research opportunity. Additionally, given that I wanted to do more procedural things, I thought a break between didactic and clinicals made more sense than between clinical years and away rotations. I am, however, worried about my readiness for USMLE STEP 2 CK. I plan to keep up with my Step 1/2 overlap anking cards over the year and also try to do 10 amboss questions a day. I was also planning to shadow/round once a week to keep myself in the hospital environment as best as I could. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to unsuspend cards from it as I believe I may b memorizing more than trying to understand. I have heard that you learn best from the hospital, so I wasn’t sure if I wanted to wait to unsuspend or just unsuspend as I do the 10 a day. I don’t want to do too much in the year but I do still want to stay on top of it and help my ability to do well on the shelves when returning and on step 2. It’s a long winded question but:

1) should I be worried about my ability to score on STEP 2 or how well I can perform in the hospital upon returning?

2) how can I best prepare for step 2 and clinicals in this year?

3) any other words of advice?

Did anyone receive the Baylor secondaries?

Just graduated, feeling pretty burnt out and deflated from dealing with a bunch of administrative crap for a fellowship on top of a crappy family situation. I would love an honest opinion as to how cooked I am/potential strategies for strengthening my application. Applying next cycle...? Idk. Should I wait and apply in 2028?

Stats:
(My alma mater is a small school known for brutal grade deflation.)
3.80 cGPA
3.93 BCPM
MCAT: TBD, 509 (128/128/127/126) diagnostic before taking physics 2 or psych or sociology
A+s in gen chem 2, ochem 1&2, microbio, thesis
One W on my transcript (dad got dx’ed w advanced & aggressive cancer, I was visiting home a lot and the class was attendance based)
URM, middle class, F

Awards:
Goldwater Scholarship
Phi Beta Kappa
A prestigious pre MD-PhD fellowship
Miscellaneous institutional awards/fellowships

Presentations:
1 oral (national + travel award)
1 summer internship poster
1 poster from the beginning of my senior thesis
1 poster from the end of my thesis (national conference)

Clinical:
1 week shadowing program freshman year (40hrs, OB/GYN)
Shadowing my PI (MD-PhD cardiologist) every other week (75-170 hrs by time of application)
Hospital volunteering in oncology and cardiology (150-400 hrs by time of application)

ECs:
The works. Tutor, ochem TA, peer mentor, identity group leader.

Research:
6000+ hrs
1 somewhat competitive bioinformatics summer internship, 1 independent chem study, 2 yrs in a structural bio lab
No undergrad pubs
Starting summer before senior year of undergrad: structural bio/drug design of cardioprotective chemotherapy compounds - did my senior thesis in this lab & am staying for 2-maybe 3 more years

Projected pubs (conservative estimate) if I apply 2027:
1 first author manuscript in prep, 1 middle author manuscript in prep, another project nearing completion and a high risk high reward project on the side

Projected pubs (conservative estimate) if I apply 2028:
1 first author pub, 1 first author manuscript in prep, 1 middle author pub, 1 high risk high reward side project

Basically, PitchLab helps premed students reach out to professors for research without spending weeks going through faculty pages and writing every email manually. You choose the school and the type of research you’re interested in, and PitchLab finds relevant professors, looks at their actual research, and creates a personalized email for each one. The emails are sent directly through your Gmail, so everything still comes from you and any responses go straight to your inbox. It just makes the entire process way faster while still keeping the emails specific, respectful, and personal. Lmk if anyone wants to give it a shot!

Has anyone received secondary invites from WashU or Univ Wash? (Or UCI and UC Davis?)

(Title)

Freshman. Neurobio major. Not trying to take a gap year. Vision and tbi are the two labs’ focuses

What about two different labs studying vision but with different focuses?

Any difference if my work is “wet lab work” vs computational?

What counts as clinical research?

Does it look bad to submit a secondary the same day I receive it? The prompts didn’t change from last year, so I pre-wrote all of my essays and they’re ready to go. I’m worried that submitting immediately might make it seem like I rushed them or didn’t put much effort into them. Should I wait a few days before submitting, or am I overthinking this? Thanks!

what is everyone's thoughts on an undergraduate research internship (?) program for md-phd applications? like the university of michigan Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP)? these are usually like 8-10 weeks long

my logic is that i can build relationships with PI's that i want to work with if i do one of these at my top choice program

however, another thing to consider in my case is that i would be breaking the longitudinal relationship in a lab that i am in at my school if i leave it to pursue this over the summer.

thoughts? am i completely off the mark in my logic? are these even worth it because they are so short? i can also provide additional context if needed

Stats: undergrad T20, working full time as research staff T10 gap year 1/2

GPA 3.6-7, MCAT 511

~5000 hours research

~600 volunteer

~400 clinical research/shadowing

3 first author manuscripts (in writing, hopefully 2 submitted during cycle) one is clinical research

2 middle author publications

Multiple student-reviewed publications

dozens of oral and poster presentations

founded nonprofit initiative/other leadership positions held in college/multiple jobs

• Albert Einstein
• Baylor
• Case Western
• Colorado Anschutz
• Duke
• Emory
• Indiana
• McGovern (UTHealth Houston)
• Medical College of Wisconsin
• Northwestern
• Ohio State
• Penn State
• Perelman (Penn)
• Stanford
• UAB
• Arizona
• UC Davis
• UC Irvine
• UC San Diego
• Cincinnati
• Iowa
• Maryland
• Miami
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• UNC
• Pitt
• Rochester
• UT Health San Antonio
• UTSW
• Utah
• UVA
• Vanderbilt
• VCU
• Wisconsin
• Yale

I keep going back and forth on which schools to apply to...I feel that my application is unbalanced, with very strong research, good enough clinical, but low stats. Unsure if this pulls me out of high tier/makes me competitive for mid-tier(?), and I would like to stay at my current institution, but I am worried about the stats...

EDIT: feel free/please let me know which ones I should reconsider! Or whether I should just take another (3rd) gap year...I didn't realize my research was not very strong!

When people talk about how many hours they have when applying, is that at time of application or projected hours by end of the year? (Ex. Im applying junior spring, do i include projected hours throughout the summer and senior year)

Hey! I'm starting my first year of medical school this fall, but I still don't know which PhD I should pursue. I am interested in neuropsychiatry with an end goal of founding and leading a research institute focused on brain health, mental health, and neurodevelopment. Right now I'm considering 3 options, Pharmacology, Neuroscience, and Psychology. I would really appreciate any insight on which path may be strongest for what I am hoping to accomplish or if there's something else I should be considering. Thanks.

Georgetown states that only 3-5 credit hours of prereqs can be remaining at the time that you are applying. Despite multiple thousands of hours of research, I have not taken Bio lab (2 hrs) or Orgo lab (2hrs), and I have physics II remaining (4 hours). Does this actually exclude me from consideration at Georgetown?

To MD/PhD graduates, what specialties and residency programs offer the best synergy with basic research? I’ve heard about neurology and pathology helping to protect time, but I’m curious to hear how specialty track shaped your careers.

Also, how do surgeon scientists balance research and clinic?

Matriculating to my program this fall, and curious!

All that work and money down the drain just to fumble at the finish line, and they don't even give you feedback as to why. And now I'm sitting here with barely any motivation to do secondaries because I don't even know if it'll end any differently this time around. I just need to know it worked out for someone.