MDPHD HOW CAN I GET IN to a program without relevant experience?

Question

i have done some reserach as undergrad , but i has not had any good outcomes such as publishing and i am not in good terms with the senior scientist of the lab i did this project at . therefore i cant really bring prove of relevant research experience to the schools i am applying to . i wanted to know if there is a way to get into such PHD program with out certified relevant experience , i am actually applying for MDPHD programs from wich i can show why i want to be and MD but not yet why i want to optain a PHD as well help!!!!!!!!!( i apoligize for my spelling but am busy at work :)

Answer 1

Well the first thing to ask yourself is do you just want two degrees, or is there something that you think you wouldn't be able to do if you did MD or PhD alone. The point of any MD/PhD program is to train physician scientist who will be the ones most able to take basic research findings to clinical application. What an MD/PhD is not for is if you want to spend part of your time being a doctor and then part of your time being a researchers. If that's what you're looking for, admissions committees will just tell you to go make up your mind. Sorry if you've considered this already, it's just hard to tell from your post alone.

Anyhow, that being said, the most important factor in MD/PhD admission is research and as much as possible. In addition, this is primarily evaluated on the basis of letters of recommendation from scientists who have supervised you. Publications are by no means required and, in fact, have a lot less influence on a committee than you would expect. However, I would say that you really need at least two summers of research with at least one full year of research during the school year part time (of course circumstances differ between individuals). The point being, you need a lot of research.

If you do not think you have the right amount of research experience, start looking for post-bac programs if you really want the MD/PhD. There are many places that have 1-2 year programs for college graduates to work in labs full time (in fact, programs like this may arguably give an even better experience than you could hope for as an undergrad). One program that has a particularly good track record for getting recent college grads into MD/PhD programs is the National Institutes of Health Pre-IRTA program. If you're interested check it out here:

http://www.training.nih.gov/student/pre-...

Anyhow, if you are really passionate about the MD/PhD, I wish you the best of luck!

Answer 2

No papers are really not a problem.  I would say the good percentage of people going into MD/PhD programs don't really have published scientific papers.  Small undergrad projects very rarely come up with decent data much less publishable finding.  Most people who do have papers (myself included) are those who did post-bac research, masters or other programs before they went to the MD/PhD program.  

In your secondaries and applications to the grad programs, you'll have to write at length about your research experience and what you would like to do.  You are by no means locked in and can choose whatever track you want later on in your education.  

You have experience and that's good but you better be able to put into words why you want to do an MD/PhD.   It is a small club, very few from a medical school class do it and there is a good reason, it's not easy and it's a hard road, all the hardships of both degrees but it is rewarding, the doors it opens is significant.  

Good luck to you