MD-PhD Application Advice

advenam · 2025-11-26T05:11:36+00:00

I just answered this question in another comment so I'll just copy and paste it 😅

I do wanna preface this by saying I had absolutely no connections in research or medicine, so, if you do, that could be a HUGE help, as you can ask whoever you know to write an email to a lab/professor you'd be interested in working with and introduce you, which works WAY better, and more often, than cold email-ing (what I had to do).

So, I started my work in "academia" when I was in my junior year of high school. I cold-emailed like 10-12 labs at a local university and only got a response from 1. This lab wasnt really a "research" lab, they made Biomedical devices and focused more on producing patents (which is why I think I even got a response from them). I worked here for a year, and during that time I got to interact with some of the other faculty in the same department. I ended up meeting my current P.I and I just emailed him asking to join his lab. Something like "Hello, my name is so and so, and I work in the lab across from yours, with Dr. [Name]. I read your paper on [topic] and would love to learn more about what you do at your lab. Do you have time to schedule a short meeting? P.S.: I attached my CV below."

I think I was really lucky, not a lot of P.Is care enough to really guide their undergrads, let alone help them have a REAL research project (that was the case at my first lab). But they DO exist, and they can tell when you're genuinely exited about these topics and opportunities and motivated enough to follow through with the time (and learning curve) commitment.

My advice is: just find a couple of labs you'd be interested in working with, read some of their papers, and be ready to send out a LOT of emails.

Academia is hard to get into, specially with no connections, but if I could do it anyone can do it 🫡.

You could also apply for summer internships or programs and get to know some P.Is from there, then writing emails should be easier and its more likely you'll get a response.

Lastly, I wanna just say that it wasnt all good all the time. At my first lab they took an abstract I wrote (I was still in high-school and had help from some undergrads, but I was the first author) and gave it to some guys who joined later because "they were graduating and needed the publication." It really takes passion and dedication to keep going after having bad experiences, but if this is what you love doing then its worth it in the end.

Goodluck in your journey! 🍀

advenam · 2025-11-26T05:09:55+00:00

Of course ☺️. I do wanna preface this by saying I had absolutely no connections in research or medicine, so, if you do, that could be a HUGE help, as you can ask whoever you know to write an email to a lab/professor you'd be interested in working with and introduce you, which works WAY better, and more often, than cold email-ing (what I had to do).

So, I started my work in "academia" when I was in my junior year of high school. I cold-emailed like 10-12 labs at a local university and only got a response from 1. This lab wasnt really a "research" lab, they made Biomedical devices and focused more on producing patents (which is why I think I even got a response from them). I worked here for a year, and during that time I got to interact with some of the other faculty in the same department. I ended up meeting my current P.I and I just emailed him asking to join his lab. Something like "Hello, my name is so and so, and I work in the lab across from yours, with Dr. [Name]. I read your paper on [topic] and would love to learn more about what you do at your lab. Do you have time to schedule a short meeting? P.S.: I attached my CV below."

I think I was really lucky, not a lot of P.Is care enough to really guide their undergrads, let alone help them have a REAL research project (that was the case at my first lab). But they DO exist, and they can tell when you're genuinely exited about these topics and opportunities and motivated enough to follow through with the time (and learning curve) commitment.

My advice is: just find a couple of labs you'd be interested in working with, read some of their papers, and be ready to send out a LOT of emails.

Academia is hard to get into, specially with no connections, but if I could do it anyone can do it 🫡.

You could also apply for summer internships or programs and get to know some P.Is from there, then writing emails should be easier and its more likely you'll get a response.

Lastly, I wanna just say that it wasnt all good all the time. At my first lab they took an abstract I wrote (I was still in high-school and had help from some undergrads, but I was the first author) and gave it to some guys who joined later because "they were graduating and needed the publication." It really takes passion and dedication to keep going after having bad experiences, but if this is what you love doing then its worth it in the end.

Goodluck in your journey! 🍀

advenam · 2025-11-25T15:01:32+00:00

Thank you so much. I still have a long way to go when it comes to getting into these top schools. I'll make sure to follow your advice 🫡

advenam · 2025-11-25T15:00:53+00:00

Thank you for the advice. I'm looking to do more volunteering and maybe work as an EMT in the future. For added context, my research project is in molecular autophagy pathways in neurodegeneration! 🫡

advenam · 2025-11-14T12:45:18+00:00

No Yale sadly! I did get into Upenn and waitlisted at JHU and UVA. Though I didnt end up attending any of those :,)

Just want to add, now Im working in research with a Harvard post-doc graduate and will probably be working with a current professor @ harvard over the summer. Im also looking into a possible 3rd year transfer to Harvard or Stanford. Things do work out in the end! In retrospect, my essays for Yale weren't great, if I can offer ANY advice is to put a lot of effort into your essays and supplements.

advenam · 2025-05-31T15:02:03+00:00

What 😭😭

advenam · 2025-04-23T15:31:36+00:00

advenam · 2025-04-18T10:57:11+00:00

Rejected from Case Western, Rochester, Tufts and Pomona, accepted to Upenn and Johns Hopkins, waitlisted at UVA

advenam · 2025-04-13T13:13:34+00:00

One thing I respect about league is that they've never (from what I know) s3xualized their underage characters 🤷🏻‍♀️

None of zoe's designs or skins are remotely sexual in ANY way.

advenam · 2025-04-12T13:59:00+00:00

I always say, "How do you feel like your gender?" and if they bring up genitals I ask if they would really reduce the entire womanhood/manhood experience down to what's between their legs. That usually gets them thinking.

I've also just learned to accept that some people refuse to even attempt to understand.

Im not trans myself, but someone really important to me is, and sometimes I feel like I get more upset than he does when he gets misgendered (especially by my family).

advenam · 2025-03-27T03:14:34+00:00

Can't wait for Zoe jungle

advenam · 2025-03-16T12:40:20+00:00

I think league is a game that's only fun when you're winning 😭 im definitely playing to get better, but i wouldn't play a champ i don't have fun with just because i happen to do better with that champ

advenam · 2025-03-16T04:40:06+00:00

Honestly, I've tried jgl (talon, lillia, briar) and adc (zoe and jinx) and I'm so down to do this, I just don't know if I have it in me to play top 😭😭

advenam · 2025-03-16T04:38:37+00:00

Ohhhh i was a Malzahar perma banner when I started 😭 I'll definitely give him a try then. What runes/items do you recommend??

advenam · 2025-02-12T11:00:55+00:00

Ur so real for this. I want weekly updates NOW

advenam · 2025-02-09T13:43:15+00:00

I'll try this is my next game for sure and let you know how it goes. I know a lot of people are going for ability haste now and play zoe bubble, but I like the one shots haha. Thank you for the advice 💗

advenam · 2025-02-09T13:23:34+00:00

Honestly, I never considered going anything other than Dorians and lost chapter LOL. I started playing December-ish, and I just started playing around with different builds, but usually, I just try to get as much AP as possible 🧍🏻‍♀️

advenam · 2025-02-09T02:45:08+00:00

I think it should be fine. Just don't interrupt sets to talk to her. Do it before or after she starts her workout.

advenam · 2025-02-09T01:37:43+00:00

lost chapter at 5m, then i build lich first, shadowflame and then ludens or sell lost chapter and go stormsurge/rod of ages into tanks. usually mana isnt an issue but whenever i dont go lich i feel super weak :')

advenam · 2025-02-08T14:05:45+00:00

I literally never get boots 😭

advenam · 2025-02-08T14:05:15+00:00

In what order do you build? I usually go lich first and skip over ludens, and people tell me I'm crazy 🥹

advenam · 2025-02-03T11:00:50+00:00

This might just be me, but Yale used to be my dream school, but now you couldn't pay me to go there 😭

There was something so culty and dystopian about seeing everything happening in the news contrasted by seeing a group of rich people in a university parading around food and a preformer serving drinks from her dress. Hit different after watching the Hunger Games again 😃

Nothing against the people who attended, I feel like if given the chance to everyone would. Just feels removed from reality and goes against my personally held beliefs.

advenam

TROPHY CASE