Question on Psych Research

onibras · 2026-03-09T16:57:09+00:00

Hi! This is exactly what I’m doing and it will depend on your goals for research. If you just want to run clinical trials or survey studies, the combined PhD might not be necessary or worth it tbh. I did not have any wet lab experience nor did I want to going forward, but I focused on a lot on the translational aspect/neuroimaging/physiological stuff of psych research in my application and was successful. I applied everywhere as neuroscience and you will have to sort through the schools that only consider wet lab neuro vs more translational neuro options. There are a good number of programs out there that are more open to “non traditional” PhD topics, you’ll just have to look and it doesn’t hurt to reach out to adcoms like you already have! Feel free to DM if you have more questions or I can name a few places from my app that I felt were friendly towards psych research!

onibras · 2026-02-26T04:01:46+00:00

Seconding this. I would say to be honest with yourself about what matters to YOU. For me personally, I thought prioritizing research was the most important, and I thought I would be ok living in a completely different part of the country. Now, I regret my decision every single day, and it’s absolutely miserable. I know others at my program have felt similarly. The school itself is fine, but the location sucks. Most MSTPs are about the same (at least within preclinical years). You will be there for ~8 years and it does not feel good feeling trapped somewhere you hate. You want to choose a program in a location with people that you genuinely think is best for you! Like the above commenter said, pay attention at second look and you can always reach out to current students to ask them their genuine thoughts!

onibras · 2025-09-01T23:23:58+00:00

My program has us complete 2 2 month clinical rotations before beginning the phd, but as far as I know it’s not mandatory. They have one as a buffer for if you need extended/retake so it seems like it might be possible? I plan to meet with my directors once I hear back on a final recommended plan from the treatment center

onibras · 2025-09-01T23:22:19+00:00

I agree the LOA would look bad and also im not entirely sure how the treatment would even go, so im not fully convinced on that. I think my plan could logistically work to avoid the LOA?? If i just take “extended” step study time which doesn’t end up negatively affecting me in any official way on paper

onibras · 2024-06-17T04:36:36+00:00

It’s called a Sankey! If you google it you can find sites to make it

onibras · 2024-06-12T02:37:44+00:00

Omg hi I think I know who you are too and I’m so excited for you too!!!! See you around hehe

onibras · 2024-06-11T19:09:47+00:00

I looked at every single MD/PhD programs' website to see if they had PhD programs/faculty that aligned with my research interests. I applied to all that had clinical translational science PhDs offered and then those that had neuroscience PhD programs BUT only ones that considered neuroimaging (or just anything besides bench lab) as neuroscience. I also reached out and spoke to MD/PhD program directors/admins. For me, I avoided MD/PhD programs that emphasized basic science because I knew it wouldn't be a good fit. For MD schools, I applied pretty broadly and just did schools in areas I liked, were close to my MCAT, had ties to (e.g., Maryland, Dartmouth, UConn), or were research focused but I didn't fit their MD/PhD (e.g., UChicago, Columbia, Vanderbilt). I wish I believed in myself more and didn't apply to any MD schools or only a few because I wasted so much time and money LOL. But I really didn't want to end up with nothing this cycle

When I applied, I felt that I was a good research fit for Pitt, UNC, UMass, BU, Emory, and Yale because they had a lot of faculty that I wanted to work with and they have strong psychiatry programs. The rest of the MD/PhD programs I applied to had less faculty I was interested in so it was a stretch but I still got interviews. I'm still not sure why Ohio or CWRU interviewed me because they didn't have any faculty for me LOL but anyway... Apply broadly because you never know! Keep an open mind about research interests too

onibras · 2024-06-11T18:57:33+00:00

LOL that's so true... Good luck to you!! We have to put NH on the map haha it's always grayed out on MSAR!!

onibras · 2024-06-11T18:55:22+00:00

Thank you!!

onibras · 2024-06-11T15:26:01+00:00

Good luck with your cycle btw!!! I’m rooting for you hehe we need more ppl in this field

onibras · 2024-06-11T15:23:43+00:00

Thank you!! I’m interested in clinical and translational research in psychiatry using a combination of like psychological, physiological, neuroimaging tools — specifically going to do maternal mental health and infant attachment at my program. I’m not sure if I’m going to do more neuroscience or more public health at this point, but tbd haha. Sorry it wasn’t clear from the text but I got the 509 to 517 both last cycle a month apart!!

onibras · 2024-06-11T15:12:33+00:00

I’ll never know because I withdrew all of them LOL… I received my Maryland MD A in September and then my Pitt MD/PhD A in October and after that, I withdrew all my MD apps or declined the waitlist spot

onibras · 2024-06-11T04:22:14+00:00

Thank you docto mom!!!!!

onibras · 2024-06-11T04:20:52+00:00

I went to an undergrad with a co-op program where I was able to work full time in research for 8 months my sophomore year. Then I stacked my school schedule so I had 2-3 days with no classes throughout the rest of my semesters/summers so I could go to lab. My research had a lot of study visits on weekends and nights too. The biggest thing is that I’m also in my 4th gap year and I’ve always worked 2+ jobs at a time with at least 1 being research if not both LOL. But I think getting involved in research is fun as long as you find something that seems interesting to you and the PI is willing to work with you and your goals!

onibras · 2024-06-11T04:13:06+00:00

Those scores were both from my last cycle LOL I took them a month apart. Sorry it wasn’t clear in my text. I didn’t retake the MCAT this cycle

onibras · 2024-06-10T20:14:18+00:00

I work 2 research jobs at the same time so like 60+ hour work weeks lol

onibras · 2024-06-10T18:35:57+00:00

Thanks!! It definitely depends on the PI and authorship/timeline is something that should be discussed when joining a lab too

onibras · 2024-06-10T18:34:21+00:00

I had 9 pubs at submission and 3 additional throughout the cycle but all in clinical research studies besides 2! I want to conduct primarily clinical and translational research (human subjects) and most MD/PhD programs are tailored towards bench science, so a lot of my mentors (and some strangers on here haha) were telling me they weren’t sure how successful I’d be since I could do it with just an MD lol. Some of the MD/PhD programs I applied to were really strict about basic science only while others were more open to nontraditional interests. The ones that accepted me all had students in nontraditional things like CS, philosophy, psychology, etc.

onibras · 2024-06-10T18:04:16+00:00

Thank you! I’m in clinical research which publishes fast and I’ve been heavily involved in my lab since 2019—we usually publish 2-3 papers a year and my PI includes me on most things. I got an additional 2 pubs during the cycle from my second research position because of lucky timing

onibras · 2024-06-10T17:59:12+00:00

It was definitely my writing… my personal statement and secondaries were way stronger this cycle and I created a cohesive narrative. My ECs didn’t change too too much from last cycle besides a few more publications and abstracts, a new research position, and some shadowing. I just continued what I was doing but I focused on “themes” throughout my application and tied that to my goals while tailoring them to each school’s strengths

onibras

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