Effect of an MBA on Residency Application Process?

20172018MD
Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:38:53 +0000

I was wondering what the effect of an MBA on Residency Application Process was. I have recently been accepted to a Texas Medical School (UT-San Antonio Medical School) and I have the option of taking a year off after my 2nd or 3rd year of medical school to pursue a 1 year MBA at a “top 20” business school.

I know that PhD has tons of weight in residency app process. I have seen kids with 220s on Step 1 getting into IM residency at elite programs which typically require 240+s on step 1 just because they had a PhD. I know that an MBA won’t be able to compensate for low stats but will it be a positive effect and if so, how positive?

I am interested in an MBA because I want to excel not only in clinical medicine but also in health care administration.

In case anyone cares, I was burned in my application process in Texas. My stats were 3.8+ gpa, between 30-35 MCAT score, and I interviewed at UTSW, UTH, UTMB, UT-San Antonio, A&M, TTELP. I ranked those schools in that order and got into my fourth choice school. I did not get interviews from Baylor or Texas Tech Lubbock. I am still on the waiting list at UTSW, UTH, UTMB. I don’t think I have much chance of getting in off the waiting list at UTSW, but maybe UTH or UTMB.

If so, with an MD from a “mid-tier” medical school and an MBA from a top 20 business school give me any step up in residency apps?

Top 20 business schools that offer one year MBAs are Northwestern, Cornell, and Emory. They may cost a lot to get, but all three schools offer significant scholarships (full tuition) depending on GMAT scores, and since I decided to stay in Texas for medical school (instead of going out of state), I am saving a lot of $$$$ which I can use to do an MBA.

Plus, the opportunity cost for 2 year MBAs is simply too high. Lost income as a clinical physician for 2 years can be as high as 500k, and the cost of a two year MBA is 100K, so by doing a one year MBA, I am saving roughly 350K in opportunity cost.

My versatility in the medical field and future income with an MD/MBA may be higher than a typical clinical doctors.