<p>Would it look bad for an MD applicant to have won the Goldwater Scholarship? The reason being that the Goldwater is for students intending fully to pursue research careers. What if your mind changes along the road, etc?</p>
<p>Goldwater and Amgen Scholar programs are both intended for students who intend to pursue a PhD or MD/PhD. The student is asked to give his word and write a a statement of purpose declaring that this is their primary agenda. There are no consequences if a students changes his mind later on.</p>
<p>However, both programs prohibit a student from taking the MCAT or taking a MCAT prep class during the program’s duration. (It’s grounds to get bounced out of the program and your stipend/travel expenses/room &board will get revoked retroactively to the beginning of the program. IOW, you’ll have to pay back everything the program has paid you or has paid for you starting with your flight to the site.)</p>
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<p>Medical research is specifically referenced as a career choice in the listing that follows this blurb.</p>
<p>WOWmom, I believe you are over-stating the case. One recipient I know (from 4-5 years ago) made it clear what her career goals and aspirations were in her statements to the foundation and it didn’t seem to slow the application down too much. </p>
<p>And, as I know you know, not all medical research is done by Md/PhD’s.</p>
<p>That being said, the goals of the program are well-stated and should be honored.</p>
<p>As to the MCAT prohibition, I’d like to see a link. That would knock out the MD/PhD’s , too.</p>
<p>Here’s a student who won a GW (they don’t say when but it is more recent) and has an MCAT in the 99th percentile so if the rule is in place it is very recent. </p>
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<p>Here’s another from 2012. [Competitive</a> research leads to Goldwater Scholarship for USD student Jennifer Dumdie](<a href=“http://www.usd.edu/press/news/news.cfm?nid=2428]Competitive”>http://www.usd.edu/press/news/news.cfm?nid=2428)</p>
<p>And another. <a href=“http://pittnews.com/newsstory/pitt-student-named-goldwater-scholar/[/url]”>http://pittnews.com/newsstory/pitt-student-named-goldwater-scholar/</a></p>
<p>I am pretty sure the Goldwater folks could do better sleuthing than I can. ;)</p>
<p>Well, maybe my google fu has taken a hike, and that is always possible, but I cannot find a reference on the GW site or elsewhere about an MCAT prohibition either old, or new, or forthcoming. In fact, this last crop of GW scholars had 45 student’s pursuing MD/PhD degrees. I would have to assume they will/would be violating the MCAT prohibition if there was one as students usually take the MCAT during the time period they are receiving the funds.</p>
<p>The MCAT prohibition is part of the contract Amgen Scholars sign before beginning the program. Program participants are also warned/reminded verbally again during the program orientation. </p>
<p>The prohibition is not mentioned anywhere on the Amgen website and came as surprise to more than one of D2’s cohort.</p>
<p>I don’t know for fact that the GW has the same restrictions. I should have been more specific.</p>
<p>I know nothing about Amgen, but if I was one of those kids…I’d have been plenty ticked. Jeebus. Did any leave it on the floor and walk away? </p>
<p>I do know a little about the GW and no such “contract” is signed. All the scholar materials you are expected to sign are available for download on the GW site. </p>
<p>As to the specific question asked by the OP- let me ask one in return before I answer. </p>
<p>What are your career goals and aspirations? If you want to be a physician and have no interest in a career that includes doing research, whether bench or translational, this ain’t the scholarship for you. That interest will be tested and evaluated in the process. In fact, it is a key component in the selection process. I don’t know how one could successfully fake it. </p>
<p>Some of this year’s GW recipients listed some combination of research, med or university-level teaching, and patient care in their scholar profiles published on the Goldwater site. Not one profile failed to mention a significant research component to their career. And, to me at least, that’s the key. </p>
<p>Just like everything else in life, to thine own self be true. </p>
<p>And, yeah. Be ready to explain. To some interviewers it will be a plus to win, be Honorable Mention, or be your school’s nominee, and I have to believe that there are some to which applying MD only would be a negative. </p>
<p>And it may be appropriate to point out here that not all med school interviewers have MD degrees. ;)</p>
<p>Aah. Decided I’d go learn about Amgen rather than have lunch. I think I have it figured out, WOWmom. </p>
<p>(As you know) Amgen’s program is a 10 week summer program (who knew? lol) and the prohibition on MCAT is while attending the program. It also prohibits other jobs and classes during the 10 weeks, so that certainly is consistent with program goals. </p>
<p>GW is totally different in that there is no summer program. It is simply a scholarship.</p>
<p>Actually at D2’s Amgen site, the program included a GRE prep class as one of its perks. (Other perks include academic grants for grad study and travel awards.)</p>
<p>But it’s interesting to note that in D2’s cohort (25 Amgen plus 5 HHMI), to date only 1 has taken the MCAT and applied to med school. That student took the MCAT before the program began and although he/she was accepted into a very nice med school, declined admission.</p>
<p>Of the rest who have graduated, the majority have gone on to grad school, post-grad research fellowships or research intensive RA positions.</p>
<p>On the Amgen site it makes mention of 49 that have gone onto med school in Md/PhD. programs and 125 others that have gone on to “Professional School in Science - M.D., other”. It provides a breakdown. </p>
<p>[Amgen</a> Scholars](<a href=“http://www.amgenscholars.com/about_amgen_scholars/program_alumni/]Amgen”>http://www.amgenscholars.com/about_amgen_scholars/program_alumni/)</p>
<p>@Curmudgeon: I am not very set on my career goals at the moment. Although I find research and computer programming as one of my two favorite activities, I am not sure as of yet that either would be ideal for a lifetime job. What I mean is that doing research requires a lot of time committment for randoms that accumulate and usually translates to a lot of time outside of the lab away from benchwork. Also, research is fiercely competitive in grants and such so there is always a lot of stress. Computer programming is amazing but it also has its drawbacks like sitting in front of a computer typing away for large chunks of time. I know every occupation has its pluses and minuses; so at the moment, I am not very decided on whether to pursue a MD or a MD/PHD, or even something else. However, I am on the pre-med track currently and I do genuinely love research. The Goldwater scholarship has its deadline every year so I am just contemplating on whether I should apply or wait until I have solidified my career goals.</p>
<p>It appears historically since the inception of the program that about half of the Amgen scholars pursued graduate school in the sciences as opposed to other options. 465/444.</p>
<p>java. I can’t and won’t answer what you should do. I will tell you that based on what I know about the competiveness of getting the backing of a college for a GW, based on your ambivalence to a career as a researcher, it is unlikely that your school would support you for this award. But that’s just my opinion.</p>
<p>I know at D2’s undergrad, the U only supports 1 or 2 students year for the GW–and only those who already have proven track record in the research with fairly clearly defined career goals. YMMV.</p>
<p>Well the reason this all came into question was because the director for GW at my college told me to apply for it, me being 1 of 7 potentials, later to be narrowed down to 4 to be put forth by the university.</p>
<p>Well, gee. You could have said that. lol</p>
<p>@WOWMom, </p>
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<p>We now have a choice of GRE or MCAT. They give us a set of PR books and classes.
Flying out to UCLA this coming weekend to present our posters. Great experience. :D</p>
<p>Things have changed then–or it may a site specific issue. (And her site used Kaplan, not PR.)</p>
<p>D2 said she found the conference somewhat disappointing. Their flight was delayed and their bus pick-up never showed up so they missed about the half of the first day. It was fun to meet people from other sites, though.</p>