1 year Masters or Carribean?

[demize]

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Given the situation of a bad MCAT this summer, should I take a 1 year Masters program (in science/medicine) while I reapply or is going straight to Caribbean a solid option?

 

[IndianVercetti]

I'd recommend a 1 year Masters program. The Carib is a solid option, but it is very risky.

 

[thepoopologist]

DO? Do not ever go to the carribean over a DO school.

I do not recommend either but then again it depends on what you want. If you want a US MD, do the 1 year masters knowing that if you screw up that 1 year you've screwed up your chances for good.

I happen to go to a DO school and a handful of my classmates did those masters programs (Boston U, Georgetown, UMDNJ, plus another group of MPHers) and it did not help them much in the MD arena. 40,000 bucks on a useless masters.

Then again, you could do awesome in the masters program (3.7+), get in somewhere and prove me wrong.

 

[specter]

I don't think you necessarily need to get a master's unless there's something in you gpa that requires academic redemption. You could try to find a job in a lab or something and work for a year while retaking the MCAT/getting your app ready

 

[chibrown01]

I have the same issue.
I have a few cousins in med school and they told me that foreign med skools like (ross) are ok if u want a non competitive residency. So if you think u wana go into peds, then its ok.. But if theres even a 1percent chance u may swicth to derm or radiology or plastics, then DONT GO TO FOREIGN med skools.

im in the app process now and i only have 1 interview lined up bc of a poor mcat. but my gpa is alright (cum 3.5, sgpa 3.4) so Im looking at those masters programs also. But my cousins are telling me masters are only if u have a poor gpa (below 3.2ish). So im going to look into lab work and travelling to teach english bc i dont really think I need an extra 30k of loans. and to be honest, those special masters programs are also competitive. so if u dont have a certain mcat, u will have to take it again before the deadlines which are usually around may. I dont feel like studying for the mcat whille in school bc i dont want my gpa to get any lower. So take your time AND STUDY for your next mcat. Lab work sounds great. Other ppl on sdn get phleb. training.

 

[metallica81788]

You don't necessarily have to do the masters, but don't go Caribbean. It's one year for you to try and improve your app vs. a very very rough path for a long time.

 

[Ischemic]

Some master programs out there have ties to specific med schools and if you do really well in them your chances are increased to getting into a US allo school. I don't know your whole story but I would encourage you to go to the postbac forum on SDN. The kids there will be better equipped to answer your specific concerns about SMPs and you'll also find a list of post-bac programs there too. Check it out and good luck.

 

[demize]

Some master programs out there have ties to specific med schools and if you do really well in them your chances are increased to getting into a US allo school. I don't know your whole story but I would encourage you to go to the postbac forum on SDN. The kids there will be better equipped to answer your specific concerns about SMPs and you'll also find a list of post-bac programs there too. Check it out and good luck.

thanks for the tip, i'll check it out

 

[MilkmanAl]

Just retake the MCAT. I wouldn't sign up for anything until you have a new score. If you have a workable GPA - say, 3.4+ - DO should definitely be your first option if you can't come up with a huge improvement. A SMP is a desperate gambit kind of move since you can really screw yourself if your performance in it is anything short of excellent. The Caribbean is the absolute last resort after you've exhausted all options. Don't go there unless you really, really have to.

 

[Marcus Brody]

Don't plan on having a bad MCAT this summer.

 

[Van Chowder]

masters Or DO. I dont understand why that is not an option?

 

[7starmantis]

Just retake the MCAT. I wouldn't sign up for anything until you have a new score. If you have a workable GPA - say, 3.4+ - DO should definitely be your first option if you can't come up with a huge improvement. A SMP is a desperate gambit kind of move since you can really screw yourself if your performance in it is anything short of excellent. The Caribbean is the absolute last resort after you've exhausted all options. Don't go there unless you really, really have to.

This 👍

Don't plan on having a bad MCAT this summer.

This 👍

masters

Not This 👎

 

[WNT Signaling]

Given the situation of a bad MCAT this summer, should I take a 1 year Masters program (in science/medicine) while I reapply or is going straight to Caribbean a solid option?

Buyer beware: a lot of these masters programs say '95% of our students are accepted to medical school!', but what they don't say is which percent go to allopathic schools

To echo others, evaluate your MCAT study habbits, change what needs to be changed, and retake it before you even consider a masters program. Besides, all the good SMP's require around a 30 MCAT

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Please if you want more personal responses tell us your gpa and mcat. Otherwise we can't tell you much other then general stuff.
Ok
if your gpa is good and mcat was bad ( below 26 then retake it.
if your gpa is bad( below 3.5) and mcat was bad. Then take some classes and raise your gpa up and retake the mcat.

In the end result i'd say you'd be better off going back for a minor or something in a repetitively easy field. If your Sgpa is below 3.4 then it'd also be wise to take some upper level biology courses.
If your gpa and sgpa are below 3.2, i'd recommend taking advantage of the DO school's grade replacement policy( meaning retake classes you got below a C in).

 

[illegallysmooth]

1. Masters won't fix a bad MCAT.


2. DO schools care less about a bad MCAT with a solid application otherwise. Would you really rather go to the Caribbean than sacrifice that almighty MD for a DO? For most intents and purposes, they are the same.

 

[jiayo]

Don't plan on having a bad MCAT this summer.

👍 Can't believe it took until the 10th post until I saw this...

 

[Morsetlis]

How do you fly?

Throw yourself at the ground and miss.

 

[DocHomer]

I have the same issue.
I have a few cousins in med school and they told me that foreign med skools like (ross) are ok if u want a non competitive residency. So if you think u wana go into peds, then its ok.. But if theres even a 1percent chance u may swicth to derm or radiology or plastics, then DONT GO TO FOREIGN med skools.

im in the app process now and i only have 1 interview lined up bc of a poor mcat. but my gpa is alright (cum 3.5, sgpa 3.4) so Im looking at those masters programs also. But my cousins are telling me masters are only if u have a poor gpa (below 3.2ish). So im going to look into lab work and travelling to teach english bc i dont really think I need an extra 30k of loans. and to be honest, those special masters programs are also competitive. so if u dont have a certain mcat, u will have to take it again before the deadlines which are usually around may. I dont feel like studying for the mcat whille in school bc i dont want my gpa to get any lower. So take your time AND STUDY for your next mcat. Lab work sounds great. Other ppl on sdn get phleb. training.

Don't forget that that there's a little thing called the USMLE, and if you don't have an extremely high score you won't have a chance with those specialties anyway, no matter what school you went to.

The Caribbean may be a decent option for the next couple of years before the influx of graduates from the new medical schools opening up across the country. But first retake the MCAT, apply DO and MD, and go to a DO school before even considering the Caribbean.