3.2 GPA 30MCAT MS or Retake Courses?

[jakeintrouble]

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I am a male Biochem grad with a 3.2 GPA. Too many B's and finished the last 3 semesters with 3.7. I work full time as a lab technician and have my tuition fully waived. Should I retake old courses or get my masters in health administration? These are my only two options available. I am confident I will get all A's, either route.

Please help

 

[LuluLovesMe]

Not sure how your gender is relevant but thanks for telling us Jake. 😛

May I ask why these are your only 2 options available? Med schools don't really pay attention to masters grades unless it is a SMP. If you retake classes, it's fine for DO grade replacement, but for MD it's not going to boost your GPA much.

What's your goal?

 

[GrapesofRath]

A masters in health administration wont really do anything to boost your medical school application

Retaking any C's will boost your DO GPA quickly and make you a more viable candidate. It's not the route to go to improve an MD application though.

For MD schools an SMP would be the single best route to address you weaknesses. If you want to do an SMP and pursue the MD route I might give some consideration to retaking the 30, particularly if it runs the risk of expiring by the time your SMP is done.

 

[jakeintrouble]

The only courses available during my schedule are the Masters in Health Admin. courses. As they are all after 4pm. I dont have an SMP paid for. I have one year of free tuition. I can maybe take some 500+ sciences and a couple retakes, or an entire masters? I know a masters wouldnt boost my application much.

Here are my options... since I am busy 8-4

1) Get my masters in Health administration
2) Take some high level science, while retaking the very limited courses available during my schedule.

I may be able to retake two classes total. I would guess that the masters would be a better route, but I'm not sure.

 

[jakeintrouble]

Bump..

 

[LuluLovesMe]

I think both are bad options. Either take out loans and do a full time SMP or do grade replacement and apply DO.

 

[GrapesofRath]

There's really not too much more to say.

The MS in Health Admin wont do anything for your med school app. If there is an alternative purpose in it, then it might make sense to pursue it. If your goal is to enhance your medical school application, retake classes you got C's in and ace some upper level science courses at a UG for DO schools. For MD, an SMP is likely the best option.

 

[Goro]

This MS will not impress any Adcom that you can habdle med school. t WILL be useful if you seek an alternative career in that field.

I suggest that if $ is an issue, then work a few years, save up your money, and do a SMP, ace it, along with MCAT, and apply to those MD schools (and all DO) that reward reinvention.

Retaking 1-2 courses each semester really isn't going to do the trick for MD schools. OK for DO. In fact, you fine for many DO schools right now (except maybe CCOM)

The only courses available during my schedule are the Masters in Health Admin. courses. As they are all after 4pm. I dont have an SMP paid for. I have one year of free tuition. I can maybe take some 500+ sciences and a couple retakes, or an entire masters? I know a masters wouldnt boost my application much.

Here are my options... since I am busy 8-4

1) Get my masters in Health administration
2) Take some high level science, while retaking the very limited courses available during my schedule.

I may be able to retake two classes total. I would guess that the masters would be a better route, but I'm not sure.

 

[Pasmal]

I'm interested to hear why you think an MHA will help you in any way.

A 3.2 with your credit load will not move easily without grade replacement. Assuming you have an average matriculating MCAT, even a 4.0 2-year MS will only boost your GPA to ~3.45 (both of which are viewed more favorably than a non-hard-science masters). SMP will help a bit for MD but your GPA still puts you at a disadvantage even with a great MCAT (what is your MCAT score btw?) and ECs/LORs. Not saying it's impossible, but unless you have a stellar application in every other category, I think you'd be most successful going the DO route.

Drop your job (private loan if money is an issue, they can defer until after grad school), do some full-time schoolwork and boost that GPA w/grade replacement before summer so you can apply DO next cycle.