3.6gpa, SMP or Master's?

[binderpaper]

I am trying to plan what to do. I have a huge upward trend in my gpa that I expect will end up to ~3.6 by the time I graduate. I really, really want to go to med school at a UC or USC, and while 3.6 is probably enough to get into med somewhere, it's a little low for those (not URM). I don't know if I should do an SMP or Master's at my current undergrad institution?
Pros of SMP: it shows I can hack it in med school
Pros of Masters: I can continue to do research in the same lab I currently work in (which I genuinely enjoy!), can keep doing the volunteering positions I've already established

???

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[Goro]

With a 3.6 GPA, it's foolish to spend money on an SMP.

A research MS won't add anything. MD schools, in fact, don't count their GPAs.

Do well on the MCAT.

If you are a California resident get used to the idea that you will probably be going to medical school out of state. California is a net exporter of medical students

 

[21Rush12]

Seconding Goro here. You’re wasting a ludicrous amount on an SMP and risking that you don’t do well. Do well on MCAT and hope.

 

[binderpaper]

I get that a research MS won't help undergrad gpa but the publication/extra time for ECs/additional degree won't help at all for med admissions?

 

[Catalystik]

I get that a research MS won't help undergrad gpa but the publication/extra time for ECs/additional degree won't help at all for med admissions?

Having a masters won't make you a more appealing candidate. Having one year of research is a good goal for general application purposes. Having two would serve you well for highly-selective, research-oriented med schools. Extra time beefing up other ECs would certainly benefit your application, but you don't need to be in a masters program to have access to most of them.

 

[Robin-jay]

Having a masters won't make you a more appealing candidate. Having one year of research is a good goal for general application purposes. Having two would serve you well for highly-selective, research-oriented med schools. Extra time beefing up other ECs would certainly benefit your application, but you don't need to be in a masters program to have access to most of them.

That's not what many admission committee members told me. I had an in-person appointment with an admission committee member at a well-respected M.D. school and he was definitely for masters/PhD's in hard sciences and said they were significant. I've also had several E-mails from random schools saying similar things.

I notice that these forums are more for post-bac. than graduate courses in general.

But if a student only got a B/C in physics or general chemistry courses earned an A in classes like "advanced quantum chemistry 600", then that can only help.

 

[21Rush12]

That's not what many admission committee members told me. I had an in-person appointment with an admission committee member at a well-respected M.D. school and he was definitely for masters/PhD's in hard sciences and said they were significant. I've also had several E-mails from random schools saying similar things.

I notice that these forums are more for post-bac. than graduate courses in general.

But if a student only got a B/C in physics or general chemistry courses earned an A in classes like "advanced quantum chemistry 600", then that can only help.

Your statement about the A in grad courses completely ignores the pervasive grade inflation in graduate schools.

Why are you asking for advice if you’ve made up your mind already that a masters is the right choice? There are experienced adcom members here and this message is not coming about arbitrarily.

Edit: I shouldn’t multitask — I apologize robin-jay, I mistook you for the OP. Was going between two threads and got confused.

 

[Robin-jay]

Your statement about the A in grad courses completely ignores the pervasive grade inflation in graduate schools.

Why are you asking for advice if you’ve made up your mind already that a masters is the right choice? There are experienced adcom members here and this message is not coming about arbitrarily.

1. The first thing my first professor said in graduate school was "I will not give any A's this semester"

Grade inflation is kind of a hard when its impossible.

I agree that some grades are considered infaltion-y in grad school (like seminars), but the core classes are not.

2. If you earn an "A" in advanced quantum chemistry, then the chances you also earn an "A" in advanced biochemistry was very, very, small. You are competing against many individuals who plan on being professors in their field. To outdo both the future quantum professors and then outdo the biochemistry professors would be extraordinarily difficult.

3. I'm not asking for advice on the subject. An SMP is the smartest choice imo. (In terms of looking good for admission committees, not factoring costs, etc.)

EDIT: It's cool 21Rush12, multi-tasking on here can do that xD

 

[Geo16]

Cough
Should apply to California DO schools too if you wanna stay in CA
Cough

sorry for the long cough, I will get going now

 

[Robin-jay]

With a 3.6 GPA, it's foolish to spend money on an SMP.

A research MS won't add anything. MD schools, in fact, don't count their GPAs.

Do well on the MCAT.

If you are a California resident get used to the idea that you will probably be going to medical school out of state. California is a net exporter of medical students

I am curious, what percentage of out-of-state students are in Cali med. schools?

 

[Catalystik]

That's not what many admission committee members told me. I had an in-person appointment with an admission committee member at a well-respected M.D. school and he was definitely for masters/PhD's in hard sciences and said they were significant. I've also had several E-mails from random schools saying similar things.

There is a thread in the NonTrad Forum where we keep a list of those schools that don't abide by the "general rule" about traditional masters grades not boosting an application. For them, it is the grades earned in hard science that make a difference, not having received another diploma. Often, the second diploma has not yet been earned at the time a candidate applies to med school.

 

[Robin-jay]

There is a thread in the NonTrad Forum where we keep a list of those schools that don't abide by the "general rule" about traditional masters grades not boosting an application. For them, it is the grades earned in hard science that make a difference, not having received another diploma. Often, the second diploma has not yet been earned at the time a candidate applies to med school.

If you're saying the degree itself doesn't matter, then that should be pretty similar to even a bachelors degree with varying majors correct?

For example, a biology or history degree doesn't matter to the adcoms as long as the pre-reqs are done.

Similarly, a masters in itself doesn't matter, its what you did in the masters, correct?

Also, if its not a bother, what is that thread called?

 

[Goro]

I am curious, what percentage of out-of-state students are in Cali med. schools?

MSAR will tell you this

 

[Catalystik]

1) If you're saying the degree itself doesn't matter, then that should be pretty similar to even a bachelors degree with varying majors correct?

2) For example, a biology or history degree doesn't matter to the adcoms as long as the pre-reqs are done.

3) Similarly, a masters in itself doesn't matter, its what you did in the masters, correct?

1) It would be if the grading rigor were the same across the board. But it usually isn't, as has been pointed out above, contrary to your personal experience.

2) True.

3) For those schools that regard a masters GPA, that is true.

Would you be willing to add or update your experience via personal communications to the thread I referred to for the sake of future applicants? Grad School GPA - does it actually matter? (be sure to read down two posts).

 

[MareNostrummm]

Depends what your grade trend looks like. Having a 3.7 vs a 3.6 won't necessarily make a difference, but if you do a DIY post bacc and get a 4.0 with 12 units or more, for two quarters, that will look nice. When the adcoms look at your academic record it will be a string of A's at the end.

 

[Robin-jay]

1) It would be if the grading rigor were the same across the board. But it usually isn't, as has been pointed out above, contrary to your personal experience.

2) True.

3) For those schools that regard a masters GPA, that is true.

Would you be willing to add or update your experience via personal communications to the thread I referred to for the sake of future applicants? Grad School GPA - does it actually matter? (be sure to read down two posts).

1) I agree that there a grade inflation-y aspects of the graduate degree, such as "seminars". However, advanced organic, biochemistry, quantum, analytic, and inorganic 600 courses were far more rigorous and graded far harsher than undergrad.

Its a weird comparison. For example, one of my chem. 600 courses breakdown was the following:

0% A's
50% B's
50% C's
0% D's
0% F's

Another 600 course was (rough estimation):

25% A's
25% B's
25% C's
25% D's and F's

The professors have more a free reign in graduate school. So if they want to hand out no A's, they are perfectly free to with no push-back, or if they want everyone to have an A, they can.

Sure, I might be able to add to that thread! Thanks for the link!

 

[Catalystik]

Sure, I might be able to add to that thread! Thanks for the link!

Most appreciated.