A masters in Health Science?

[Futurecareerinmedicine]

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Hello Everyone!

To make a long story short my cgpa and spga is about 2.4. I would like to eventually apply to a D.O School.

I am planning to start a masters in health science with specialization in clinical laboratory science starting soon. Here is the curriculum: I hope it mimics a medical school curriculum::

Pathophysiology of Disease
Advanced Clinical Practice in Hematology and Hemostasis
Advanced Practice in Clinical Chemistry
Advanced Practice in Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis of Infectious Disease
Advanced Practice in Immunohematology and Immunology
Clinical Applications of Molecular Diagnostics
Health Computer Information Systems
Introduction to the Healthcare System and Quality Improvement
Health Care Policy, Organization and Financing
Research in Health Sciences
Legal and Ethical Issues in Health care
Professional Proposal Writing


Hopefully with the completion of the masters and my MCAT and retaking some of my prerequisites, I hope to apply my 2019.
I also work in a hospital cancer center which also has a medical school so I hope to get connections through that. Anysight would be appreciated!!!
Thank you

 

[goilers]

I don't think a masters would change your undergrad. GPA, which if that is what the 2.4 is, would be a problem even with a masters degree I believe. I could be wrong, but I think you'll need you actual undergrad GPA higher to get past a lot of DO school cutoffs, which I think a lot of people say are in the 3.0 range. So, postbacc work taking 'undergrad' classes rather than a graduate degree would be the more successful route. There are many more qualified people to talk about this- but I think this is the usual advice given.

 

[Futurecareerinmedicine]

I don't think a masters would change your undergrad. GPA, which if that is what the 2.4 is, would be a problem even with a masters degree I believe. I could be wrong, but I think you'll need you actual undergrad GPA higher to get past a lot of DO school cutoffs, which I think a lot of people say are in the 3.0 range. So, postbacc work taking 'undergrad' classes rather than a graduate degree would be the more successful route. There are many more qualified people to talk about this- but I think this is the usual advice given.

Oh okay thanks for the insight. Yes I will still be retaking undergrad classes some prerequisites but not enough to boost my gpa to 3.0. That would take years....but at least 15-30 credits. I heard that D.O Schools are more accepting of science heavy Masters programs? I am not sure if this is true

 

[sab3156]

You asked if that curriculum is similar to a medical school curriculum? I'm sorry, but I don't think you even know what medical school is. I think you should look into this field before deciding if this is what you want.

There's no other way to say it - your chance of getting into any medical school in the US is very slim. A health sciences masters degree is going to do absolutely nothing for you, and will just be a waste of money. Your connections to a cancer hospital that has a medical school is likely going to do nothing for you.

You should probably take the MCAT first. If you do extremely well, then you take the next step -> you will probably need to do an SMP program and do exceptionally well (I'm talking 4.0 or close to it). This program will be very difficult and will be just like medical school in some ways. You need to be realistic with yourself. The study tactics you molded yourself into using to get a 2.4 in college is going to make it nearly impossible to change your mentality and get a 4.0 in an SMP program. And if you don't get close to a 4.0, you've probably just wasted a lot of money and you're still not getting into medical school. Post-bacc? Hard to talk about, because we don't know what science classes you've taken and what you haven't. But in any case, what GPA will you end up with after taking those undergraduate courses? I don't know if I can see this ending well.

That's my perspective, but @Goro may have a different view and is pretty much the best source for this information.

 

[Futurecareerinmedicine]

You asked if that curriculum is similar to a medical school curriculum? I'm sorry, but I don't think you even know what medical school is. I think you should look into this field before deciding if this is what you want.

There's no other way to say it - your chance of getting into any medical school in the US is very slim. A health sciences masters degree is going to do absolutely nothing for you, and will just be a waste of money. Your connections to a cancer hospital that has a medical school is likely going to do nothing for you.

You should probably take the MCAT first. If you do extremely well, then you take the next step -> you will probably need to do an SMP program and do exceptionally well (I'm talking 4.0 or close to it). This program will be very difficult and will be just like medical school in some ways. You need to be realistic with yourself. The study tactics you molded yourself into using to get a 2.4 in college is going to make it nearly impossible to change your mentality and get a 4.0 in an SMP program. And if you don't get close to a 4.0, you've probably just wasted a lot of money and you're still not getting into medical school. Post-bacc? Hard to talk about, because we don't know what science classes you've taken and what you haven't. But in any case, what GPA will you end up with after taking those undergraduate courses? I don't know if I can see this ending well.

That's my perspective, but @Goro may have a different view and is pretty much the best source for this information.

Okay well thank you for the insight. I appreciate the honesty. That was my intention

You asked if that curriculum is similar to a medical school curriculum? I'm sorry, but I don't think you even know what medical school is. I think you should look into this field before deciding if this is what you want.

There's no other way to say it - your chance of getting into any medical school in the US is very slim. A health sciences masters degree is going to do absolutely nothing for you, and will just be a waste of money. Your connections to a cancer hospital that has a medical school is likely going to do nothing for you.

You should probably take the MCAT first. If you do extremely well, then you take the next step -> you will probably need to do an SMP program and do exceptionally well (I'm talking 4.0 or close to it). This program will be very difficult and will be just like medical school in some ways. You need to be realistic with yourself. The study tactics you molded yourself into using to get a 2.4 in college is going to make it nearly impossible to change your mentality and get a 4.0 in an SMP program. And if you don't get close to a 4.0, you've probably just wasted a lot of money and you're still not getting into medical school. Post-bacc? Hard to talk about, because we don't know what science classes you've taken and what you haven't. But in any case, what GPA will you end up with after taking those undergraduate courses? I don't know if I can see this ending well.

That's my perspective, but @Goro may have a different view and is pretty much the best source for this information.

I appreciate it the honesty. I do disagree regarding the masters. If it doesn't help me get into medical school I will gain a plethora of knowledge in regards to healthcare and it will prepare me for a leadership position in the hospital environment. I will still gain valuable knowledge and skills to prepare me for a leadership position. So I think my intention to do this masters degree is not necessarily to help me get into medical school but because I'm at a point in my life where I'm lost as to how I can accomplish my goals because of my gpa. I have been out of school for like 3 years and I just miss studying. I want to gain knowledge and this program kind of teaches you everything you need to know about working on a leadership position in a hospital. And doctors are leaders in our community. If it doesn't necessarily help me get into medical school at least I'll gain valuable knowledge and skills. I still do plan on taking prereqs and undergrad courses as well and I'll see where that takes me...

 

[sab3156]

The only thing i can really think of (other than what I said above) is to destroy the MCAT, and then try and get your GPA as close to a 3.0 as possible. After this apply to SMP programs at DO schools that have basically a back door into their medical school, and dominate it with a 4.0. But again, you need to think about whether it is a realistic goal.

@Goro might say otherwise.

 

[Goro]

The only thing i can really think of is to destroy the MCAT, and then try and get your GPA as close to a 3.0 as possible. After this apply to SMP programs at DO schools that have basically a back door into their medical school, and dominate it with a 4.0. But again, you need to think about whether it is a realistic goal.

@Goro might say otherwise.

Very sound plans!

 

[Futurecareerinmedicine]

Very sound plans!

Could a Science based Masters also replace an SMP?

 

[BobbyKoch]

Could a Science based Masters also replace an SMP?

check out the courses offered in most SMPs and compare. the program you listed seems to be geared more towards administration and medical technologist. it will be valuable if those are the professions you want to pursue.

 

[sab3156]

Could a Science based Masters also replace an SMP?

Absolutely not. You said you wanted to go to medical school. You have a 2.4 cumulative and science GPA. SMP with linkage to a DO school is going to be probably the only way you are going to achieve this goal. See my post above:

The only thing i can really think of is to destroy the MCAT, and then try and get your GPA as close to a 3.0 as possible. After this apply to SMP programs at DO schools that have basically a back door into their medical school, and dominate it with a 4.0. But again, you need to think about whether it is a realistic goal.

 

[Futurecareerinmedicine]

The only thing i can really think of (other than what I said above) is to destroy the MCAT, and then try and get your GPA as close to a 3.0 as possible. After this apply to SMP programs at DO schools that have basically a back door into their medical school, and dominate it with a 4.0. But again, you need to think about whether it is a realistic goal.

@Goro might say otherwise.

If I had a really good MCAT Score, Continued getting Clinical experience, Took 30 credits of undergraduate credits,

Absolutely not. You said you wanted to go to medical school. You have a 2.4 cumulative and science GPA. SMP with linkage to a DO school is going to be probably the only way you are going to achieve this goal. See my post above:

Okay I hear what your saying and I have done some research on the forum. I have seen countless times students posting that they had a 2.5 science gpa or 2.6 cumulative gpa and doing masters programs in Biology or Biomedical sciences and Goro has responsed saying that with a strong gpa in the masters and a strong MCAT that they could get accepted even with a 2.5 science and 2.6-2.7 cumulative gpa? That is why I am confused...
Masters --> DO...smart or mistake?

 

[sab3156]

If I had a really good MCAT Score, Continued getting Clinical experience, Took 30 credits of undergraduate credits,

Yes, you need to really destroy the MCAT, though.

Okay I hear what your saying and I have done some research on the forum. I have seen countless times students posting that they had a 2.5 science gpa or 2.6 cumulative gpa and doing masters programs in Biology or Biomedical sciences and Goro has responsed saying that with a strong gpa in the masters and a strong MCAT that they could get accepted even with a 2.5 science and 2.6-2.7 cumulative gpa? That is why I am confused...
Masters --> DO...smart or mistake?

I didn't read that thread but let's talk about what circumstances we are dealing with... You have a 2.4 cumulative and science, and DO schools don't do grade reolacement anymore. The only real way a DO school is going to accept you is if you get your undergrad GPA up to as close to a 3.0 as possible, crush the MCAT, and then apply to SMP programs that have backdoor entry in the medical school that the SMP is at.

You have your work cut out for you, and you need to take the first steps which is to retake any science class you did poorly in (especially pre-reqs) and get absolutely nothing less than A's. After that, prepare yourself to wage all out war on the MCAT.