BMS vs MS Nutrition

[Fluffy123]

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Hey everyone,

Just wanted to get some feedback on something. I have been fortunate enough to receive 3 interviews (2 DO and 1 MD) but got WL at one and R at the other. The last interview is next month and I was debating between a MS in Nutrition or BMS program in case that one does not go well. I am practicing interview skills and questions and such. The biggest hindrance on my app is my GPA so if I kill either program, it would not matter which program I do right? I am not too interested in BMS but heavily interested in nutrition.

 

[LizzyM]

If you never get into medical school, what would you like to do professionally? Would either of those degree programs help you with that career goal? If you do get into medical school on a subsequent attempt, would either of those degree programs make you a stronger clinician?

Don't use a MS program to improve your GPA. It doesn't work that way except for the SMP which is a "do or die" attempt to prove that you are better than most medical students. If you do well, you might get a chance to do it all over again in medical school. If you do average or below average, you have nothing to show for it but the debt because the coursework does not provide you with skills in demand by employers.

 

[Fluffy123]

If you never get into medical school, what would you like to do professionally? Would either of those degree programs help you with that career goal? If you do get into medical school on a subsequent attempt, would either of those degree programs make you a stronger clinician?

Don't use a MS program to improve your GPA. It doesn't work that way except for the SMP which is a "do or die" attempt to prove that you are better than most medical students. If you do well, you might get a chance to do it all over again in medical school. If you do average or below average, you have nothing to show for it but the debt because the coursework does not provide you with skills in demand by employers.

I feel like the Nutrition degree would make me a stronger clinician especially if I choose family but if I never become a doctor, I would like to teach at a university which would probably require a PhD..

 

[LizzyM]

I feel like the Nutrition degree would make me a stronger clinician especially if I choose family but if I never become a doctor, I would like to teach at a university which would probably require a PhD..

What do you want to teach? Nutrition? If so, the MS in Nutrition would be a start toward the PhD. If you want to teach biology, then the MS in Bio might be a better choice. Do you know what the prospects are for university instructors these days? Online courses are changing academics. Look before you leap... teaching jobs in higher education are drying up and many PhDs are teaching at 2-3 schools and working out of the trunk of the car to make a living.

 

[MDProspect]

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to get some feedback on something. I have been fortunate enough to receive 3 interviews (2 DO and 1 MD) but got WL at one and R at the other. The last interview is next month and I was debating between a MS in Nutrition or BMS program in case that one does not go well. I am practicing interview skills and questions and such. The biggest hindrance on my app is my GPA so if I kill either program, it would not matter which program I do right? I am not too interested in BMS but heavily interested in nutrition.

Your GPA is not that bad, we have interviewed at the same schools. If you are set on GPA repair then I would recommend doing an informal postbacc at a 4-year undergrad institution (I am doing that right now). It's cheaper than a SMP or any other MS program. It's also not as binding as a Master's, since in the worst case scenario, any poor grade will average into your overall undergrad GPA.

@LizzyM would a MS in nutrition help OP get into medical school in anyway or would it have no benefit like a mph degree?

 

[LizzyM]

You GPA is not that bad, we interviewed at the same schools. If you are set on GPA repair then I would recommend doing an informal postbacc at a 4 year undergrad institution (I am doing that right now). It's cheaper than a smp or any other masters program and not as binding since in the worst case scenario any poor grade will average into your overall undergrad GPA.

@LizzyM would a MS in nutrition help OP get into medical school in anyway or would it have no benefit like a mph degree?

Neither nutrition nor public health are considered rigorous so in terms of proving one's ability to handle the material taught in medical school, neither is a good choice. That said, nutrition and public health are important and aren't covered as thoroughly as they should be in medical school so anyone who brings some knowledge of those topics to the table enriches the class and will be a more informed clinician. Furthermore, community projects in MPH programs have sometimes given applicants a bit of a boost in terms of bulking up a thin experience section.