Can you take undergrad pre-reqs in a Masters Program?

[doug funnie]

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Right now, I am close to graduating with a BA in Psychology and History. I still have to do almost all of my science pre-med coursework.

Due to illness early on in my undergraduate career, I only have around a 3.0GPA. (Although I do have a 4.0GPA in all recent work (last 60 units) and therefore in all my upper division classes).

Since my GPA is not terribly impressive, I've been thinking of going on to get a MA in Psychology before going and applying to medical school. This would be logical and probably beneficial since I would eventually like to specialize in psychiatry.


What I am wondering is if I should complete the science pre-reqs before graduating.


For a variety of reasons, I would prefer to graduate asap and then do the math, chemistry, physics and biology at a new school. If that could be the same school I am going to get my MA degree at, that would be super duper. I have no idea if graduate schools allow this, however.

Anyone have any insight?

 

[de_la_soul]

if you're aiming for MD schools you definitely want to raise your undergrad GPA. Depending on how many credits you've already taken, I'd probably aim in the range of 3.3-3.4. Getting an MA would be nice, but you've got to understand that med schools look hard on undergrad gpa (and mcat amongst other things). I think you should stay at your school and finish the science prereqs as an undergrad student. Another option is to enroll in a structured postbac program (not a masters) that is geared towards completing the science prereqs for admission to medical school. Those programs are postbacs and not graduate level programs so the classes you take will add onto your AMCAS undergrad gpa.

 

[doug funnie]

if you're aiming for MD schools you definitely want to raise your undergrad GPA. Depending on how many credits you've already taken, I'd probably aim in the range of 3.3-3.4. Getting an MA would be nice, but you've got to understand that med schools look hard on undergrad gpa (and mcat amongst other things). I think you should stay at your school and finish the science prereqs as an undergrad student. Another option is to enroll in a structured postbac program (not a masters) that is geared towards completing the science prereqs for admission to medical school. Those programs are postbacs and not graduate level programs so the classes you take will add onto your AMCAS undergrad gpa.

From what I am reading around this forum, a MA in psychology is starting to sound like a waste of time (Even though I do have a genuine interest in it).

Perhaps I should just start on my science work. At least I am essentially starting from scratch there, so I could potentially have a very high science GPA.

 

[DrMidlife]

From a getting-in-to-med-school perspective, the *only* reason to do grad work in psychology is that you're interested in it.

It won't help your cumulative undergrad GPA (which is what matters for med school). Grad work isn't averaged in with undergrad.

It won't set you apart as a med school candidate.

Grad work in psychology is not going to give you much perspective for the practice of psychiatry.

I strongly recommend shadowing a practicing psychiatrist as soon as you can. Be willing to find out that it's not the job you want - med school is a ridiculously high-cost way to become a therapist or to get the right to distribute psychopharm.

Best of luck to you.