Does having an additional higher education degree make you more competative?

[DrGiraffe]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am not sure if this is the right place to ask...but will having an MPH, MBA, MS, etc make you a more desirable applicant for derm programs (in addition to having good grades, great Step 1, research pubs, etc.)? I am thinking of doing one of these degrees in addition to my MD, but I have been told by some physicians that it is a risk in that it may lower my pre-clinical grades to have to take an additional class each semester. What do you think?

 

[Dral]

I am not sure if this is the right place to ask...but will having an MPH, MBA, MS, etc make you a more desirable applicant for derm programs (in addition to having good grades, great Step 1, research pubs, etc.)? I am thinking of doing one of these degrees in addition to my MD, but I have been told by some physicians that it is a risk in that it may lower my pre-clinical grades to have to take an additional class each semester. What do you think?

Probably if you do something significantly derm related in relation to the degree...like a public health study on Melanoma or MS derm research.

Mainly if it helps you make derm connections really.

 

[asmallchild]

I am not sure if this is the right place to ask...but will having an MPH, MBA, MS, etc make you a more desirable applicant for derm programs (in addition to having good grades, great Step 1, research pubs, etc.)? I am thinking of doing one of these degrees in addition to my MD, but I have been told by some physicians that it is a risk in that it may lower my pre-clinical grades to have to take an additional class each semester. What do you think?

Perhaps more interesting but not significantly so.

If it lowers your pre-clinical grades, not worth doing.

 

[dermathalon]

I am not sure if this is the right place to ask...but will having an MPH, MBA, MS, etc make you a more desirable applicant for derm programs (in addition to having good grades, great Step 1, research pubs, etc.)? I am thinking of doing one of these degrees in addition to my MD, but I have been told by some physicians that it is a risk in that it may lower my pre-clinical grades to have to take an additional class each semester. What do you think?

If you are only doing the degree to help you get into derm (I've come to realize that quite a few PhDs do this), then that's up to you and may you remain unjaded in life...I've seen several PhDs that have no more than a falling nose hair's intent to do anything with the degree and seemed like the only purpose for the degree was to get into derm...I guess med school is paid for.

You should do the degree if it is interesting to you. If it's during the med school years, it will definitely detract from your studies but that's only your call. If your classes are pass/no pass it won't matter a lick.

 

[asmallchild]

Let me amend my previous statement. The degrees listed by the OP are unlikely to help.

A PhD will most definitely help.

 

[pupster]

I am not sure if this is the right place to ask...but will having an MPH, MBA, MS, etc make you a more desirable applicant for derm programs (in addition to having good grades, great Step 1, research pubs, etc.)? I am thinking of doing one of these degrees in addition to my MD, but I have been told by some physicians that it is a risk in that it may lower my pre-clinical grades to have to take an additional class each semester. What do you think?

Depends on WHAT you do w/ the degree. A degree is just one part of the story -- it's what you do w/ it (evidence of productivity (publications, etc.), leadership, etc.) that matters more....

 

[dermathalon]

Depends on WHAT you do w/ the degree. A degree is just one part of the story -- it's what you do w/ it (evidence of productivity (publications, etc.), leadership, etc.) that matters more....

Agreed.