Even if it isn't in the exact discipline in which you intend to earn your PhD?
Does having an MS help you gain an edge in MSTP admissions?
- Thread starter InNotOf
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2004
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 0
Yes it does. As long as it reflects you taking extra initiative to take advanced coursework as an undergrad (as in a 4 or 5 years master's combined with your undergrad degree) or shows an increase in effort or "turnaround" from a lackluster undergrad performance. If you are basically doing what you did as an undergrad but are paying 1-2 more years of tuition, then it won't be too impressive and you'd be better off working in that time. At least that is what I have observed.
B
b&ierstiefel
Credential inflation!
Having an MS will only help you (the extent to which is somewhat debatable--I've heard that it helps or doesn't make that much of a difference). Having an MS cannot hurt your chances (unless you did worse during your masters than in undergrad).
Look at it in terms of investments and rewards. You are investing additional years before starting the MD/PhD training. What exact advantage will this provide? Is this worth the additional years?
I agree with the above post. If you are using the MS to boost your undergrad performance, then the MS will definitely help. And it is well worth doing it. If you were one of these 4.92 GPA/48 MCAT folks with 10 Cell papers during undergrad (sarcasm alert!), the MS isn't gonna do a damn thing for ya.
Having an MS will only help you (the extent to which is somewhat debatable--I've heard that it helps or doesn't make that much of a difference). Having an MS cannot hurt your chances (unless you did worse during your masters than in undergrad).
Look at it in terms of investments and rewards. You are investing additional years before starting the MD/PhD training. What exact advantage will this provide? Is this worth the additional years?
I agree with the above post. If you are using the MS to boost your undergrad performance, then the MS will definitely help. And it is well worth doing it. If you were one of these 4.92 GPA/48 MCAT folks with 10 Cell papers during undergrad (sarcasm alert!), the MS isn't gonna do a damn thing for ya.
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2003
- Messages
- 483
- Reaction score
- 1
the only time it would definitely be helpful if it an m.phil via one of the many overseas graduate fellowship programs.
also, if the M.S. is in a mathematical/technical field out of your expertise, and you have done well, it may also be helpful. otherwise, i agree with andy.
also, if the M.S. is in a mathematical/technical field out of your expertise, and you have done well, it may also be helpful. otherwise, i agree with andy.
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2004
- Messages
- 1,965
- Reaction score
- 5
AndyMilonakis said:
I think "worth" is applicant dependant. For me, there's no way I would have been competitve without the MS. But for some being ready academically(3.8GPA, 33+ MCAT) doean't always equate to being mentally ready. I think for students who have the chops but aren't "ready", an MS is a viable option.
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2004
- Messages
- 171
- Reaction score
- 1
I guess I need to know the subtext of the question.
If the question is, "I have/will have an MS, will it help me gain admission?" the answer is almost certainly, yes, it will help you. If you're effective at presenting yourself, you can turn almost any life experience you've had into an asset, and an MS is a nice, concrete accomplishment.
If the question is, "I'm not sure whether I can get into an MSTP, should I get a MS first before I try?" then the answer is less clear. It would depend on the program itself, and it would depend on what other opportunities you had. If you had a really good research tech position, with a good mentor and a real research project of your own, that's probably better than a master's program (both in terms of your actual experience and in terms of strengthening your candidacy).
On the other hand, if you don't have such an experience, and you can find a really impressive program you can do well in, and have a solid research experience in, that might be a good way to go. It really depends on the master's program you'd consider, and the other opportunities that might be available to you.
Good luck.
If the question is, "I have/will have an MS, will it help me gain admission?" the answer is almost certainly, yes, it will help you. If you're effective at presenting yourself, you can turn almost any life experience you've had into an asset, and an MS is a nice, concrete accomplishment.
If the question is, "I'm not sure whether I can get into an MSTP, should I get a MS first before I try?" then the answer is less clear. It would depend on the program itself, and it would depend on what other opportunities you had. If you had a really good research tech position, with a good mentor and a real research project of your own, that's probably better than a master's program (both in terms of your actual experience and in terms of strengthening your candidacy).
On the other hand, if you don't have such an experience, and you can find a really impressive program you can do well in, and have a solid research experience in, that might be a good way to go. It really depends on the master's program you'd consider, and the other opportunities that might be available to you.
Good luck.
