Doing Masters due to interest, but have a small problem.

[Hopefulpremed123]

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Hello everyone,

I’m currently a senior graduating from a large public institution in California. I have a cumulative gpa of a 3.82, and a science gpa of a 3.74. I have significant research, volunteer, clinical experiences with a publication and 2 presentations.

However, my mcat studying didn’t go according to plan and therefore I am looking to apply next year. In these two gap years I Really want to finish a masters of science program at my school. This program is known to be very rigorous and is tough on the gpa; however, is very intriguing to me.

Will med schools care for my grad gpa as long as I get a 3.5 or higher? I am interested in the program, and would love to do it as long as med schools won’t scrutinize me for not performing spectacularly well considering it is rigorous and my undergrad Gpa was fairly decent? Would you recommend I follow through with it, or just not risk my gpa? @gonnif @Goro @LizzyM @Catalystik
@DrFortiusNatando

 

[Goro]

MD schools do not care about graduate GPAs. DO schools will average them into your cGPA.

Do what you love and love what you do.

 

[Hopefulpremed123]

I would slightly disagree with my esteemed colleague from West of St. Louis. While completing a master will be am accomplishment, getting a good GPA will not be particularly impactful to an MD application. However, a poor GPA will have a negative impact on your med school application. So that is the risk to take on. If it is a difficult program, be prepared: 1) to do well in the graduate program; 2) prep and retake the MCAT and ; 3) applying with AMCAS and 10-25 secondary applications. If it is a two year masters, be very aware that you will doing all this your last term in the program

Thanks for your reply! Considering my undergraduate gpa was a 3.82 and my science gpa was a 3.74....

What would you consider as doing poorly in my masters? Would getting a 3.5 suffice for medical schools with my gpa or...? @Catalystik @gonnif

 

[Postdoc2MD]

Grad school GPA isn't going to factor in much UNLESS it is bad, which would send up a red flag. I think a 3.5 would be a fine grad GPA (mine was just above that for both undergrad and grad). Part of the reason no one cares is that grad programs are structured differently. For instance my PhD had some brutal courses that had ~50% averages, but the final average grade was a B due to the wild curves. Also, most research credits are P/F, which makes GPA a poor indication of how you did in the program.