Don't know what to choose for gap year

[suhdude]

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Hi everyone,

I graduated from college this past May. My stats are 3.65 cumulative 3.5 science (strong 4.0 upward trend 2 years). MCATS: 503 last year and 502 this year - I know very very bad. I am going to retake it next April.

1) I have been accepted to a prestigious Masters institution for a MS degree in bio related field. So...I would get a masters degree.

2) DIY post bacc at good school near my house. I want to take Biochemistry and maybe 2-3 other courses in the entire year (for med school admissions as well), while doing volunteering, research, and getting clinical experience.

Which would be the path to take, knowing that I will be intensely studying for MCAT as well?

 

[FMDoge2020]

I just saw a thread about dropping DO acceptance and apply MD/DO with the same stats....

Master degrees do not help with medical school admission, according to many adcoms on here(unless a SMP).

According to the advice I have seen on sdn, it is probably better to just study for the MCAT and apply DO and a few MD school with lower MCAT requirement.


Sent from my SM-N920P using SDN mobile

 

[TMC07]

Take the money you would spend on options one and two and invest in a Kaplan course, the Kaplan practice exams, and all of the official AAMC MCAT materials.
You don't need to do a post bacc. You need a much high MCAT score for MD schools.

 

[confidentandgood]

With that upward trend, what you need most is a strong MCAT score, not a GPA boost.

 

[MareNostrummm]

Hi everyone,

I graduated from college this past May. My stats are 3.65 cumulative 3.5 science (strong 4.0 upward trend 2 years). MCATS: 503 last year and 502 this year - I know very very bad. I am going to retake it next April.

1) I have been accepted to a prestigious Masters institution for a MS degree in bio related field. So...I would get a masters degree.

2) DIY post bacc at good school near my house. I want to take Biochemistry and maybe 2-3 other courses in the entire year (for med school admissions as well), while doing volunteering, research, and getting clinical experience.

Which would be the path to take, knowing that I will be intensely studying for MCAT as well?

Biochemistry is the only class seriously worth taking since a decent amount of medical schools actually have it as a requirement now and more are adding it from the recommended list. Besides that I would take maybe anatomy, physiology, or microbiology. A lot of schools have slightly different requirements for upper division coursework. Make sure you are taking classes that you really need, because otherwise your GPA is fine at this point.