Drexel IMS vs regular masters in biology

[jackbauer29]

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Hey.
I recently got accepted into the drexel IMS program and I really like the program but I'm also considering doing a regular masters in science degree.
My GPA is a 3.0 and my mcat score score is 31.
The reason why I'm considering the regular masters is because it's in my home town and if I go back there id get my in-state status back so that I could hopefully get into my state allopathic school which is my dream school. I'm also hoping that it would be easier for me to do well in a regular masters as apposed to the IMS with medical school classes.
I would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks in advance!

 

[deleted248403]

Hey.
I recently got accepted into the drexel IMS program and I really like the program but I'm also considering doing a regular masters in science degree.
My GPA is a 3.0 and my mcat score score is 31.
The reason why I'm considering the regular masters is because it's in my home town and if I go back there id get my in-state status back so that I could hopefully get into my state allopathic school which is my dream school. I'm also hoping that it would be easier for me to do well in a regular masters as apposed to the IMS with medical school classes.
I would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks in advance!

If you home state master program is an SMP - then yes; if not, then NO

 

[doktorcardinal]

Regular masters will be easier yes.

But keep in mind that adcoms know this very well too.

 

[tomz1385]

I did the Drexel IMS program as well - check your home state application guidelines. Even while doing the IMS program in another state, I was able to apply as a resident to my "state school". You might not even need to be a current resident. They might consider you a resident of the state if you completed high school or college there. There might be some other circumstances like family, etc.

 

[jackbauer29]

I did the Drexel IMS program as well - check your home state application guidelines. Even while doing the IMS program in another state, I was able to apply as a resident to my "state school". You might not even need to be a current resident. They might consider you a resident of the state if you completed high school or college there. There might be some other circumstances like family, etc.

Thanks a lot for the reply. I will look into that. Do you have any tips about living in phili?

 

[tomz1385]

I'm not too sure about living in Center City - I live in Manayunk because I go to the Queen Lane's Campus. I actually attended the Sacramento IMS program. If you have any questions about the IMS program or DUCOM I can probably give you better information.

 

[jackbauer29]

I'm not too sure about living in Center City - I live in Manayunk because I go to the Queen Lane's Campus. I actually attended the Sacramento IMS program. If you have any questions about the IMS program or DUCOM I can probably give you better information.

Can you tell me anything about the way them program is looked at by medical schools other than drexel?

 

[tomz1385]

I am sure there are some medical schools who only want pristine candidates with a pretty flawless undergrad record. However I know some of my classmates getting into other schools, including UCI and UCSD from my Sacramento year after doing well in the program.

I think when adcoms see that you've done very well in medical school courses, they worry a lot less because it does translate better than undergrad. They aren't going to completely overlook your undergrad, but it gives them less worries. There isn't any grade inflation going on at Drexel, so the A's you earn mean a lot.

 

[jackbauer29]

I am sure there are some medical schools who only want pristine candidates with a pretty flawless undergrad record. However I know some of my classmates getting into other schools, including UCI and UCSD from my Sacramento year after doing well in the program.

I think when adcoms see that you've done very well in medical school courses, they worry a lot less because it does translate better than undergrad. They aren't going to completely overlook your undergrad, but it gives them less worries. There isn't any grade inflation going on at Drexel, so the A's you earn mean a lot.

Thanks a lot 🙂

 

[jackbauer29]

Is there anyone who did a regular masters as a GPA enhancer and was successfully able to enter medical school?

 

[deleted248403]

Is there anyone who did a regular masters as a GPA enhancer and was successfully able to enter medical school?

I'm sure there is an n=1.

That doesn't mean its an appropriate plan to follow

 

[jackbauer29]

I'm sure there is an n=1.

That doesn't mean its an appropriate plan to follow

Why not? With a good mcat score and a year of A's in a master's program with some good extracurricular activities then applying to medical school after that I think my application would be really improved. Is that too much of a risk?

 

[deleted248403]

Why not? With a good mcat score and a year of A's in a master's program with some good extracurricular activities then applying to medical school after that I think my application would be really improved. Is that too much of a risk?

You have an average mcat and a bad gpa.

It will not help you.

You need an SMP

 

[jackbauer29]

You have an average mcat and a bad gpa.

It will not help you.

You need an SMP

But I'm planning on retaking the mcat and hopefully getting a higher score. I'm going to devote my entire summer to studying for the mcat. What then?

 

[deleted248403]

But I'm planning on retaking the mcat and hopefully getting a higher score. I'm going to devote my entire summer to studying for the mcat. What then?

Your GPA still sucks.

Hence the need for an SMP

 

[DrMidlife]

Why not? With a good mcat score and a year of A's in a master's program with some good extracurricular activities then applying to medical school after that I think my application would be really improved. Is that too much of a risk?

So you'll get 1 year of A's in a grad program that isn't easy for med school admissions committees to evaluate, and it isn't backed by a standardized test such as the MCAT. Do you think this outweighs getting 4 years of not A's? No.

You don't have the credentials to apply to med school yet. Respect your competition. Play long ball.

 

[darklabel]

But I'm planning on retaking the mcat and hopefully getting a higher score. I'm going to devote my entire summer to studying for the mcat. What then?

Most people plan on getting a 30+ yet thousands don't. Not trying to be a debbie downer, but a higher score is easier said than done. Also, is your science GPA the same as our overall GPA? Or is your sciGPA lower? (Sub 3.0).

Even if its straight A's, a traditional Masters will be considered by adcoms as an easy grade inflator. Traditional master programs don't really have a need to weed people out and are used to further people's careers or pad their resume. SMPs exist because Adcoms know they aren't easy at and when thats coupled with an upward trend, strong MCAT and good LoR's, it can make a bad/mediocre GPA less and less "important" when considering you for admissions into their school. A 4.0 in Drexel IMS may impress most adcoms, especially in Drexel. A 4.0 in a traditional Masters will not impress many people. I only speak since I have personally talked to admissions people and traditional masters don't hold much weight. It's also common knowledge that most masters program are grade inflated.

Devote your summer to the MCAT and then go to Drexel IMS. I wish you good luck!

 

[jackbauer29]

Most people plan on getting a 30+ yet thousands don't. Not trying to be a debbie downer, but a higher score is easier said than done. Also, is your science GPA the same as our overall GPA? Or is your sciGPA lower? (Sub 3.0).

Even if its straight A's, a traditional Masters will be considered by adcoms as an easy grade inflator. Traditional master programs don't really have a need to weed people out and are used to further people's careers or pad their resume. SMPs exist because Adcoms know they aren't easy at and when thats coupled with an upward trend, strong MCAT and good LoR's, it can make a bad/mediocre GPA less and less "important" when considering you for admissions into their school. A 4.0 in Drexel IMS may impress most adcoms, especially in Drexel. A 4.0 in a traditional Masters will not impress many people. I only speak since I have personally talked to admissions people and traditional masters don't hold much weight. It's also common knowledge that most masters program are grade inflated.

Devote your summer to the MCAT and then go to Drexel IMS. I wish you good luck!

Thanks for your reply. My science GPA is a 3.0, but it might get slightly lower after this semester. So I pretty much can't count on an upward trend. The reason my gpa is so low is because I've been doing my undergrad degree in Lebanon, and the situation in this country has just kept on getting worse and worse. I'm the eldest child in my family and just haven't been able to give my all in my courses with everything that's happening. Because of this situation, I was only able to study for my mcat for a period of 40 days and managed to get a 31. That's why I believe that I can really improve my score this time around.
The reason I've been asking is because I applied to my state medical school this year and the dean of admissions told me that taking a year of undergrad science courses should really improve my chances. When I asked about a regular masters or SMP she said that they don't really care which I do as long as I get A's in the courses I'm going to take. I was also hoping to add some extracurricular activities during this next year.
Oh and my university in Lebanon is an American accredited institution in case you were wondering. And the 3.0 gpa is what was in my AMCAS application. The gpa they gave me here is a 3.5

So that's basically everything about my situation.

Thanks a lot for your input, I really appreciate it.

 

[jackbauer29]

So you'll get 1 year of A's in a grad program that isn't easy for med school admissions committees to evaluate, and it isn't backed by a standardized test such as the MCAT. Do you think this outweighs getting 4 years of not A's? No.

You don't have the credentials to apply to med school yet. Respect your competition. Play long ball.

Yeah I get what you mean. Thanks a lot for the reply.

 

[darklabel]

Thanks for your reply. My science GPA is a 3.0, but it might get slightly lower after this semester. So I pretty much can't count on an upward trend. The reason my gpa is so low is because I've been doing my undergrad degree in Lebanon, and the situation in this country has just kept on getting worse and worse. I'm the eldest child in my family and just haven't been able to give my all in my courses with everything that's happening. Because of this situation, I was only able to study for my mcat for a period of 40 days and managed to get a 31. That's why I believe that I can really improve my score this time around.
The reason I've been asking is because I applied to my state medical school this year and the dean of admissions told me that taking a year of undergrad science courses should really improve my chances. When I asked about a regular masters or SMP she said that they don't really care which I do as long as I get A's in the courses I'm going to take. I was also hoping to add some extracurricular activities during this next year.
Oh and my university in Lebanon is an American accredited institution in case you were wondering. And the 3.0 gpa is what was in my AMCAS application. The gpa they gave me here is a 3.5

So that's basically everything about my situation.

Thanks a lot for your input, I really appreciate it.

Yes I have heard about the situation in Lebanon. I think this is great to talk about in your personal statement and how it's impacted your life, especially towards medicine. I'm sure admissions committee will be sympathetic to your situation and look at the 3.0 differently as opposed to if you were just goofing off for a few years or something like that. Still, I think if you want the best overall outcome, you should go to an SMP. Traditional masters programs just aren't rigorous enough to impress most people.

 

[jackbauer29]

Yes I have heard about the situation in Lebanon. I think this is great to talk about in your personal statement and how it's impacted your life, especially towards medicine. I'm sure admissions committee will be sympathetic to your situation and look at the 3.0 differently as opposed to if you were just goofing off for a few years or something like that. Still, I think if you want the best overall outcome, you should go to an SMP. Traditional masters programs just aren't rigorous enough to impress most people.

Thanks a lot for all your help. I just payed the deposit for drexel and I'm going to register for the mcat!
Hopefully everything will turn out well

 

[romanjetfighter]

i did this webinar with drexel and they even have a doctor shadowing program in sac. pretty neat