Getting a masters and working before med school?

[ShamelessPapist]

Hello! I'm new here. But, I have had this question for a bit. I currently work as an EMT (soon to be paramedic), and I am FINALLY graduating from a BS in Biological Sciences next spring after 6+ LONG years of on and off school/work. (I jumped around a lot before deciding what I wanted)

However, here is the question: I have decided that I LOVE organic chemistry. I have really enjoyed studying it. So, would it benefit me to pursue a masters degree in orgo before going to med school? I was planning on taking at least one gap year to build up some money and stability for my family, so I could get the MS while working. I just dont want to do it if the negatives would outweigh the positives. Would ADCOMs care? Would it benefit me in pursuing a PhD down the road? Would the added research help with admissions?

Thanks for your help!

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[AsclepiusAdvisingLLC]

In short, the answer depends on your journey and personal characteristics. Getting an MS in organic chemistry will most certainly help you if you want to pursue a PhD, but for this precise reason it may not directly benefit you in a medical school application as much as an MS in a more directly applicable concentration would. The biggest advantage of completing a postbacc program is that it gives you access to research opportunities and allows you to prove to ADCOMs that you WILL pass a medical school curriculum. This means that the most advantageous program to complete would be one that mimics an MD curriculum. Case Western Reserve, Columbia, Vermont, and other notable schools have programs that include linkage agreements with their host medical schools where you will be guaranteed an interview if you satisfy certain MCAT and GPA criterion. This is a major benefit of completing a postbacc in the SOM.

We always encourage candidates to take a gap year before applying to make sure their application is as strong as it can be before investing the money and time into the cycle. That said, postbacc programs are expensive. The trick is to evaluate your candidacy, and seriously consider what your strengths and weaknesses are and how to maximize your leverage with the time you take to pursue a postbacc.