Go for a MPH during gap year?

[ZombieDante]

I've read a lot about this issue and have heard mixed thoughts.

I'm considering getting a MPH. I'm really interested in public health and I think it would be nice to study it. I also determined I REALLY need a gap year, just need a break from all of this hardcore science life before committing myself to the biggest hardcore science life. I took the May 20th MCAT and my score SUCKED (500) because of my C/P subscore. My advisor told me she really wants me to just buckle down and study C/P for the next two months and take it again in August so I can apply to my state med school.

There are two issues with that: (1) I would rather not go to my state med school (I'd be totally happy, but it is for sure my last choice); (2) I know applying that late would pretty much ruin my chances since my GPA isn't the best (3.3) and I would never let myself live it down if I didn't give it my best chance to go other schools.

I've read MPH are pretty much a waste of time when it comes to med school application process, but it seems really interesting and idk what else I would do during the gap year. Also, another issue that concerns me is I would really want to do a 1yr program, but my stats are probably not the best.

So I guess my question is in my situation would it be worth trying to get a MPH, should I find something else to do during my gap year, or should I just go with my advisors plan?

If it makes any difference I have a good amount of research experience, shadowing, volunteering, and other ECs, also a URM (black male).

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[lyana]

It would be a better idea to get a job in the healthcare/ volunteer/shadow more rather than getting MPH.
just in my humble opinion.

 

[binko]

If you're thinking of doing it to try to impress adcoms, I can't advise you bc I don't know what they think. But if you're really just interested in the topic and you think you would enjoy it, if I were you I would do it.

 

[DokterMom]

If you need a gap year for you, take it! No questions about it, if maintaining your mental health depends on it, by all means DO it! Medical school burns people out at a tremendous rate, and if you're coming in borderline -- well, just don't.

Now what to do in your gap year --

If you're genuinely interested in public health and think it will do for your psyche that which needs to be done, then sure, go ahead and get an MPH. If your reason is anything other than that you are deeply interested in the subject matter, then don't. It's an expensive and not particularly odds-improving way to spend a year.

If you're committed to public health but aren't hung up on getting a degree in it, consider working in a health clinic in an underserved or impoverished area, or working in health administration for a government, insurance company, or hospital. You'd see some things there and would have much to talk about in your interviews.

 

[Mwooster]

I took the May 20th MCAT and my score SUCKED (500) because of my C/P subscore.

I would rather not go to my state med school

my GPA isn't the best (3.3)

Not trying to be mean, but beggars cannot be choosers. With a 500 and 3.3, your roughly 55% chance of being accepted to an MD school anywhere is predominantly driven by your URM status. Non-URM with your stats have less than 10% chance of being accepted anywhere. If an American MD school accepts you, thank the deity of your choice (or not) and run with it.

Is 55% chance great? No, but it's better than national average of roughly 40%. The MPH will not do much for your app.

 

[ed*26]

By all means, if you think you need to take a gap year, then take it. At this point it can only help you.

If med school is truly your goal, you will probably get more bang for your buck (time?) by getting relevant healthcare experience or trying to improve your GPA through post-bac. Both of those things will improve your chances of getting into med school, where an MPH is likely to get a lukewarm response. Why not volunteer with or get hired by a public health organization? You can get certified as an STI counselor and even get healthcare experience while doing so. Or, get involved in public health research. You can do a lot in a year, and you can start a lot of that now during school (while making sure that you are improving your grades).

Sidenote: every MD, MPH that I asked (n=3) told me that they waited until residency to get their MPH, because the program paid for it.

 

[ZombieDante]

If you need a gap year for you, take it! No questions about it, if maintaining your mental health depends on it, by all means DO it! Medical school burns people out at a tremendous rate, and if you're coming in borderline -- well, just don't.

Now what to do in your gap year --

If you're genuinely interested in public health and think it will do for your psyche that which needs to be done, then sure, go ahead and get an MPH. If your reason is anything other than that you are deeply interested in the subject matter, then don't. It's an expensive and not particularly odds-improving way to spend a year.

If you're committed to public health but aren't hung up on getting a degree in it, consider working in a health clinic in an underserved or impoverished area, or working in health administration for a government, insurance company, or hospital. You'd see some things there and would have much to talk about in your interviews.

How would I go about getting jobs like that? Like what jobs exactly should I look for? I'll have a BS in Psych if that makes a difference.

So let me give you the bad news first: while I agree with @DokterMom on it would be something interesting to talk about at interview, with a GPA of 3.3 and a MCAT of 500 you are unlikely to get any interviews.

So let me give you the worse news: if you go on to MPH, not only will it not help you in academic improvement for medical school, from an admissions view it actually makes you worse. That is, in your situation, if you were to do an MPH and immediately reapply, it would put you in a weaker position than you already are. Why? The MPH adds to the picture of you as an applicant who cannot handle the difficult courses and is trying to use the MPH to coverup the deficiencies. If you were to get an MPH, I would strongly urge you not to reapply until you do some sort of additional academic work such as a DIY postbacc or at least some courses,

If your ultimate goal is medical school, then your time and money would be better spent on SMP or year of academic work.

I have no intentions of applying with my stats as are, never said that. Sorry if that wasn't clear. No matter what I'm going to retake the MCAT.

If I do the MPH I won't be a reapplicant. If I decide to go for the MPH I won't be applying this cycle.

Also I really do NOT want to do a SMP, doing a year worth of med school just for the chance of possibly being able to do it again just doesn't appeal to me at all. I know that's really really dumb, but personally that's just how I feel about the situation. As for year of academic work, what would work? I can't afford to continue to go to my undergrad school since my scholarships will expire after this year. Would doing work at my local CC be bad?

Not trying to be mean, but beggars cannot be choosers. With a 500 and 3.3, your roughly 55% chance of being accepted to an MD school anywhere is predominantly driven by your URM status. Non-URM with your stats have less than 10% chance of being accepted anywhere. If an American MD school accepts you, thank the deity of your choice (or not) and run with it.

Is 55% chance great? No, but it's better than national average of roughly 40%. The MPH will not do much for your app.

I saw that as well, and even though I know it is factually true I can't see how that is possible. Like I don't know exactly what schools they are applying to that lets them in with those stats.

 

[allanMED15]

OP, know that if you do this, your intentions will be questioned.
I went and got a 1 year Masters in Micro and Immunology after graduating from undergrad. In both of my interviews, I was asked if I had done it specifically due to my interest in the field or if I thought it would look good to adcoms.
I would just be careful in how you write and speak about your experience in grad school.

Good luck in your decision!

 

[flapjack3d]

I've done/am doing my MPH during gap year. Keep in mind most (all?) MPH's are 2 years long with little hope of expediting it. If it plays into what you want to do as a physician, go for it. It's not going to help your GPA if it's already low, but anything to show that you've put a lot of thought into your career plans is worthwhile as far as md app is concerned.

 

[Gladiolus23]

Stand by for a momentary rant

You may have misunderstood me so let me make this clear, if you apply next cycle, when your MPH is just about done, you will look weaker than you already are.
If your goal is to get into medical school, MPH or local CC classes will not be a help but in fact hurt as they will seen as trying to make up for weak record and weak abilities. You need a postbacc or a SMP to enhance. Frankly, your view of SMP is simplistic and your feeling is opposite your goal.
So make up your mind: If you want to be a doctor, this is what you need to do. If you dont want to do that, you shrink your chances at becoming a doctor.

end of rant

Is this advice only for people like OP who have less than average stats? I have a good GPA and expect an MCAT above average. I am also thinking of doing an MPH sometime during my two gap years, but this is because I am genuinely interested in global health and preventative primary care. I'd rather not wait until med school or residency to complete the MPH since I'm already taking two gap years and would like to use the time I have now. \

Would doing the MPH also make me a weaker candidate somehow when I apply next cycle?

 

[Gladiolus23]

Doing what you propose raises two questions in the mind of an adcom, making your application suspect and you must be sure to clearly answer them in your primary and secondaries. First is the previous discussed history of MPH that are often used by weaker candidates in attempt to overcome deficiencies. Second is the common path the MD applicants usually take MPH during medical school and not before, which adds to the suspicion of the weaker candidate. I would suggest a single well crafted line in your primary PS something that combines already being a competitive candidate but wanting further interests in global health during gap year.

But if an applicant is strong in every other part of the application, would adcoms still question the "doing an MPH to overcome deficiencies" aspect? In this case, wouldn't doing the masters regardless showcase a true passion for public health such that no suspicious questions would be asked?

 

[LizzyM]

@ZombieDante what is your passion in public health? If it is epidemiology, environmental health or biostatistics you could make a case for wanting to acquire research skills that you could use in med school and beyond. It is a bit harder to make the case for community health education or global health or something else that wouldn't be practical to exercise while in med school.

 

[Gladiolus23]

@ZombieDante what is your passion in public health? If it is epidemiology, environmental health or biostatistics you could make a case for wanting to acquire research skills that you could use in med school and beyond. It is a bit harder to make the case for community health education or global health or something else that wouldn't be practical to exercise while in med school.

Why would this be harder and why can't students exercise their passion for this in med school? Is it possible for an applicant to pursue global health related opportunities after med school, and could this be a sound argument for pursuing the MPH?

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Glad I read this thread. I have two gap years now (I'm non-trad anyway), one of which will be filled by a structured post-bacc (God willing). I was planning on working on an MPH in the interim just because I think most of the courses seem interesting, and the Navy will pay for it. Definitely rethinking it now.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

If you need a structured postbacc, you need to focus on that and do well. If you want to take a few MPH courses w/o being a formal master's student, you need to focus on that

I don't need one, it's just part of the commissioning program.

Edit: the post-bacc, I mean. The commissioning program is a new one for enlisted military with a bachelors and provides a post-bacc to complete outstanding pre-reqs and take the MCAT free from duty requirements.