O
ordinaryguy
How many of you have graduate degrees (master?s, Ph.Ds)? In what fields? Do you think it made a difference in getting accepted to medical school? Why did you choose to get an advanced degree before applying?
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I have an M.A. in biology and have been teaching at the college level for 4 or 5 years.
I went for the advanced degree because I needed to get my head out of my a$$ before deciding to actually go to medical school. I do enjoy teaching, but in order to get a better job, I'll have to go back for either a Ph.D. or an Ed.D. I'm crazy, but I'm not *that* crazy. If I'm going back to school, I'm going to make more money than a lousy community college professor. LOL
Willow
I went for the advanced degree because I needed to get my head out of my a$$ before deciding to actually go to medical school. I do enjoy teaching, but in order to get a better job, I'll have to go back for either a Ph.D. or an Ed.D. I'm crazy, but I'm not *that* crazy. If I'm going back to school, I'm going to make more money than a lousy community college professor. LOL
Willow
I have an MS in Biology. I never planned to go to med school when I was a grad student. I loved learning and was really interested in studying lizards.
My MS helped me to get my current job as a research coordinator. My job exposure to osteopathic medicine convinced me to try for DO school.
I think my MS helped me to get into KCOM- it boosted my GPA and gave me opportunites which make me a well-rounded applicant.
My MS helped me to get my current job as a research coordinator. My job exposure to osteopathic medicine convinced me to try for DO school.
I think my MS helped me to get into KCOM- it boosted my GPA and gave me opportunites which make me a well-rounded applicant.
It's good to know that the physicians of the future are motivated to pursue medicine for selfish, financial reasons!
To put it in the kindest way possible every person has different reasons for medicine. Altruistic people hate the comment of going into medicine for money. I think some of the people that do do it just for the money are not as happy but oh well jast as long as they are good caring physicians I do not care.
raptor5
I suppose I'm the *only* one here who even considered finances when deciding what to do.
FYI, if money was all I was interested in, I'd be a lawyer. It's a helluva lot easier and I'm already 1/4 of the way there.
If I had nothing else to consider, I'd go into medicine and probably spend my days working for little or no money. However, I have two children that were adopted from another country, a house payment, a car payment, etc, etc, etc. If I have to take time away from my job in order to pursue a better career, it should contribute more toward the future of my children than what I'm making now. Like I said, if money was the only consideration, I wouldn't go into medicine. I could pay off the mortgages on my kids a lot sooner if I got a JD.
It's nice to have an idealized view of the world, but then you wake up and reality sets in.....you realize that somebody has to pay the bills and your husband will be lucky to work another 10 years.
Willow
I finished my M.S. in Biology specifically for applying to med-school in order to make up for previous undergrad discretions and it did make a big difference. Along with eight years of work and a new perspective.
As far as the money topic that has spontaneously arose, there are far easier, saner, and less stressful ways to make money. However if the coming years are anything like this first semester as well as the fact that I'll owe >$140K I'll be counting on/needing a big paycheck.
As far as the money topic that has spontaneously arose, there are far easier, saner, and less stressful ways to make money. However if the coming years are anything like this first semester as well as the fact that I'll owe >$140K I'll be counting on/needing a big paycheck.
I have a Master's in Forensic Science. I finished my B.S. in 3 years and since I didn't finish organic chem or take the MCAT my junior year, I did it all my senior year. Had a year off for the application process and decided that working full time and pursuing my Master's would be helpful so if I didn't get into med school I can utilize my degree. Didn't get accepted last year so I finished up my Master's and am reapplying. I really wanted to do it for me and not to make my application look better for admissions committees -- that was just an added bonus. With a 3.8 grad GPA and a 3.4 undergrad GPA, I hope that it will help me - but only time will tell.
Must go stalk the mail man now...
Must go stalk the mail man now...
I have a MS in physical therapy and believe it definitely helped me get into school (DO so far anyway). I think it may be more related to the skills I have learned (especially manual) and the clinical experiences I have had.
This was a 5 1/2 year program which spanned undergrad to grad so when I applied from HS to get in I knew I'd come out with an MSPT. Decided to finish and then apply to med school.
This was a 5 1/2 year program which spanned undergrad to grad so when I applied from HS to get in I knew I'd come out with an MSPT. Decided to finish and then apply to med school.
If you are planning on spending 200k(which after interest and 20 years will actually be about .5 million) on a medical education and are not going into it with the intention of making alot of money when your training is all over then you need to get some counseling. Medicine is actually one of the worst careers for those interested in in doing volunteerism or whatever, as you will never have the time for it.
If you read WillowRose's posts, you'd know that she's not that type of person.
As far as money is concerned, what's the point of bringing that up? Who cares if someone wants to do it for the money? If they can do it and serve the community even if it is for money, then let them. It's not up to you to change someone's values and criticizing people's intentions, whether it be right or wrong, won't really change them - it'll just start bantering.
