- Joined
- Sep 30, 2008
- Messages
- 39,259
- Reaction score
- 22,190
Really, med school admissions only will care about your GPA from undergrad classes; your MPH doesn't really move the needle and an MS won't help.I am a non trad, my BS is in Public Health. A year after graduating I entered an MPH program while working as a youth program coordinator intending on a Program Management degree. I began my coursework just after a difficult breakup while I was working 3 jobs. I am not making excuses but I was not in the headspace to succeed, thus the first 16 credits I got Bs and B-. I have since greatly improved my academic performance and changed my concentration to epidemiology and biostatistics. I realized my interest in clinical medicine and research along the way and considered PA and medical school in-depth. I began working as a CNA and Medical Assistant, and volunteering on a mobile clinic. I love working as CNA and medical assistant listening to and caring for patients but I also have a deep interest in research and academia and love the idea of one day teaching others. After much consideration and talking to other practicing clinicians (An NP, MD, and MD/MPH) partly because the role of advanced practice providers in research is not well-defined, I believe my interests would be best served by pursuing an MD/PhD degree, in epidemiology and I am particularly interested in the emerging field of dermatoepidemiology.
That brings me to my question; there is an MS in skin biology and dermatological sciences program at the University of Miami that has a thesis track. Currently, my research experience is limited to coursework and the co-op project I will be completing this summer as the final requirement for my degree. Looking ahead would you advise me to A) enter the workforce and get a job doing whatever research I can B) enter this program and design my own research project for a thesis in my specific interest or C) do both. I am of course concerned about the cost of this program as I am already in debt from undergrad and my current program but if it would significantly bolster my MD/PhD app it would be worth it.
For context, my undergrad GPA was 3.4 and I expect to finish this program with a 3.5 (upward trend after 2.85 first semester). I completed a diy post-bacc at CC and got all A's minus one B. I know that an impressive MCAT score can really help so I plan to take a class and study for a year before taking it with a goal of 520. I plan to apply 2023-2024. I know it is a long shot but any insight helps. One of the MDs I spoke to said that I will be helped by the fact I am a female minority but I don't know how true this is. Thank you in advance!
How many credit hours did you do in the post-bacc, and what is your cumulative undergrad GPA/sGPA including all undergrad courses together? Traditionally someone with a lower GPA will need a full year's worth of courses to prove that you have reinvented yourself so if you don't have a full year's worth I would pursue that course of action. Beyond that everything really depends on the MCAT score, so it's impossible to give you a sense of your chances without knowing that--everyone aims to get a 520 but not everyone can do it.