How will Master's GPA affect Medical School Application?

[AppleGeekz]

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Hello! I'm currently enrolled at California Baptist University for an MS in Biomedical sciences with a 4.0 currently. I have a ugrad cGPA of 3.15 (low i know 🙁 ) and a 510 MCAT. I showed an upward trend at the end of undergrad but would my success in Master's help me out? I have 200+ hours of shadowing (still working on it) and some volunteer experiences. Do I even have a shot at MD? Thank you!

 

[Catalystik]

Hello! I'm currently enrolled at California Baptist University for an MS in Biomedical sciences with a 4.0 currently. I have a ugrad cGPA of 3.15 (low i know 🙁 ) and a 510 MCAT. I showed an upward trend at the end of undergrad but would my success in Master's help me out? I have 200+ hours of shadowing (still working on it) and some volunteer experiences. Do I even have a shot at MD? Thank you!

50 hours of physician shadowing is enough if it includes primary care. Better to put the extra time into active clinical engagement (work or volunteer) and nonclinical community service.

 

[Goro]

Hello! I'm currently enrolled at California Baptist University for an MS in Biomedical sciences with a 4.0 currently. I have a ugrad cGPA of 3.15 (low i know 🙁 ) and a 510 MCAT. I showed an upward trend at the end of undergrad but would my success in Master's help me out? I have 200+ hours of shadowing (still working on it) and some volunteer experiences. Do I even have a shot at MD? Thank you!

Is this a research MS? Or a special master program designed to repair your GPA by having you take med school-like courses? If the former, they won't help for MD, but will for DO.

Read this:

• Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

 

[AppleGeekz]

50 hours of physician shadowing is enough if it includes primary care. Better to put the extra time into active clinical engagement (work or volunteer) and nonclinical community service.

Thank you! the shadowing is mostly primary care with some virtual due to COVID. I'm trying to find more clinical engagement but it seems local clinics/hospitals won't accept volunteers at the moment!

 

[AppleGeekz]

Is this a research MS? Or a special master program designed to repair your GPA by having you take med school-like courses? If the former, they won't help for MD, but will for DO.

Read this:

• Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

Thank you! This is where i'm the most confused about my program. It has a research + volunteering aspect as well as first year med school-like courses (i think). For example, next semester, I will be taking:
1. pathophysiology + histology
2. medical pharmacology
3. infection and immunity
4. bioetics

Last semester i took:
1. Cell biology + chemistry
2. A&P
3. medical genetics

 

[Catalystik]

Thank you! the shadowing is mostly primary care with some virtual due to COVID. I'm trying to find more clinical engagement but it seems local clinics/hospitals won't accept volunteers at the moment!

What about hospice, skilled-level nursing homes, or free clinics?

 

[AppleGeekz]

What about hospice, skilled-level nursing homes, or free clinics?

ah yes! I've made some calls to facilities that I most likely can fulfill the requirements for and just left a message. So hopefully I hear back soon! I also just applied to telescribing positions so hopefully that will come through for me as well 🙂 Thank you so much for your responses!

 

[Goro]

Thank you! This is where i'm the most confused about my program. It has a research + volunteering aspect as well as first year med school-like courses (i think). For example, next semester, I will be taking:
1. pathophysiology + histology
2. medical pharmacology
3. infection and immunity
4. bioetics

Last semester i took:
1. Cell biology + chemistry
2. A&P
3. medical genetics

Sounds like an an SMP to me.

But the MCAT is holding you back for MD, except for your state schools. You will need to have DO schools on your list.

 

[AppleGeekz]

Sounds like an an SMP to me.

But the MCAT is holding you back for MD, except for your state schools. You will need to have DO schools on your list.

Thank you! I have DO on my list for sure thought I wanted to see if I could even make it to MD

 

[DNAJB6]

For non SMP master's programs, a high GPA won't help you as it is assumed the grades are padded (i.e. there is more grade inflation at the graduate level).

 

[jamaica jan sun princess]

DO interviewers have liked the advanced courses I've taken in my non-SMP master's. Closed file MD interviewers didn't mention it. At my school, the graduate students take a lot of class with undergraduates, but they have additional requirements like projects, presentations, and papers or all three. Definitely not fluff, especially when you consider our research and lab teaching responsibilities.

 

[AppleGeekz]

For non SMP master's programs, a high GPA won't help you as it is assumed the grades are padded (i.e. there is more grade inflation at the graduate level).

yeah i totally see that. My program was advertised as an SMP save for the fact that the courses are not taken directly with 1st year med students bc there is no med school associated yet. I've asked for further clarification from my program officials so hopefully they'll get back to me after the new year.

DO interviewers have liked the advanced courses I've taken in my non-SMP master's. Closed file MD interviewers didn't mention it. At my school, the graduate students take a lot of class with undergraduates, but they have additional requirements like projects, presentations, and papers or all three. Definitely not fluff, especially when you consider our research and lab teaching responsibilities.

I'm glad that what I'm doing is good for DO! Mine is very similar with the projects, presentations, and papers but not taken with undergrads! The research portion is what I was looking into the most for this program hehe

 

[pinkythecat]

Hello! I'm currently enrolled at California Baptist University for an MS in Biomedical sciences with a 4.0 currently. I have a ugrad cGPA of 3.15 (low i know 🙁 ) and a 510 MCAT. I showed an upward trend at the end of undergrad but would my success in Master's help me out? I have 200+ hours of shadowing (still working on it) and some volunteer experiences. Do I even have a shot at MD? Thank you!

Hello, I am currently looking into this program and was wondering how difficult it is? Was the workload heavy? How often are exams? Are the professors good?

 

[gyngyn]

Hello, I am currently looking into this program and was wondering how difficult it is? Was the workload heavy? How often are exams? Are the professors good?

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