International program before med school

[prolixity29]

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I am wondering if med schools will care about getting bad grades in a master's program overseas before med school? My situation is different from most in that I am not intending for my master's program to improve my GPA. On the contrary, I am almost positive my GPA will go down after the master's, assuming the med schools even calculate it in.

Do you think that's a problem for my med school app?

 

[LifeTake2]

1) your graduate GPA is separate from your undergrad so it won't impact your actual GPA, though it will show up on your application.

2) Yes, if you do a Master's and do poorly, it is going to raise concerns.

3) Why would you take a program that you don't expect to do well in? Look at it from their standpoint, if you can't hack graduate studies, what makes them sure you can hack medical school?

If you can answer #3 then go for it, otherwise decide whether the program you want to struggle in is worth risking medical school.

 

[prolixity29]

I am considering the program because it's free and it's a great way to spend the year abroad. I will also be involved in research and service projects related to public health that will improve my application. I did complete a post-bacc program and am happy with my grades there. I thought that those grades might dispel any notion that I could not hack the work in medical school. But, technically speaking, if they consider my overseas grades it would appear I am on a downward trend....