Is it ok to get a "regular" master's in bio instead of a SMP?

[thisismyacct]

The reason I ask is because my local state school offers a master's in biology at a fraction of the cost of SMPs.

These are some, but not all, of the classes offered: developmental bio, intro to immunology, molecular bio, mechanisms of aging, animal physiology and histology, neurophysiology, endocrinology, biochem 1+2 and lab, cancer bio, neurobiology, microbio, systems physiology, advanced cell bio, and a couple more.

Would it be ok to get the masters from here instead of taking the "formal" SMP route? I don't plan on starting my masters until 2020, so I still have time.

the program is 34-39 credits depending on the route in the program you take.

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[2jz]

I did a traditional 2 year Masters and don't regret it at all. Just make sure you make the most of your time. Get a 4.0, shadow, volunteer, but also broaden your skill set. Pack your resume to point where if dental school doesn't work out you can immediately roll into a different career.

Without a doubt, the experiences (research, an internship) I gained during my Master's meant if I wasn't accepted I'd be starting full time at a biotech company kicking off a career in industry.

 

[thisismyacct]

I did a traditional 2 year Masters and don't regret it at all. Just make sure you make the most of your time. Get a 4.0, shadow, volunteer, but also broaden your skill set. Pack your resume to point where if dental school doesn't work out you can immediately roll into a different career.

Without a doubt, the experiences (research, an internship) I gained during my Master's meant if I wasn't accepted I'd be starting full time at a biotech company kicking off a career in industry.

That's also why I'm leaning towards this one. Also, what would you say the differences between undergrad and grad bio classes are? Is it more in depth? faster pace? how did they compare to upper level bio classes?

 

[2jz]

That's also why I'm leaning towards this one. Also, what would you say the differences between undergrad and grad bio classes are? Is it more in depth? faster pace? how did they compare to upper level bio classes?

One big difference I noticed immediately was how many credits you needed to take to be considered full time. 9 in grad school vs 12 in undergrad. I usually would take 2 three credit classes and then the last 3 credits would be divided up over professional development seminars, department journal club seminars, or my programs special 3 day 1 credit classes. Take advantage of some of the easier classes like seminars, great opportunity to learn something new each week and if they're letter graded, pack that gpa with something easy.

Even though I was at the same institution, pretty much all of my grad classes were now <30 people down from in the hundreds, and I pretty much never took another multiple choice exam. Professors were more interested in how I wrote, if I could convey major concepts they taught. Pacing was class dependent, a lot faster in classes recapping what we already know, and a lot slower in classes bridging what's known and what's next to come in the field of bio. Only the upper level bio classes mixed with grad students I'd say make a good comparison from undergrad. I only took one of those but it definitely mirrored my experience in grad school.

 

[thisismyacct]

One big difference I noticed immediately was how many credits you needed to take to be considered full time. 9 in grad school vs 12 in undergrad. I usually would take 2 three credit classes and then the last 3 credits would be divided up over professional development seminars, department journal club seminars, or my programs special 3 day 1 credit classes. Take advantage of some of the easier classes like seminars, great opportunity to learn something new each week and if they're letter graded, pack that gpa with something easy.

Even though I was at the same institution, pretty much all of my grad classes were now <30 people down from in the hundreds, and I pretty much never took another multiple choice exam. Professors were more interested in how I wrote, if I could convey major concepts they taught. Pacing was class dependent, a lot faster in classes recapping what we already know, and a lot slower in classes bridging what's known and what's next to come in the field of bio. Only the upper level bio classes mixed with grad students I'd say make a good comparison from undergrad. I only took one of those but it definitely mirrored my experience in grad school.

Honestly that's not bad at all.

 

[2jz]

Honestly that's not bad at all.

It's not, but it's definitely easy to squander all the opportunities around you. Work hard enough, by the end of those two years you should be an extremely competitive candidate at not only your choice school but also for a backup full-time employment position.

 

[thisismyacct]

It's not, but it's definitely easy to squander all the opportunities around you. Work hard enough, by the end of those two years you should be an extremely competitive candidate at not only your choice school but also for a backup full-time employment position.

I was hoping to get it done in 1 year by taking only 34 credits. how many credits was your masters program?

 

[2jz]

I was hoping to get it done in 1 year by taking only 34 credits. how many credits was your masters program?

That's a fine plan, mine was similar. Just make sure any classes you need are offered in such a way you can finish in a year.