M.A. Program & Admissions

[Wozzeck]

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Hi all,

I graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2007 with a degree in Psychology and Minor in Biology. My undergraduate GPA was a very mediocre 3.23 GPA. Because of the GPA and the timing of my MCAT I decided to go ahead and take the masters of arts program in Biology at the same university. I'm about 1 semester in taking classes part time (6 graduate credits a semester) and working 2 jobs to make ends meet. 1 job is clinical research in the ER where I get to work with a fantastic attending.

I really would like to know the opinion of others on how this program will look and if it will help my chances. I did take the MCAT and scored 32R. My GPA has a strong upward trend after sophomore year (settling in issues) and I did make deans list the last 3 out of 4 semesters at WashU (1 semester was abroad).

What are some things I can consider?
What are my chances at Mizzou, the local state school?
How do I gauge where to apply to since I no longer fall into the traditional application?

Thank you!

 

[njbmd]

Hi all,

I graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2007 with a degree in Psychology and Minor in Biology. My undergraduate GPA was a very mediocre 3.23 GPA. Because of the GPA and the timing of my MCAT I decided to go ahead and take the masters of arts program in Biology at the same university. I'm about 1 semester in taking classes part time (6 graduate credits a semester) and working 2 jobs to make ends meet. 1 job is clinical research in the ER where I get to work with a fantastic attending.

I really would like to know the opinion of others on how this program will look and if it will help my chances. I did take the MCAT and scored 32R. My GPA has a strong upward trend after sophomore year (settling in issues) and I did make deans list the last 3 out of 4 semesters at WashU (1 semester was abroad).

What are some things I can consider?
What are my chances at Mizzou, the local state school?
How do I gauge where to apply to since I no longer fall into the traditional application?

Thank you!

In general, graduate school does not offset undergraduate GPA. Graduate school is generally weighted about the same as an extra-curricular activity. If you start a graduate program, you need to finish it and since you are part-time and one semester into this program, you have some time to go.

You also have to consider that you need to finish your graduate program before your MCAT scores expire and thus, you might want to try to go full-time or as close to full time as you can.

As for your chances of getting into any medical school, they depend on your competitiveness within the pool of applicants in the year that you apply. A better course for you would have been a SMP rather than an MA in Biology but you are in at this point and need to finish as quickly as possible before you apply to medical school.

 

[Wozzeck]

In general, graduate school does not offset undergraduate GPA. Graduate school is generally weighted about the same as an extra-curricular activity. If you start a graduate program, you need to finish it and since you are part-time and one semester into this program, you have some time to go.

You also have to consider that you need to finish your graduate program before your MCAT scores expire and thus, you might want to try to go full-time or as close to full time as you can.

As for your chances of getting into any medical school, they depend on your competitiveness within the pool of applicants in the year that you apply. A better course for you would have been a SMP rather than an MA in Biology but you are in at this point and need to finish as quickly as possible before you apply to medical school.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to apply to SMP without taking a year off because my MCAT scores wouldn't have been available until mid-September of 2007. On the same token, though, I should be able to finish this program (30 credits) by Fall '09. Given my jobs 6 credits is about all I can handle and still get good grades.

About as much as an extracurricular activity? Really? Is this because it's not a special masters program?