M.Sc. then M.D.?

[SoSoAuthentic]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I was just wondering, and wanting to get some tips and advice from:
Completing the 4-years honours Bachelor of Health Sciences at McMaster, then applying to complete an M.Sc. in Health Research Methodology, focusing on Clinical Epidemiology or Health Services Research again at McMaster, if it would be better to apply to a medical school with an Master's degree? I mean, surely it must be, but I'm pretty sure that I heard that some schools use that as another reason to not select that individual for a med student (thinking that they'd be better off as a research doctor, or Ph.D. candidate). I really want to become a surgeon, but I don't want to go into the field of medicine without having some experience as a researcher (the M.Sc. in HRM program at Mac requires a 100-hour intership!), so has anyone thought about applying to a medical school with a research degree

 

[RxnMan]

...it would be better to apply to a medical school with an Master's degree?...

In US schools, a grad degree won't offset an uncompetitive application. All of the other parts of your app must be there, both the numbers (3.6 GPA/30+ MCAT) and the requisite clinical experience.

...I'm pretty sure that I heard that some schools use that as another reason to not select that individual for a med student (thinking that they'd be better off as a research doctor, or Ph.D. candidate)...

I've had this mentioned to me, but since I made it clear I wanted to finish a residency and practice (why else would you get a MD?), it wasn't an issue. (I am a MD student who applied with a MSc)

...I really want to become a surgeon, but I don't want to go into the field of medicine without having some experience as a researcher (the M.Sc. in HRM program at Mac requires a 100-hour intership!), so has anyone thought about applying to a medical school with a research degree

Great plan. Just to be clear, you do know that there are many options for getting research experience during the MD career path right? (PhD, year-off program for med students, research fellowship after residency, etc.) Regardless, able to succinctly explain why you wanted this particular training at this specific time in your career. Convey this idea in your application essays.

 

[SoSoAuthentic]

oh, ok, thanks for the comment

 

[CCLCMer]

Yeah, that's what I was going to say too. Why don't you do an MD/MS together? It will save you time and then you won't have to worry that schools won't think you're serious about med school. There are formal programs like mine where we all do five years with one year for research, but really you can do an optional five year MD/MS just about anywhere, I think. Ask the med schools where you are going to apply and see if they offer you an option to take a fifth year to get an MS.