Masters advantages to applications?

[owain]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi everyone,
I recently recieved 2 offers for a Masters degree at University of Toronto, one from Pharmacology (part of the Faculty of Medicine), the other from Pharmaceutic Sciences (part of the Faculty of Pharmacy). I will be doing research with the same professor if I choose either one, so its just a choice between titles. Is Pharmacology more attractive to med schools? Do they have a preference?
But, if i choose pharmacology, i have to take one very tough and time consuming course, which might not be easy to obtain an A in. If I choose Pharmaceutical Sciences, I can choose to take some much easier courses, and I'm sure I will do well. The risk is a lower GPA (A- vs A/A+) and perhaps less time do research --> less publications. So which Masters degree should I choose?

It would be great to hear some opinions on this! I'm worried I will make the wrong choice! I really want to be a doctor!

Thanks so much!

 

[tinkerbelle]

Hi everyone,
I recently recieved 2 offers for a Masters degree at University of Toronto, one from Pharmacology (part of the Faculty of Medicine), the other from Pharmaceutic Sciences (part of the Faculty of Pharmacy). I will be doing research with the same professor if I choose either one, so its just a choice between titles. Is Pharmacology more attractive to med schools? Do they have a preference?
But, if i choose pharmacology, i have to take one very tough and time consuming course, which might not be easy to obtain an A in. If I choose Pharmaceutical Sciences, I can choose to take some much easier courses, and I'm sure I will do well. The risk is a lower GPA (A- vs A/A+) and perhaps less time do research --> less publications. So which Masters degree should I choose?

It would be great to hear some opinions on this! I'm worried I will make the wrong choice! I really want to be a doctor!

Thanks so much!

Pick which ever one you'll enjoy the most. It really doesn't matter. Personally, I'd go with the easier program.

 

[DCDAWG]

Pick which ever one you'll enjoy the most. It really doesn't matter. Personally, I'd go with the easier program.

I personally think pharmacology will look a lot better to ADCOMS, but of course really good grades look good too.

 

[dr.z]

Pick which ever one you'll enjoy the most. It really doesn't matter. Personally, I'd go with the easier program.

I don't think it will make a huge difference whether you pick one or the other.

 

[relentless11]

When applying to a grad program it is far better to choose what makes you happy vs. what "would look better". Pharm is only one aspect of medical school, in fact just a series of classes out of the many that you will take. One can argue the same with getting a grad degree in anatomy, biochemistry, pathology and so on.

I disagree with choosing the program that is "easier". You do a program because you like it (and/or like the challenge). If you so happen to like the "easier" one due to the subject material, then go for it. Otherwise don't cheat yourself out of challenging yourself in something that you enjoy.

In regards to the classes, I took intro to pharm/toxicology, and a pharmacokinetics course since I originally wanted to do a PhD in pharm/tox. Both were challenging classes, and required me to review some OChem, and Biochem. However, I got a lot out of those classes, and planning to complete the med school pharm series after I finish my qual exam.

Lastly, if you are concerned about research time, and so forth, why not consider a PhD. Although nothing wrong with a masters, a master's type thesis is no where close to a PhD thesis due to the amount of time you have. Of course if you do a master's by exam, then there's no research really involved either.

 

[Mateodaspy]

a higher GPA will get your foot in the door; a degree with a slightly different name will be overlooked entirely.

go for the easier degree.

 

[owain]

So, i guess most people think that choosing the Master degree with the easier courses would be a better option!?

Thanks so much everyone - really appreciated your replies and opinions!

 

[Pewl]

Do a master's in medical physics. It gives you background in an entire aspect of medicine that most physicians are pretty darn ignorant about. Honestly, physicists have done more for modern medicine than any chemist or biologist. =P

 

[TheMightyAngus]

Honestly, physicists have done more for modern medicine than any chemist or biologist. =P

Don't know about that. Kary Mullis's PCR was pretty sexy.

 

[jebus]

Just put on that green jacket. Regardless of which one you choose you'll put yourself in a better position.

 

[Pewl]

Don't know about that. Kary Mullis's PCR was pretty sexy.

And the basis of PCR is is the rapid heating and cooling of DNA. How do we achieve rapid healing and cooling? That's right, it's all from physicists!

The mathematics behind CT, MRI, and PET are incredible. PET is probably the single most sensitive modality for disease detection.

 

[Scottish Chap]

Hi everyone,
I recently recieved 2 offers for a Masters degree at University of Toronto, one from Pharmacology (part of the Faculty of Medicine), the other from Pharmaceutic Sciences (part of the Faculty of Pharmacy). I will be doing research with the same professor if I choose either one, so its just a choice between titles. Is Pharmacology more attractive to med schools? Do they have a preference?
But, if i choose pharmacology, i have to take one very tough and time consuming course, which might not be easy to obtain an A in. If I choose Pharmaceutical Sciences, I can choose to take some much easier courses, and I'm sure I will do well. The risk is a lower GPA (A- vs A/A+) and perhaps less time do research --> less publications. So which Masters degree should I choose?

It would be great to hear some opinions on this! I'm worried I will make the wrong choice! I really want to be a doctor!

Thanks so much!

Adcoms don't really care about the major, honestly. Go with whatever your gut tells you. Excellence will be expected in either path. In a graduate research program, your productivity in lab more than anything is what makes you look attractive to medical schools so try to at least have your manuscript(s) submitted before you leave the program. One last thing: unless you are applying to the U of T's medical school (where graduate degrees can give you a massive advantage and they have a separate pool.....my paperwork went through there last year) your graduate school GPA will probably mean less to schools than your undergraduate GPA.

 

[disque71]

go for higher gpa