Masters before MD

[nickjohnson]

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I'm looking at all my options, but with a 3.2 GPA and a 29L Mcat, it's not looking good. I'm considering the caribbean but don't want to give up on the states just yet. I'm a canadian student, and I'm thinking of doing a masters program to boost my application. My question is how much does this help in terms of US med school applications? I'm thinking of taking biochem, or anatomy. I know a lot of canadian med schools just add a +0.01 to your application, although they don't specify what that even means. So any clarification on how masters degrees help your application would be great.

Thanks

 

[Mobius1985]

A masters degree will be considered a nice EC (extracurricular) if you apply to US schools. You will be judged primarily by your undergrad GPA and MCAT. If you want to apply to US schools, you'd be better served by raising your uGPA with post-baccalaureate classes, not by entering a graduate degree program.

 

[nickjohnson]

I've heard a lot about post bacc courses on US forums. I always assumed people were just talking about masters and Phd. So it's just taking extra undergrad courses? Would I have to take a full course load? In canada, most universities look down upon raising your average wtih spring/summer courses, or workloads that aren't full weight. A few med schools will not even count a full year of undergrad into the GPA calculations if you don't have the full courseload (10 credits here, so even if you're taking 9.5 creds, won't count).

 

[213965]

A masters degree will be considered a nice EC (extracurricular) if you apply to US schools. You will be judged primarily by your undergrad GPA and MCAT. If you want to apply to US schools, you'd be better served by raising your uGPA with post-baccalaureate classes, not by entering a graduate degree program.

👍👍👍

 

[Mobius1985]

I've heard a lot about post bacc courses on US forums. I always assumed people were just talking about masters and Phd. So it's just taking extra undergrad courses? Would I have to take a full course load? In canada, most universities look down upon raising your average wtih spring/summer courses, or workloads that aren't full weight. A few med schools will not even count a full year of undergrad into the GPA calculations if you don't have the full courseload (10 credits here, so even if you're taking 9.5 creds, won't count).

Post-bac means classes taken after getting an undergrad degree, but not as part of a graduate program. There are official (read expensive) post-bac programs, and also do-it-yourself post-bacs that you do on your own, preferably through a 4-year university, but occasionally done at community colleges by folks who also work a lot, or just can't afford the 4-year school. You will repair a poor GPA faster by taking a full course load (12 semester hours or more, usually), but if you also work full-time or have other obligations, a lesser course load would be OK, and is still included in GPA calculations by US schools. Most important is to get straight As, as even one B delays the GPA repair. So taking a course load you can excel in is the highest priority, even if it is not "full-time".