Master's degree help application?

[C311]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello All,

My question is: I would like to get a masters degree in public health because I am very interested in this field and I also think it will strengthen my application for admission. Would getting an online masters in public health be looked down upon as opposed to the traditional masters earned in a classroom setting?

Thank you for your insight.

 

[NekoBeats]

Hello All,

My question is: I would like to get a masters degree in public health because I am very interested in this field and I also think it will strengthen my application for admission. Would getting an online masters in public health be looked down upon as opposed to the traditional masters earned in a classroom setting?

Thank you for your insight.

I'm definitely biased here because I took the classes for my MPH at a university, but I'm going to have to say that yeah, getting an online MPH might not be viewed in the same light. Out of curiosity, what institution is offering this?

In my MPH classes, there was a lot of group work, presentations, activities, and class discussions, all of which were extremely rewarding and insightful. I can not imagine having taken these classes online because I would not have been able to get nearly as much out of it as I did.

Also, I got asked about my MPH courses this year and last year during interviews. IMO a lot of what you learn in a public health class can be tied into improving health outcomes and the medical field, and I was able to draw a lot of specifics from what I learned in my classes when answering the interview questions. Not sure I could have done so with as much depth if I had taken the classes online.

 

[qwerty2012]

They just going to view it as an extra EC.

 

[BabyDoc86]

They just going to view it as an extra EC.

This is definitely wrong. If you're going to do any sort of advanced degree, make sure it's one that you are really interested in, so that your odds of success will be greater. I have a master's in Bioethics, and every single interview I've had my interviewers have asked me about it and have been very impressed that I've actually done work to improve health care. An MPH should be about the same. So far, 2/2 on acceptances, hoping for 3/3 in a few weeks.

I'm not really sure how online v. in class would look.

 

[gmcguitar4]

They just going to view it as an extra EC.

This is definitely right. What else it be viewed as? Your app is your undergrad gpa, your mcat, your EC's, LOR's, and essay answers. IMO, a masters is an unwise of money if you are planning on going to med school. If you are unsure about med school, then it is something to consider. I feel if you are interested in the subjects, do your own research and get involved in some public health projects. This way you don't accumulate even more debt and could possibly even make money while gaining a wonderful experience in something you are interested in.

I saw unwise because you will probably forget a majority of what you learn from the masters by your second year of med school. You grow more from actual experiences with people rather than sitting in a classroom and paying for it. Just my honest opinion though. If you really want to pursue it then definitely go for it!

 

[FakeEmpire]

I think as long as you can put a story with your degree, describe the activities you did while obtaining your MPH, what you learned from it, how it confirmed your interest in medicine, etc. they aren't going to care where it came from. If you are looking to increase your GPA I don't think online would be great for that but I agree with BabyDoc. It shows that you are about furthering your knowledge and advancing your career in health.

With that being said... big BUT here. I have had seen some really, really terrible interns from online MPH programs. I am a little biased because I received my MPH on campus at a great university, but when my most current MPH intern didn't know what a non profit was, didn't know anything about grant writing, epidemiology, health promotion, or biostatistics i was definitely shocked and disappointed. I think on campus is always best but it's not for everyone. If you do pursue online, do your research.

 

[BabyDoc86]

gmcguitar4 makes a good point here:

This is definitely right. What else it be viewed as? Your app is your undergrad gpa, your mcat, your EC's, LOR's, and essay answers. IMO, a masters is an unwise of money if you are planning on going to med school. If you are unsure about med school, then it is something to consider. I feel if you are interested in the subjects, do your own research and get involved in some public health projects. This way you don't accumulate even more debt and could possibly even make money while gaining a wonderful experience in something you are interested in.

I saw unwise because you will probably forget a majority of what you learn from the masters by your second year of med school. You grow more from actual experiences with people rather than sitting in a classroom and paying for it. Just my honest opinion though. If you really want to pursue it then definitely go for it!

I got a job at my graduate school, and they paid every cent of my tuition/fees for my entire degree program. I was SO lucky. So if you can find a program you like and can land a job, I say go for it. I think I should have listed that as my disclaimer in my other post.

 

[BabyDoc86]

Also, found this on a similar thread (posted by Goro; s/he's on an AdCom or something, and seems to be spot-on most of the time):

Also, if I don't get in the first time around, might it be worth it to pursue a Master's Degree in a field like Public Health,Human Physiology, etc?

YES!


Would a good performance in grad school carry weight in getting into med school?

YES! Doing this shows us you can handle a medical school curriculum if you perform well.

 

[wooki]

if you are genuinely interested in an MPH, then do it at a brick-and-mortar university. it can help your application. but if you solely need a application-booster, look up special master's programs that lets you take medical school classes (i.e. drexel, BU). be wary though that 1. these are quite expensive and 2. if you don't do well in these programs, it can severely hinder your chances of medical school.

depending on your situation, the extra debt can be worth it.