Master's Degree or more undergrad classes?

[evoviiigsr]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Ok, so I have a 3.3 GPA and a 3.25 science GPA, and 30 on the MCAT. I see 2 options for this upcoming year.

1) Get my Master's Degree in Medical Sciences at Mississippi College (30 hours) and hope for a high graduate GPA, let's say 3.7+

2) Take some more undergrad science classes and raising my GPA to about a 3.4 with a 3.5 science GPA


What do you guys think?

Also, does it matter how I choose my BCPM classes I take? For example, can I mix in some easier looking math classes (like calc. 3) and maybe astronomy or something?

 

[yezzur]

yea im in the same situation as you man
cept my gpa is way lower than that

I live in CA and im not sure if i should apply to the MS in Biology at a nearby Cal State or take more undergrad classes (2nd bachelors degree) at a nearby Cal State

Someone help us out, i've been also looking and considering DO as well

 

[nick_carraway]

I've got a similar overall & science GPA. I was told by some to take more undergrad coursework, but to enroll in a SMP by others. Needless to say, I was confused.

The issue is that I'm wary of jumping into Georgetown's SMP so I'm going to do post-bacc work at SFSU for a year, which will unfortunately only raise my GPA to 3.4 territory assuming 15-18 units of science courses per semester.

The best decision, I think, is to do both a post-bac and a SMP. If you're going to improve your app, you might as well go all out. Doing a post-bacc will allow me to get some internships at UCSF, which would be impossible at Georgetown given the commitment an SMP requires.

The issue is that I only get one shot to apply to med schools before the MCAT expires, and that app cycle will have to be during my SMP year.

If you have the luxury of time/money, maybe that route is something to consider.

 

[hung]

if you go with option 2, you would need to raise the mcat score. your mcat would need to be very competitive (34+) if you have a less then competiive gpa. if you go with option 1, you should go with a big name program or go with a program that feeds into their medical school.

 

[evoviiigsr]

So the Mississippi program is not an SMP because you don't get graded compared to real med school students. HOWEVER, they claim that they offer med school-like classes and testing level.

So, would ADCOMS look at your performance in a program like this like an SMP or would they shrug it off as a bunch of grade inflated classes?

For me, i think it will be harder to get all A's in these grad classes as opposed to all A's in more undergrad classes.

I just can't decide which is better: a 3.4 GPA/3.5 BCMP and 4.0 post-bac (strong upward trend), or a 3.3 GPA/3.25 BCMP and 4.0 graduate

more input would be appreciated

 

[hung]

The program sounds like an smp since you are taking med school like classes.

 

[francheezy]

hey evo, yezzur, and koko eats, i was in a similar situation recently. i graduated from undergrad in december 2007 and was hearing back from medical schools until about may or so. unfortunately, i should have also been applying to post bac programs as well as retaking science classes. after reading up on SDN, i realized that you should try to take as many undergrad science courses as you can (reasonably ofcourse) to bump up your gpa. Also, research and apply to as many appropriate SMPs and post-bac programs that suit your needs (unless you already decided that Mississippi College is your only choice). After applying to four programs myself, I got into 3 and waitlisted into one (mostly because I applied recently which is kind of late for this upcoming 2008 year). In the meanwhile, I am taking Physics II, which I got a C in, to bump up my gpa as much as possible before I actually matriculate into one of these programs. My opinion is that it doesn't really matter which classes you take as long as it is science because it will inevitably raise your cumulative anyway. So, to reiterate, take as many undergrad you can that you feel you can get an A in, apply to more SMps and post bac programs if possible, and then matriculate into one to continue to increase the gpa. MCAT score is average for allo schools but good for osteo schools so you can decide whether you need to retake it or not for the appropriate application services. hope that helps, PM me if you have any further questions...

 

[Yoyomama88]

anyone who tells u to retake the mcat is an idiot...DO NOT LISTEN AND DO NOT RETAKE...unless u have a 7 in one section.

 

[yezzur]

hey evo, yezzur, and koko eats, i was in a similar situation recently. i graduated from undergrad in december 2007 and was hearing back from medical schools until about may or so. unfortunately, i should have also been applying to post bac programs as well as retaking science classes. after reading up on SDN, i realized that you should try to take as many undergrad science courses as you can (reasonably ofcourse) to bump up your gpa. Also, research and apply to as many appropriate SMPs and post-bac programs that suit your needs (unless you already decided that Mississippi College is your only choice). After applying to four programs myself, I got into 3 and waitlisted into one (mostly because I applied recently which is kind of late for this upcoming 2008 year). In the meanwhile, I am taking Physics II, which I got a C in, to bump up my gpa as much as possible before I actually matriculate into one of these programs. My opinion is that it doesn't really matter which classes you take as long as it is science because it will inevitably raise your cumulative anyway. So, to reiterate, take as many undergrad you can that you feel you can get an A in, apply to more SMps and post bac programs if possible, and then matriculate into one to continue to increase the gpa. MCAT score is average for allo schools but good for osteo schools so you can decide whether you need to retake it or not for the appropriate application services. hope that helps, PM me if you have any further questions...

hey thanks a lot for the advice...
yea im still kinda stuck on what to do, and i called graduate program advisors at Cal-States, my UC, and they all are not giving me great advice/suggestions....

you mentioned, taking MORE undergrad classes....does it matter WHERE i take them at. for example, i graduated from UCSD, but taking science classes at a cal-state or a city-college? does it even matter or make a difference?

and also, one of the suggestions i've gotten, is not to do a masters program. do u agree or disagree, my gpa is a low 2.9. as a biochemistry & cell biology major.

 

[francheezy]

well, first of all the more undergrad classes you take, the better, IF you know for a fact that it is possible for you to get an A in them. That being said, my guess is that you don't want to take the undergrad classes while enrolled in a master's program because it destroys the purpose of program which is usually designed to help you enhance your GPAs, in particular science GPA. i also dont think it matters where you take the classes because application services usually automatically calculate your GPAs for you regardless of which school(s) you go to. However, certain ADCOM's may notice the multiple institution enrollment and have their own opinions. In my opinion, I think you should definitely do some sort of Master's or post-bac program that specifically suits your needs. However, deciding whether to apply and enroll in one this year depends on whether you plan on applying to D.O. schools or M.D. schools. Obviously you want the highest GPAs for both schools apps service but D.O. schools GPA usually average lower (3.2-3.6) so if you can bump up your GPA up to close to that range you should be competitive (also dependent on your MCAT score). so to reiterate, still try to take as many undergrad science courses you can, take them wherever is most feasible for you, and you can either take more classes this upcoming year and be involved in other activities (research, health work, shadowing, etc) while applying to a Masters/SMP/post-bac for the following year or quickly apply to last minute Masters programs for this upcoming august/sept and hope you can get in.

 

[nick_carraway]

hey evo, yezzur, and koko eats, i was in a similar situation recently. i graduated from undergrad in december 2007 and was hearing back from medical schools until about may or so. unfortunately, i should have also been applying to post bac programs as well as retaking science classes. after reading up on SDN, i realized that you should try to take as many undergrad science courses as you can (reasonably ofcourse) to bump up your gpa. Also, research and apply to as many appropriate SMPs and post-bac programs that suit your needs (unless you already decided that Mississippi College is your only choice). After applying to four programs myself, I got into 3 and waitlisted into one (mostly because I applied recently which is kind of late for this upcoming 2008 year). In the meanwhile, I am taking Physics II, which I got a C in, to bump up my gpa as much as possible before I actually matriculate into one of these programs. My opinion is that it doesn't really matter which classes you take as long as it is science because it will inevitably raise your cumulative anyway. So, to reiterate, take as many undergrad you can that you feel you can get an A in, apply to more SMps and post bac programs if possible, and then matriculate into one to continue to increase the gpa. MCAT score is average for allo schools but good for osteo schools so you can decide whether you need to retake it or not for the appropriate application services. hope that helps, PM me if you have any further questions...

Well I'm glad that someone shares my enthusiasm for my plan. It's time consuming, but I agree that doing both a post-bacc and then an SMP makes the most strategic sense. Besides time and money, you really have nothing to lose. Two more years isn't a huge deal in the long-term and the cost of a post-bacc at a CSU ($4,000) will be piddly compared to the cost of everything in the end.