redwings54 said:
Hey, I tried posting this in the peds forum and didnt really get any responses so I am trying it here. I am currently waiting to hear back about medical school, but am fearing that I wont get in. I have always wanted to work in peds my entire life. I currently work at a school for kids with autism, neurological, behavioral and emotional difficulties and absolutely love it. I am looking at alternatives to help increase my application for the next year. I am interested in a masters in child development. Would this be beneficial for a career in peds? Are there any other options I should look at? Any advice would be really appreciated. Additionally, I have a 3.05 GPA, 2.84 science, 25 MCAT, tons of ECs and great LoRs. Thanks.
Great that you want to get a masters in child development. BUT only problem are as follows:
1) Grad courses DO NOT improve your undergrad GPA. Since masters programs would probably consist of mostly if not all grad courses, then you will not show improvement in your undergrad GPA. For the most part, med schools favor undergrad GPA over grad GPA. Because these are usually inflated due to B- (80%) being considered failing in most programs. That really motivates grad students to do well (and lots of bright people in grad programs). Lastly, since most people apply with only a undergrad GPA, its easier to compare two applicants by using the undergrad GPA as a metric.
2) A grad program will not help with a low MCAT score. The national average is 29-30 these days. In California, you'll probably see an average of 33+. Child development courses don't aid in most of the MCAT sections unless you run into something in the verbal reasoning.
3) Your science GPA appears to be low, therefore you want to show them that you can handle hard science courses. I'm not sure but I think child development courses aren't considered in the BCPM types of classes. Somebody check that please.
Although a masters in child development can only help you as a pediatrician, the problem is you have to get into medical school first before becoming a pediatrician. In all honesty, it will be quite difficult to get into med school based on your stats. Despite your excellent work with kids who have autism, etc, extracurriculars like that will not make up for the GPA/MCAT component. In my opinion, for people who need GPA rehab, they need to show that they can handle a hardcore science workload. Usually upper division undergrad science courses. This is why post-bacc is popular. Another way to do it is to do well in graduate or med school science courses. The latter being obvious as to its value, and also a key component in Special Masters Programs. If you do well in grad school or med school science courses then it could show them you can handle it.
I recommend checking out AAMC to see what kind of stats gets you into med school. The percentages of people getting in with your stats is pretty low. EC's such as clinical, volunteering experience may be applicable in helping you as a person, and your clinical days, but they may not get you passed the academic component which consists of your first 2 years in med school. A sub-3.0 science GPA is not encouraging in the eyes of the adcoms. Even with some valid reason for getting a low GPA will not get you into med school without proof of doing better in challenging science courses.
I for one have a sub-3.0 undergrad GPA. Advisors and admissions people at our med school told me to do post-bacc despite having a 36S on my MCAT. I did post-bacc for 1.5 years (Post-bacc GPA: 3.4). I had a valid reason for having a low undergrad GPA (supporting family), but I wasn't about to use that as an "excuse". Since I couldn't afford post-bacc anymore, I entered a PhD program. This program required me to take med school courses, along with grad courses that were offered by the med school. I currently have a 4.0 as a grad student. BUT, alas, a 4.0 grad GPA doesn't improve my undergrad GPA. So luckily the school lets me take upper division undergrad classes as electives. In essense, this is a two pronged attack. Boosting my undergrad GPA up through taking elective upper division courses, and showing I can handle med school by having A's in actual med school courses. Well thats the plan at least. I'm sure others can chime in on how successful grad school can be towards getting into med school, and the caveats that are involved. Good luck!
