Masters in the UK before applying to Med Schools in the US?

[aeuphemism]

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Hello!
So I have an opportunity to do a 1-year MRes in the UK at a top school (to help further my undergrad thesis work) after I graduate.

I'm wondering if doing a masters (especially in Europe, as opposed to the US) will hurt my chances at med school the following year.

Just to clarify: I am an American citizen currently studying abroad in an American institution.

 

[Catalystik]

Hello!
So I have an opportunity to do a 1-year MRes in the UK at a top school (to help further my undergrad thesis work) after I graduate.

I'm wondering if doing a masters (especially in Europe, as opposed to the US) will hurt my chances at med school the following year.

Just to clarify: I am an American citizen currently studying abroad in an American institution.

AMCAS doesn't accept transcripts from foreign institutions. If this is a "top school" in the UK, I'm guessing it isn't one of those with an American affiliation that would make it an exception. So a high GPA won't compensate for GPA weaknesses you might have.

It might help you in the sense that you'd potentially have added opportunities for teaching and research, and an extra year to beef up other relevant (clinical and community service) ECs.

 

[aeuphemism]

So if I stayed in the US and did my masters here, would that increase my chances at all? My uGPA is not be best, due to illness in my second year. I will probably graduate with a 3.5ish GPA.

 

[DokterMom]

If it's Oxford or Cambridge, that might raise a few eyebrows. If it's not, odds are your interviewers will not have heard of the UK school.

 

[flapjack3d]

Are you shooting for MD or DO? How could your uGPA be affected by taking more undergrad courses in the states (DO will take the most recent grade, so this could super boost your GPA. If you don't want to do more courses, personally I would look for research opportunities in your field of interest in the states. The grad level coursework will basically be a waste of time, as far as your med school app is concerned.

 

[Catalystik]

So if I stayed in the US and did my masters here, would that increase my chances at all? My uGPA is not be best, due to illness in my second year. I will probably graduate with a 3.5ish GPA.

Some MD med schools will consider a grad GPA in the hard sciences, but not most. All med schools will consider undergrad postbac GPAs, which have the advantage of being merged with college grades to create an overall undergraduate composite GPA and BCPM GPA.

 

[aeuphemism]

If it's Oxford or Cambridge, that might raise a few eyebrows. If it's not, odds are your interviewers will not have heard of the UK school.

Even Imperial?

What is I stayed in the US for my masters? Would that be better?

 

[aeuphemism]

Some med schools will consider a grad GPA in the hard sciences, but not most. All med schools will consider undergrad postbac GPAs, which have the advantage of being merged with college grades to create an overall undergraduate composite GPA and BCPM GPA.

Yeah, I figured. Is it even worth doing a post-bacc if I graduate with a 3.5 or slightly higher? Should I just apply and take my chances?

 

[Catalystik]

Yeah, I figured. Is it even worth doing a post-bacc if I graduate with a 3.5 or slightly higher? Should I just apply and take my chances?

It depends on the strength of your MCAT score and having a recent upward grade trend.

 

[Catalystik]

Even Imperial?

I've never heard of Imperial.

Hogwarts would be another institution that would get some attention.

 

[deleted718115]

Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, King College London, Edinburgh - all are in the same league!

 

[mimelim]

If it's Oxford or Cambridge, that might raise a few eyebrows. If it's not, odds are your interviewers will not have heard of the UK school.

I've never heard of Imperial.

Hogwarts would be another institution that would get some attention.

Eh, in the world of academics, Imperial College is a pretty big name. On the silly institution ranking lists, for whatever that is worth, it ranks above most Ivies. While it may not have the same name recognition among the general US population, being non-American... in academics, it is hard to go wrong with Imperial College, King's College or the University of Edinburgh.

Certainly every single one of our faculty know those and in ours and surrounding institutions, CVs are littered with training at those institutions.

Are there still biases against foreign credits/degrees, of course. But, most faculty that I know would see Imperial and be impressed in the same way that when they get a CV with 'Princeton' on it.

 

[DokterMom]

I've never heard of Imperial.

Hogwarts would be another institution that would get some attention.

Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, King College London, Edinburgh - all are in the same league!

Not doubting the quality of Imperial -- Just suggesting that it may not have the widespread name-recognition that would get you the Wow! factor. Consider MIT vs. Harvey Mudd. So those who know will be impressed. Those who don't -- meh.

 

[Easonred57]

n=1, but my roomie was rejected from med school twice, got a masters at Oxford and was accepted to a US med school.

 

[aeuphemism]

I just want to keep my options open at this point. I don't see the point of a post-bacc since I have a strong upward trend and a semi-interesting academic background.
My gpa is not where I'd like it to be only because of the crap science program at my university. I'm at the honors college (abroad) of an institution in the US, and the science program here is unbelievable. Advanced electives are great, but the foundations program is absolute hell and kills your gpa. The equivalent classes offered on the main campus are a piece of cake compared to what we go through here. We literally squeeze all intro and intermediate science classes (chem, bio, physics) in 3 semesters.

Sorry for the mini-rant there. Thanks for all the help!

 

[nerdyjock90]

I'll offer my advice. I basically did exactly what you are suggesting. I did a bachelors in the US (Emory) and then did an MPhil in Scotland, UK (University of St Andrews). The difference is my masters was research only so there are no grades/transcripts for me to submit. The nice thing about having a master's is that the ADCOMS seem to look at you a little differently, somehwat more holistically. Not saying my numbers don't matter, cause that's definitely been the issue, but it seems like there's a trend where they are valuing "life-experience" a little more. And Imperial college definitely carries weight to ADCOMS, they get lots of applications from lots of international places so they need to know what are the better schools from the major contributing countries. All that being said don't go and spend a bunch of money on it just to get into medical school because the grades don't necessarily transfer. But if it's a good opportunity I say go for it, it was the best time of my life, but you can't rely on it to make you the most competitive applicant of the cycle. Hope this helps, just my opinion.