Masters Program for the Gap year Student?

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

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Do you know of any DO schools or any East coast school, which offers one year master programs in biomedical science or in human biology? I'm going to be doing a gap year and I'm still debating whether I want to spend a 5th year in undergrad taking upper level biology courses like immunology, histology, etc. or whether I should consider enrolling in a non-SMP one year masters program.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Did you check AAMCs site? I think they include the programs from DO schools because they're still 'premed' programs

 

[DrWily]

Do you know of any DO schools or any East coast school, which offers one year master programs in biomedical science or in human biology? I'm going to be doing a gap year and I'm still debating whether I want to spend a 5th year in undergrad taking upper level biology courses like immunology, histology, etc. or whether I should consider enrolling in a non-SMP one year masters program.

5th year in undergrad. Infinitely cheaper, and will probably produce the same results unless you are hell-bent on M.D.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

5th year in undergrad. Infinitely cheaper, and will probably produce the same results unless you are hell-bent on M.D.

Why? I'm not considering a masters program to make up for a low gpa or hopefully mcat. I'm doing it primarily to kinda prepare for medical school and because I'll be applying after my senior year.

 

[DrWily]

Why? I'm not considering a masters program to make up for a low gpa or hopefully mcat. I'm doing it primarily to kinda prepare for medical school and because I'll be applying after my senior year.

Nothing will prepare you for medical school, the intensity etc. Any advantage you have will be minimal unless you are constantly practicing what you learned on a daily basis, and even then, there's little advantage IMHO. An expensive advantage.

Get a masters if you want a masters, not to get into medical school... and if you're doing it to get ahead in medical school, don't do it. Just get a job, and save up some money, go on trips, etc. I'd take a few classes that you are interested in and that's about it.

 

[YiSheng]

I think a masters program would help prepare you for med school more than a 5th year in that masters courses are more rigorous. However, these programs can be very expensive. Unless you come from a financially strong family, I would say 5th year is better economically. In terms of materials, I have heard a mixed feedback of how much material you have to know from UG and Grad to do well in med school.

 

[YiSheng]

Nothing will prepare you for medical school, the intensity etc. Any advantage you have will be minimal unless you are constantly practicing what you learned on a daily basis, and even then, there's little advantage IMHO. An expensive advantage.

Get a masters if you want a masters, not to get into medical school... and if you're doing it to get ahead in medical school, don't do it. Just get a job, and save up some money, go on trips, etc.

Yes, a current first year who is also a PhD told me that pretty nothing prep her for med school in regards to the intensity and the volume of materials they throw at you. However, taking more courses in upper div might give you more background in different topics.

 

[DrWily]

Also consider during the master's program that you will be applying to medical schools. Primary, Secondariesx1000, Interviews. A lot of added stress during an already stressful process.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Also consider during the master's program that you will be applying to medical schools. Primary, Secondariesx1000, Interviews. A lot of added stress during an already stressful process.

True, I guess I think I'll just do a 5 year and try to gain a little bit of a stronger background for medical school.

 

[jinobi]

True, I guess I think I'll just do a 5 year and try to gain a little bit of a stronger background for medical school.

If you don't have a low GPA/MCAT, why not just take that year off and do some part-time work, travel the world, gain some non-academic experience before you jump into med school? 5th year UG will still cost money, and it'll be more hectic trying to schedule interviews/secondary during class.

Remember: travel. Won't have much time for that here.

Like they said, you'll gain minimal preparation for medical school from 5th year UG. There's so much material, and not necessarily in the nitpicky depth that you'll learn in UG.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

If you don't have a low GPA/MCAT, why not just take that year off and do some part-time work, travel the world, gain some non-academic experience before you jump into med school? 5th year UG will still cost money, and it'll be more hectic trying to schedule interviews/secondary during class.

Remember: travel. Won't have much time for that here.

Like they said, you'll gain minimal preparation for medical school from 5th year UG. There's so much material, and not necessarily in the nitpicky depth that you'll learn in UG.

Well a lot of people in medical school have attested that undergraduate immunology pretty much is the same thing as medical school immunology and will help out a lot. Likewise they say they wish they had prior experience in mammalian histology and embryology. I also don't feel like getting out of the schooling mindset, either way it seems like a potentially good idea.

 

[mkhuc]

Western University (CA) and Touro University both have Master's programs that are geared for students who want to become osteopathic physicians. I am currently in Touro's program, and its has been great. From a full medical school level anatomy course with cadaver dissection (not prosected!), to research opportunities, I think that any of these programs would be a good choice. PM me for more info.

 

[slammer922]

Unthsc (tcom) offers the medical science masters program. It's a successful program and matches students to all Texas medical schools not just tcom. Not to mention buy a house and save cash with Texas instate tuition of u get in when you're done

 

[willen101383]

Unthsc (tcom) offers the medical science masters program. It's a successful program and matches students to all Texas medical schools not just tcom. Not to mention buy a house and save cash with Texas instate tuition of u get in when you're done

QFT. Know nothing of the Texas schools but buying a house before med school was the best thing I ever did.

Why am i suddenly craving texas bbq? I have an exam on monday...but I am oh so tempted to snag some ribs and fire up my smoker for the next 8 hours......what to do....what to do...

 

[futuredoc911]

I did a biomedical masters degree at a public university that has a medical school. It was the best choice I made. Got to do gross anatomy all dissections, lots of similar classes to medical school, research experience and I was a teaching assistant so all of my tuition was paid for and I got a stipend each month as well. It made me a more well rounded and advanced candidate and I got accepted into medical school and will be starting in July.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Western University (CA) and Touro University both have Master's programs that are geared for students who want to become osteopathic physicians. I am currently in Touro's program, and its has been great. From a full medical school level anatomy course with cadaver dissection (not prosected!), to research opportunities, I think that any of these programs would be a good choice. PM me for more info.

That sounds a bit far away.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Unthsc (tcom) offers the medical science masters program. It's a successful program and matches students to all Texas medical schools not just tcom. Not to mention buy a house and save cash with Texas instate tuition of u get in when you're done

I don't think you're allowed to get Texas residency while a student and since the following year I'd be hopefully starting medical school.

 

[misssciencenerd]

Hey Serenade....

I highly recommend doing a one year masters program even if you dont have a low gpa/mcat. I am currently at Tulane University's one year masters even though I am applying DO. I have been able to take pharmacology, pathophysiology, endocrinology and anatomy with a cadaver dissection.
Despite what others say, even having a background in those classes is beneficial for medical school. In fact, my friend at LECOM-B said everyone who got an A in anatomy had been in a masters program previously.

 

[Iliketoytles]

Hey Serenade....

I highly recommend doing a one year masters program even if you dont have a low gpa/mcat. I am currently at Tulane University's one year masters even though I am applying DO. I have been able to take pharmacology, pathophysiology, endocrinology and anatomy with a cadaver dissection.
Despite what others say, even having a background in those classes is beneficial for medical school. In fact, my friend at LECOM-B said everyone who got an A in anatomy had been in a masters program previously.

I kind of agree with this. If I could've stayed in school an extra year to just take classes for the heck of it, I would've for sure. It'll keep your mind busy... prepare you (even if just a little) for medschool... but most importantly, if you love science than why not do it? Not everyone likes to travel (me), and being involved in the community is something that someone can always do while in school. It's more of a stress relief than a burden.

So with that said, it mainly just comes down to which option is better. The application process is expensive, as Wily mentioned. So saving a ton of money by taking a 5th year undergrad would go a long ways to pay for this and more. However, I'd imagine a masters program would probably emulate medschool classes a little more than undergrad classes. If I were you, I'd probably just stick with a 5th year undergrad, since I figure I can use my knowledge from college and learn the rest while actually in medschool.