Masters vs Americorps

[lalalaaaaaa]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

So I'm debating whether to do a Masters in Bioethics at UPenn or apply to Americorps for a year long project. Here is a pro con list, what are your thoughts?!

Pros of BE:
It's at UPenn
Best BE program around
Lot's of great clinical experiences to be had
Allows me to pursue a professional interest before med school (Want a BE focus as a
physician)

Cons of BE:
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$

Pros of AC:
I would love to dedicate a year to service.
Amazing experiences to be had.

Cons of AC
No $$$
Not helping me academically or in a scholarly way
No intensive clinical aspect (the weak point of my app)

 

[SnowyRox]

I only see the word love in one of your descriptions. Pick that one. Following your passion is important!

 

[bigloley]

Do you need any sort of GPA repair/academic boosters? If you do that might sway your decision to the masters. If you don't then its really up to you, I had both a masters and americorps and schools loved both of them, although the americorps allowed me to have mich better experiences for interviews

 

[DrMidlife]

If your GPA is low I vote neither.

 

[Mommy Doc 85]

Americorps offers stipends, education $ and something that looks great on applications. Go for it! A masters doesn't make an app stand out.

 

[Nevadanteater]

It depends on what the Americorps program is.

I did Americorps 2 years before starting medical school and had an AMAZING experience. It really helped me focus my career goals (NP vs MD vs MSW) and also gave me a lot of opportunity to understand the community I was living in. When I was interviewing for schools it was the only thing I talked about at every interview (again because it was such a career directing moment).

Also, it has helped me an incredible amount for working in clinic and the wards. Not so much with actual medical knowledge, but with how a health care system works and how to interview people and ask awkward questions.

Saying that, I know people who had pretty mediocre times and people who really wish they had not done americorps.