Masters vs. Post-Bac Programs?

[Moose66]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Just finished my junior year at USC and I know I want to take a gap year after I graduate. I've heard that the Georgetown post-bac program is good, but is also essentially the 1st year of med school so it could be risky if you're not prepared for that level of rigor. I've also heard that pursuing a Masters degree could help boost your eligibility for med school acceptance. Wanted some info on Post-Bac programs vs Masters, and if anyone has any recommendations for either that'd be great.

 

[DrMidlife]

2 things:
1. "Postbac" is entirely useless as a descriptor. All it means is more school after you have a bachelors, and it's not even specific about grad vs undergrad. Descriptions that are not useless include "need to do the prereqs" or "need to address a low GPA of <range>" or "need to do grad school while I figure out whether I want to do med school" etc.
2. regardless, SDN has a postbac forum with abundant merciless detail on many options.

Best of luck to you.

 

[beBrave]

Just finished my junior year at USC and I know I want to take a gap year after I graduate. I've heard that the Georgetown post-bac program is good, but is also essentially the 1st year of med school so it could be risky if you're not prepared for that level of rigor. I've also heard that pursuing a Masters degree could help boost your eligibility for med school acceptance. Wanted some info on Post-Bac programs vs Masters, and if anyone has any recommendations for either that'd be great.

The Georgetown Post Bacc is only for students who have not finished the pre-reqs. You are referring to the SMP program that they offer.

It is risky but also helpful. If you can't survive in an SMP (special masters program) then you need to take some time off and get your life in order. "The SMP students take six of their classes and examinations with Georgetown's first-year medical students". Essentially you are getting a taste of med school. If you do poorly it will hurt your chances all around however if you do well it will open more doors. Before even considering an SMP though, you need to figure out if you need one. If you have a decent GPA and do well on the MCAT's (which I'm guessing you may not have taken yet), then to be honest you need to determine where you stand academically first before even contemplating an SMP. An SMP is for students that need to improve their applications and academic standings; it is not for overachievers.

 

[Goro]

they're a dime-a-dozen,r eally. Ideally, look for the one year programs that mimic medical school coursework, and are given at medical schools. They're a back-door into medical school if you can do well.

Drexel, PCOM, SFU..Touro-NV, heck there are tons of them out there!

Just finished my junior year at USC and I know I want to take a gap year after I graduate. I've heard that the Georgetown post-bac program is good, but is also essentially the 1st year of med school so it could be risky if you're not prepared for that level of rigor. I've also heard that pursuing a Masters degree could help boost your eligibility for med school acceptance. Wanted some info on Post-Bac programs vs Masters, and if anyone has any recommendations for either that'd be great.