Does one have to finish their two years masters program to get accepted into DO schools? I'm starting my masters in September, as a back up in case no MD or DO acceptances. It's also very interesting and useful. If I got into medical school, I would just leave after the first year of the masters.
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Masters
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gmcguitar4
Most schools will want you to finish the masters..unless you get into a med school before you start the program. If the ultimate goal is med school, don't pursue a masters. You will waste time/money. Just pump up your app with stuff throughout the year. You don't want to be tied down into anything.
Most of the time, they tell you to finish any degree before matriculation. Definitely give admissions a call and look into a masters that's only one year long?
This is not necessarily true. It depends in what s/he's getting his/her master's in.
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gmcguitar4
Disagreed. If medicine is the ultimate goal, why delay it and spend an additional 20-50k each year doing a masters. A majority of the stuff learned will be forgotten and never used. Better off reading books in the subject that the masters is in if you are interested in the material. Academically and aesthetically it sounds nice, but economically it is a poor decision.
Economically, you're going to be in the hole anyway. Yes, it is important to factor in, but the cost may be worth it. For example, if you are planning on become a neurologist or psychologist, a masters in Clinical Counseling Psychology would benefit you. If you are planning to get involved in public health/administration/biostatistics/epidemiology/academia/research, an MPH would help you. Of course, there are DO programs that offer dual degrees.
I agree with you that it can be a poor decision; but it is not always a bad decision. While medicine is the ultimate goal for the majority of us, a masters is not always the wrong way to go. It all depends on what you want to do. If you can do a dual degree in medical school though, that would be preferred to taking additional time in a masters program. Finally, if you do a masters program before med school, you may come to realize that you love something other than medicine and want to pursue a career in that field or a PhD program instead.
Academic and aesthetic things help in scoring those pretty residency spots when coupled with strong class rank/USMLE (COMLEX).
