MD after MS?

[Boston1234]

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Hi all,
This is my first post. I hope you can help me. I just completed my MS in Biology (GPA = 3.8). I would really like to go on to medical school, but my undergraduate GPA wasn't impressive (3.1 BS in Biology) due to my immaturity (not lack of knowledge in science). Do med schools care about my grad school GPA? What can I do? Thanks all!

 

[RxnMan]

Kinda yes and kinda no. They'd look more favorably on more ugrad work (e.g. post-bacc) than a grad program because it's of the same intensity as your prerequisites and many feel that you should get high grades in grad school anyways. They will look at it, it does matter, and they'll take it as a more recent example of your performance in the classroom (see my profile). In terms of impressing ADCOMs, I'm told a post-bacc often has more punch, but graduate work will help your career after med school more than a post-bacc.

Do a quick search of the forums and you'll see that many people have posted similar threads.

 

[QofQuimica]

Hi all,
This is my first post. I hope you can help me. I just completed my MS in Biology (GPA = 3.8). I would really like to go on to medical school, but my undergraduate GPA wasn't impressive (3.1 BS in Biology) due to my immaturity (not lack of knowledge in science). Do med schools care about my grad school GPA? What can I do? Thanks all!

Along with what RxnMan said, kick butt on the MCAT and make the rest of your app as stellar as you can. Also, you should apply to a large number of schools in case some of them screen you out for your UG GPA. to you.

 

[vtucci]

Your grad degree is in biology so it will be factored into the BCPM average and if you did well, it will only help you. But kick butt on the MCAT and lay any doubts the ADCOMs may have to rest.

 

[the alchemist]

Your grad degree is in biology so it will be factored into the BCPM average and if you did well, it will only help you. But kick butt on the MCAT and lay any doubts the ADCOMs may have to rest.

grad gpa is separate from ur UG gpa so it won't be averaged into the UG BCPM gpa.

 

[Khenon]

As has been mentioned, your undergrad GPA is what will show on your application when they calculate your science, non-science, etc GPA's. So in those terms, no, your grad GPA won't help you much. I also have an MS, and I'd say it mostly "enhances" your application, but does not make up for anything. If your GPA is lower you'll need to rock the MCAT. That, along with your grad degree, some good EC's and LOR's, and you should be fine. 🙂

 

[Creightonite]

the same boat here except i will be applying after PhD.

QofQuimica, you'r my favorite person on SDN so far. Thumbs up to you.

 

[QofQuimica]

the same boat here except i will be applying after PhD.

QofQuimica, you'r my favorite person on SDN so far. Thumbs up to you.

😳 Thanks. I'm glad to have met so many other Ph.D.s who are going to med school. In the real world (outside of SDN 😀), I basically don't know anyone. My friends are all doing post docs or getting cushy industrial jobs, and they think I'm a little wacko to want to go to school for four more years. 😛

 

[chrisjohn]

The other regular Non-Trad folks have beaten me to it. Didn't like being a research assistant eh? 🙂

Bam bam bam the MCAT. Hopefully you did some medical research or at least something that can be construed as such during your MS program.

Apply to a lot of schools. Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, it takes a lot of time. Yes, you may get rejected at every single one the first time but you'll make it eventually.

Try to get a job at in a high speed clinical lab.

I could, and probably am totally off base, but there have been a recent spate of non-trad posts lately whose crux is "what do I need to do?" It ain't rocket science folks, its about working hard, being willing to accept some failure, crushing the living ****e out of the MCAT, and wanting the chance to become a physician badly enough that you're willing to spend years making baby steps towards said goal while not making a lot of money.