Medical physiology graduate program??

[golgi body]

I'm looking for something during a gap year to help bolster my low GPA ~3.5. I recently saw my university (large state school) offers an online medical physiology graduate program, which results in a certificate (I don't know if it gives a degree). Would admcoms view this with the same regard as post bacc work or a master's program?

I'm skeptical because I haven't heard much about people doing this on SDN, and I'm not sure how rigorous the program actually is. It is advertised as a way to make "graduate school applications more competitive," but I feel like it may just be a money making scheme.

Thoughts?

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[Goro]

I'm looking for something during a gap year to help bolster my low GPA ~3.5. I recently saw my university (large state school) offers an online medical physiology graduate program, which results in a certificate (I don't know if it gives a degree). Would admcoms view this with the same regard as post bacc work or a master's program?

I'm skeptical because I haven't heard much about people doing this on SDN, and I'm not sure how rigorous the program actually is. It is advertised as a way to make "graduate school applications more competitive," but I feel like it may just be a money making scheme.

Thoughts?

Is the coursework analogous ot med school classes (other than "Medical Physiology"? Or is it more research based????

 

[golgi body]

Is the coursework analogous ot med school classes (other than "Medical Physiology"? Or is it more research based????

Course are:
Fundamentals of Physioology
Medical renal physiology
Medical respiratory physiology
Medical endocrine physiology
Cardiovascular and muscle physiology
Medical gastro physiology

Most/all of the professors are PhD only, I don't know if that matters. They heavily emphasize that the program is ideal for medical school applicants on the website. It is also pretty expensive, which is also why I am Skeptical. UF offers the program if you'd like to see more on the website.

 

[Goro]

Course are:
Fundamentals of Physioology
Medical renal physiology
Medical respiratory physiology
Medical endocrine physiology
Cardiovascular and muscle physiology
Medical gastro physiology

Most/all of the professors are PhD only, I don't know if that matters. They heavily emphasize that the program is ideal for medical school applicants on the website. It is also pretty expensive, which is also why I am Skeptical. UF offers the program if you'd like to see more on the website.

Seems rather focused. I think that you can do better.

 

[golgi body]

Seems rather focused. I think that you can do better.

Would you recommend a post bacc instead. Formal or DIY? And what types of classes/credit hours?

 

[BurntFlower]

I got a graduate Medical Physiology degree. I definitely think it bolstered my app.

 

[Goro]

Would you recommend a post bacc instead. Formal or DIY? And what types of classes/credit hours?

Formal post-bacs are more for career switchers, to give them the pre-reqs. IF you had a pre-med curriculum, then either a DIY-post-bac or SMP will work. I have written in the past about plusses and minuses of each.

A ~3.5 GPA is not lethal for MD schools.

 

[golgi body]

I got a graduate Medical Physiology degree. I definitely think it bolstered my app.

Did it contribute to your undergrad GPA?

 

[BurntFlower]

Did it contribute to your undergrad GPA?

Nope, got the same GPA for both, heh. 😛

 

[golgi body]

Formal post-bacs are more for career switchers, to give them the pre-reqs. IF you had a pre-med curriculum, then either a DIY-post-bac or SMP will work. I have written in the past about plusses and minuses of each.

A ~3.5 GPA is not lethal for MD schools.

If by graduation I am under 3.5 for some reason, I will prob DIY post bacc. If I'm at or over 3.5, I think my time will be better spent on getting MCAT into 512-515 range.

Does that sound reasonable ? @Goro

 

[Goro]

If by graduation I am under 3.5 for some reason, I will prob DIY post bacc. If I'm at or over 3.5, I think my time will be better spent on getting MCAT into 512-515 range.

Does that sound reasonable ? @Goro

Sounds good.

 

[golgi body]

Nope, got the same GPA for both, heh. 😛

Lol. but you get a graduate gpa to show adcoms, correct? Like a masters

 

[BurntFlower]

Lol. but you get a graduate gpa to show adcoms, correct? Like a masters

Yes, graduate and undergraduate GPAs are separate.

 

[golgi body]

Yes, graduate and undergraduate GPAs are separate.

 

[gyngyn]

Grades from Master's programs are not included in the evaluation of undergrad gpa (for MD).
SMP's are viewed differently.

 

[Peach Newport]

Grades from Master's programs are not included in the evaluation of undergrad gpa (for MD).
SMP's are viewed differently.

Can you explain what you mean by “SMP?” I had a lot of friends in my MBS classes with lethal (<2.5) UG GPAs who killed their 30 credit MBS and got into USMD programs.

 

[gyngyn]

Can you explain what you mean by “SMP?” I had a lot of friends in my MBS classes with lethal (<2.5) UG GPAs who killed their 30 credit MBS and got into USMD programs.

Special Master's Programs may have formal or informal linkages to particular medical schools.
This is in contrast to most Master's programs (whose grading is not viewed to be comparable to undergrad grades).

 

[golgi body]

Grades from Master's programs are not included in the evaluation of undergrad gpa (for MD).
SMP's are viewed differently.

Such a program will give adcoms some insight into academic capability though, correct?
For example, with my 3.5, a high junior/senior year gpa coupled with good grad program gpa would be a better path to take than doing an SMP,correct?

 

[gyngyn]

Such a program will give adcoms some insight into academic capability though, correct?
For example, with my 3.5, a high junior/senior year gpa coupled with good grad program gpa would be a better path to take than doing an SMP,correct?

Graduate grades are viewed to be inflated.
SMP's are viewed differently.
Weak grades in either are worse than no grades, though.

 

[golgi body]

Its not a SMP, its not a post bacc, its not in a real classroom, ...... I agree with @Goro, you can do much, much better

What's your recommendation for improving that 3.5 during a gap year? Most of my bad grades come from freshman/early soph chem classes. I am minoring in chem now and doing well in my upper division chem classes so I'm not sure what other classes to take To overcome the gpa.

 

[golgi body]

Lets see your AMCAS GPA Grid so we can trends. You are fixated on a single GPA Number

Could I PM you my grid instead of posting here?

 

[golgi body]

No lets see it here. If you screwed up freshman year and you did very well jr/sr year, you may not need any other coursework. So drop your fear and post it

I haven't finished senior year yet but i'm doing very well in my classes and I project finishing with a 3.8, maybe even higher. If I average a 3.8 next semester too, that brings me to a 3.5 cumulative.

 

[golgi body]

I haven't finished senior year yet but i'm doing very well in my classes and I project finishing with a 3.8, maybe even higher. If I average a 3.8 next semester too, that brings me to a 3.5 cumulative.

And all my classes right now are science so sGPA will go up to.

 

[milanocookie18]

Has anyone taken Principles of medical physiology 6400 c?

 

[milanocookie18]

I got a graduate Medical Physiology degree. I definitely think it bolstered my app.

Have you taken Principles of medical physiology 6400 c?

 

[milanocookie18]

I got a graduate Medical Physiology degree. I definitely think it bolstered my app.

Did you take Principles of medical physiology 6400 c?

 

[jobodahobo]

Has anyone taken Principles of medical physiology 6400 c?

I have, do you have any questions about it? I'm currently in the Certificate Program with a focus on Renal and Cardiovascular Physiology.

 

[djlozano]

Can you explain what you mean by “SMP?” I had a lot of friends in my MBS classes with lethal (<2.5) UG GPAs who killed their 30 credit MBS and got into USMD programs.

I know this is 3 years later, but what program MBS did you attend? Feel free to PM

 

[YoungDrummer]

I got a graduate Medical Physiology degree. I definitely think it bolstered my app.

Did having the knowledge from this program help you in med school? I am just curious.

 

[pizza1234!]

I have, do you have any questions about it? I'm currently in the Certificate Program with a focus on Renal and Cardiovascular Physiology.

Hi, do you have any recommendations for professors or courses? I am enrolling in 9 credits but will be working full-time and want to make sure I still do well in my courses. Thanks!