MPH or MS?

[jkjafk]

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I'm trying to decide whether to do an MPH in bioinformatics or an MS in anatomy while I apply MD this cycle. I would like to have something to show improvement in case I have to (likely will) reapply.
My stats are:
bcpmGPA: ~3.4
cGPA: ~3.5
MCAT: 12V/11PS/9BS
research: ~4 yrs w/ conference abstracts and thesis
ECs: 1 yr hospital volunteer, <1 yr Red Cross volunteer
USNWR "top 20" public university

My ECs are obviously unimpressive and perhaps an MPH would make me more "well-rounded", but my gpas are low (chem major) and feel like an MS in anatomy (including courses in physio, histology, neuroanatomy, etc.) would help prove that I can handle the med school curriculum.

I've already taken an extra year to do a bio major. Note I have several Cs and even an F in upper level chem courses but have done pretty well in med school pre-reqs.

Meanwhile, I'm still waiting on replies from SMPs.

Thank you for your kind input

 

[itsthat1guy]

I would do a post-bacc to bring up your undergrad GPA, master's grades aren't weighed as heavily.

 

[LizzyM]

Absolutely agree with @itsthat1guy -- undergrad classes to raise your GPA would be more valuable. However, if in an unfortunate turn of events, you never get admitted to med school, the MPH is more marketable than the degree in anatomy (who's hiring anatomists these days?)

 

[darklabel]

1 year of undergrad upper level science classes would be best.

If for whatever reason you cannot or do not want to do a year of ugrad classes, then an SMP would be better than either an MS or an MPH. The marketability for an SMP is rather low, but excelling in an SMP would increase your chances of success, but if things go badly, you would be screwed.

 

[jkjafk]

Absolutely agree with @itsthat1guy -- undergrad classes to raise your GPA would be more valuable. However, if in an unfortunate turn of events, you never get admitted to med school, the MPH is more marketable than the degree in anatomy (who's hiring anatomists these days?)

Would post-bacc still be preferable considering my gpa is not going to improve much even with straight A's, as I have a lot of credits from 5 years of undergrad?

 

[LizzyM]

Would post-bacc still be preferable considering my gpa is not going to improve much even with straight A's, as I have a lot of credits from 5 years of undergrad?

Well, you hadn't told us that you'd already done 5 years of undergrad. That being the case, there isn't much point in more post-bac classes, except to show that you can perform well in upper level science courses even if it doesn't move your gpa very much.

A SMP is a last ditch effort to get into medical school and a total waste of money if it doesn't work out. Ditto a degree in anatomy. An MPH or an MS in biostats has some market value if med school doesn't work out and some benefits in terms of med practice if you do get into med school thanks to (or despite of) the masters degree.

 

[jkjafk]

I'm still waiting to hear back from the smps I've applied to, so I'm thinking of plan B. What do you think I should do while applying to MD schools for 2015?

Here are my options (any other ideas welcome):
1. apply again to smps in the coming year
2. get a job in my field (chem) to save $ for future smps
3. get some sort of clinical job (any suggestions?)
4. get into debt doing master's in anatomy and hope it works out

My info. again:
female, 5 yr BS in chem and bio
~3.55 cgpa, ~3.45 sgpa
32 MCAT (12V/9BS/11PS)
90 hrs hospital volunteering, 30 hrs Red Cross volunteering, 20 hrs shadowing
>4 yrs research experience in 2 labs w/ thesis and conference posters

 

[LizzyM]

I would go with 2 or 3. Unless you are from California, you have a decent shot of being admitted to start med school in 2015, particularly if you did well in your last year or two of science courses (upward trend).

 

[fahimaz7]

I'm trying to decide whether to do an MPH in bioinformatics or an MS in anatomy while I apply MD this cycle. I would like to have something to show improvement in case I have to (likely will) reapply.
My stats are:
bcpmGPA: ~3.4
cGPA: ~3.5
MCAT: 12V/11PS/9BS
research: ~4 yrs w/ conference abstracts and thesis
ECs: 1 yr hospital volunteer, <1 yr Red Cross volunteer
USNWR "top 20" public university

My ECs are obviously unimpressive and perhaps an MPH would make me more "well-rounded", but my gpas are low (chem major) and feel like an MS in anatomy (including courses in physio, histology, neuroanatomy, etc.) would help prove that I can handle the med school curriculum.

I've already taken an extra year to do a bio major. Note I have several Cs and even an F in upper level chem courses but have done pretty well in med school pre-reqs.

Meanwhile, I'm still waiting on replies from SMPs.

Thank you for your kind input

I would do an advanced degree in anatomy or something to that extent. With that said, realize that if you start school in August you won't have grades available for the Fall until at least January, meaning you only have a few credits to help your cause. I did a MS, but it was a traditional one, meaning that it took most at least two years to finish the program.

Good luck! Not an easy spot to be in for sure.