MS before MD, what program should I go for?

[mec123]

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I'm a 20 year old undergraduate senior with a 3.86 GPA and a terrible MCAT score. I didn't get into med school this cycle despite having an incredible resume (paid research assistant at large state school, cadaver dissection, TA in anatomy for 2 semesters, amazing internship in oncology center across the country, over 1 year of research and now doing independent studies, overload of credit hours each semester with no summer breaks (shows I'm extremely dedicated and hard working), bilingual, volunteer activities teaching english to spanish speakers, 80 hours clinical experience and more). Despite my incessant misery over not being accepted to med school, I have decided to do a masters because I really enjoy research and would like to continue it instead of taking a year off of school. What would be the best program for me to go for that would give me plenty of hands on experience? I have an interest in exercise science (I'm a runner, triathlete, love healthy lifestyle, and avid exerciser), would this give me a lot of experience and further understanding of the body or should I go for something else? I also have an interest in neuro and genetics but I dont see how genetics would help me out for med school or wanting to be involved in the medical field. PLEASE HELP!

 

[Goro]

What area is most interesting to you? You should also consider what will be most useful in the event that you never make it into med school?
Some suggestions:
Medical physiology
Biochemistry
Medical microbiology
Biophysics
Molecular genetics
Neuroscience

 

[mec123]

What area is most interesting to you? You should also consider what will be most useful in the event that you never make it into med school?
Some suggestions:
Medical physiology
Biochemistry
Medical microbiology
Biophysics
Molecular genetics
Neuroscience

Medical microbiology sounds interesting, I'm in micro now and love it especially because of the lab work and of course medical physiology and neuroscience. I would love to work with athlete rehabilitation/injury prevention, amputees, just general help with wellness and living the best life you can when I'm a physician. I'm not sure what to do for my masters program, if you have any more suggestions let me know!

 

[Terror Billy]

Not trying to burst your bubble but your ECs aren't that spectacular, a large chunk of applicants who won't get more than a single II have been working every summer as well and have diverse experiences. The number one priority for you should be figuring out what went wrong with your MCAT and improving your score significantly if you scored poorly. Perhaps continue part-time research in a lab while studying for the MCAT.

I don't think wasting more $$$ on a masters makes sense for you since your GPA is fine.

 

[greatplainsmed]

I would love to work with athlete rehabilitation/injury prevention, amputees, just general help with wellness and living the best life you can

Not an MS program, but there are pre-professional Masters programs in Athletic Training. You may have to hit a couple of prerequisite courses depending on what your undergrad major was, but these programs almost universally provide a ton of clinical exposure to athletes as well as general populations (>1500 hours minimum combined) over two years, ample opportunities to work with other health professions, and there are often research opportunities available both clinically and more physiology based opportunities. I have heard that many programs have mixed opinions of athletic trainers applying to medical school, but I have heard a decent number (~15 or so) of cases where individuals were successful. AT seems to align with your interests (working with athletes), keeps you involved in healthcare fields, and may be an area that you would be interested in working in the event that medical school does not work out.

 

[Disciple of Sattar]

I'm a 20 year old undergraduate senior with a 3.86 GPA and a terrible MCAT score. I didn't get into med school this cycle despite having an incredible resume (paid research assistant at large state school, cadaver dissection, TA in anatomy for 2 semesters, amazing internship in oncology center across the country, over 1 year of research and now doing independent studies, overload of credit hours each semester with no summer breaks (shows I'm extremely dedicated and hard working), bilingual, volunteer activities teaching english to spanish speakers, 80 hours clinical experience and more). Despite my incessant misery over not being accepted to med school, I have decided to do a masters because I really enjoy research and would like to continue it instead of taking a year off of school. What would be the best program for me to go for that would give me plenty of hands on experience? I have an interest in exercise science (I'm a runner, triathlete, love healthy lifestyle, and avid exerciser), would this give me a lot of experience and further understanding of the body or should I go for something else? I also have an interest in neuro and genetics but I dont see how genetics would help me out for med school or wanting to be involved in the medical field. PLEASE HELP!

I feel like low involvement in service to those less fortunate than yourself and low clinical exposure would hurt you even with a good MCAT score. Your research and GPA are already more than enough, if I were in your shoes I would spend a year or two getting heavily involved in the aforementioned experiences while studying for the MCAT.

As for the bolded, what? Genetics is intertwined with almost all fields of medicine and is the basis of many diseases.

 

[Lucca]

how terrible is this MCAT? If that's what is holding you back then retake it. Get a clinically oriented job or beef up clinical service while working at another job and study to retake the MCAT.

 

[Dr. Meliodas]

Master's program are expensive and will likely cost around $60,000 (including living expenses). It also would not really help your app since you have a high GPA, and could likely hurt your chances of MD if you do not get straight A. You can learn more than enough by just working in a lab for a year on a topic you are interested in. That way your not out $60,000, you are actually making an income, and learning what you want. If I were you I would start reviewing for the MCAT now in order to take it by May so you can be ready to reapply this coming cycle.

Also have you heard back from every school you applied to? If not you still have a chance.

 

[chemdoctor]

I don't think it makes sense for you to pursue a Masters degree or even a post bacc masters degree. Your GPA is fine, your ECs aren't terrible (aren't spectacular either). If your MCAT is the main problem, then you need to retake it. Or maybe get in some more clinical experience or nonclinical volunteering? Any shadowing? Heck, maybe your personal statements and essays just aren't that great. Try to fix those things. If your end goal is medical school, then a masters degree is a poor choice. If you are genuinely interested in research, then go for it but don't do it with the idea that it will help you get into medical school. To quote an SDNer, "multiple degrees do not get you into medical school"

 

[21Rush12]

Why not retake MCAT and get work experience?

 

[SoppyElk]

More research isn't going to help you get into med school. How bad is your MCAT score? You should focus on re-taking it instead of doing a masters. Also, you should get some more clinical experience, whether that's shadowing or working with patients. You're focusing wayyy too much on research, which isn't super important for admissions anyways.

 

[LizzyM]

Looking at your post history, it is clear that your 490 MCAT is the problem, not your academics. NO amount of academic coursework will make up for a bad (< 500) MCAT. No experience will make up for a poor MCAT. Only a better MCAT can make up for a bad MCAT.

Spend at least a year in clinical and/or community service (paid or volunteer ) and serious MCAT prep using a tried-and-true schedule including plenty of full length practice tests with an entire day to review your performance on the practice test before resuming preparation. Don't take more than one practice test per week. Take the MCAT next Spring and if you do considerablly better (>520) consider reapplying immediately. If you score >509, work an additional year in clinical/service and then apply to mid-tiers. If you score < 510 after considerable preparation, it is likely that despite your good GPA and excellent research skills, you would not be a good candidate for medical school at this time and should regroup and reconsider what is going wrong with test prep (test anxiety, something else).

There are plenty of people who get in with a 500-509 but given your previous performance and the tendency to average MCAT scores, you need to do very well on the second attempt at the MCAT to garner admission.

 

[longhaul3]

Your resume is strong but not "incredible." With a 490 MCAT you should skip the masters and study up.

 

[21Rush12]

I went back and read your post history...Your proposed solution to this is a common error that applicants make. You have a glaring, app-killing defect in your very poor MCAT score, and rather than address the real problem you are attempting to add more to an already good GPA.

The reality is you need to prepare for and succeed at the MCAT before you see any results. Your ability to do so is necessary for success both in gaining acceptance and in completing medical school. Schools need to know that you’re capable of taking an important exam as evidence for your preparation for USMLE exams.

What you’re doing is a lot like someone with a 2.5 GPA applying, getting rejected, and deciding they need more clinical volunteering to get in.


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