Ms or PhD before MD?

[SamanthaKJ]

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Hello!
I am currently an undergraduate student preparing for graduation, with intentions to pursue a graduate degree prior to applying to medical school. I love learning, and want to continue doing so partly out of enjoyment and partly out of desire to feel prepared for medical school. I would love some advice on choosing a path between a double masters or a PhD, and if anyone has any experience with this path prior to applications for medical school please share!

 

[PickaGodnPray]

PhD requires 5+ years typically and there are already more accessible routes to do both degrees through an MD/PhD. If you can stand delaying your medical school 5-7 years it does provide a stipend unlike a masters and gives you an x factor for research heavy schools. Masters is typically a more common approach and is what I would recommend outside of extenuating circumstances.

 

[eigen]

I would not do either an MS or PhD before an MD just because you "love learning". If you specifically want to be in a career that requires both an MD and a PhD, then I would do a combined program.

That said, if you're not sure if you want to do research or practice... I was torn at the end of undergrad and was ready to apply to MD, PhD and MD/PhD programs. And the advice I got was "whatever you do, don't apply to medical school unless you're 100% sure". And I thought I might also be happy in a research and teaching position.

So I applied PhD, with the thought that it would be a lot more doable to leave the PhD program and apply to an MD if it wasn't what I wanted rather than the other way around. Turns out I loved research and teaching, and while I do miss the idea of clinical practice the combination of interpersonal interactions, hands on work, and conceptual biotech work I do is a great fit for me and I'm happy.

 

[LizzyM]

Keep in mind that masters degrees almost always cost $$$. New legislation will severely limit borrowing for graduate students beginning in September 2026. MD/PhD programs are very competitive as you need to meet the minimum requirements for admission to the MD program as well as having research experience demonstrating your ability to rotate through biomedical labs and choose a lab/mentor for your dissertation work. The upside is that many are fully funded providing tuition and living stipend for all 7 years of training. (Typically 2 years of med school with lab work during the summers, then dissertation work for 3 years, then clinical rotations for 2 years). This is a route for those who want to be physician-scientists doing patient care and running a research enterprise (chasing grants, running a lab, mentoring trainees, presenting research findings in writing and in presentations).

Some MS programs are better done after medical school including MS in Clinical Investigation (learn to do clinical research) or bioethics (philosophic underpinnings of ethical medical care). Master of Public Health degrees can be before, during or after med school and there are pluses and minuses to each approach.

Unless you are independently wealthy, I'd watch your spending on education as the new caps on borrowing are going to be very limiting for some students.

 

[mistafab]

If you are planning to potentially not go into medicine and instead pursue a research career -> then I would recommend you go PHD (funded). That way, you are paid to learn, and you can just start your career if you decide you don't want to go the medicine route.

If you are fully bought into physician/scientist route, I would pursue MD/PHD if you are competitive enough for the MSTP programs. It may take a few years to solidly prepare your application (bar is high), but it is doable for people set on this. Pursue a research fellowship after your bachelors degree if you need to get paid and shore up your application.

I wouldn't pursue a Masters program just to learn stuff. If you are planning to get a masters in addition to work on your application to med school, go for it, but only if you are really interested in that work and want to incorporate it into your career. A masters degree itself however is not a requirement for med school so you really don't need to do this unless you just want to burn money. Most MD's with masters that help them are MPH or MBA route, and some schools have opportunity for dual-degree enrollment. Not that you can't do other degrees, it is just those two fit easily into a medicine career for most.

Good luck.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Unless you're specifically doing an MD/PhD (or MD/MS, which is also a thing) program, they are completely different paths. A PhD is in itself a terminal degree, and so if you get a PhD and then turn around and apply MD they're going to ask about your commitment and whether you really know what you want out of life.

You can learn a lot outside of formal educational settings--in fact, I strongly advise students who aren't itching to get started with medical training to spend a year or two with a "real job" like a CRC, PCT, lab tech to learn what it means to have real responsibilities as part of a team.

 

[LizzyM]

Unless you're specifically doing an MD/PhD (or MD/MS, which is also a thing) program, they are completely different paths. A PhD is in itself a terminal degree, and so if you get a PhD and then turn around and apply MD they're going to ask about your commitment and whether you really know what you want out of life.

You can learn a lot outside of formal educational settings--in fact, I strongly advise students who aren't itching to get started with medical training to spend a year or two with a "real job" like a CRC, PCT, lab tech to learn what it means to have real responsibilities as part of a team.

And MD mentors working with M1 and M2 students tell me that they can tell who has had full-time workplace experience after college -- there is just a different level of maturity even if they are almost the same age as the "right out of undergrad" crowd.

 

[2026PreMed]

PhD requires 5+ years typically and there are already more accessible routes to do both degrees through an MD/PhD. If you can stand delaying your medical school 5-7 years it does provide a stipend unlike a masters and gives you an x factor for research heavy schools. Masters is typically a more common approach and is what I would recommend outside of extenuating circumstances.

Can you do a masters in anything or does it have to be science related ?

ALso does it have to be a SMP or can it be a general MS degree that you are interested in getting for career development goals

 

[eigen]

Can you do a masters in anything or does it have to be science related ?

ALso does it have to be a SMP or can it be a general MS degree that you are interested in getting for career development goals

Why are you doing the masters? That would help determine what field it needs to be in.

 

[2026PreMed]

Why are you doing the masters? That would help determine what field it needs to be in.

A central reason would be to improve GPA to increase chances of a medical school acceptance along with the fact that possessing a masters degree can help make you a more valuable individual from the perspective of the job marketplace.

 

[eigen]

Well, a masters is only going to help with jobs if you choose it for a particular job.

Masters programs aren't usually a good way to improve your GPA, since graduate GPAs and undergraduate GPAs aren't usually comparable. It would also matter a lot what program you took: if you're taking graduate classes, you want them to be comparable to the classes you'd take in medical school to show you're able to do the work. That may or may not be the same program you'd want to get a job outside of medicine.

I would not recommend a masters if the goal is to make yourself a more attractive applicant for medical school. Instead, spend the time working in research or clinical care.

If you really need GPA repair, then look into post-bacc programs or the instructions on DIY postbac programs on these boards.

 

[2026PreMed]

Well, a masters is only going to help with jobs if you choose it for a particular job.

Masters programs aren't usually a good way to improve your GPA, since graduate GPAs and undergraduate GPAs aren't usually comparable. It would also matter a lot what program you took: if you're taking graduate classes, you want them to be comparable to the classes you'd take in medical school to show you're able to do the work. That may or may not be the same program you'd want to get a job outside of medicine.

I would not recommend a masters if the goal is to make yourself a more attractive applicant for medical school. Instead, spend the time working in research or clinical care.

If you really need GPA repair, then look into post-bacc programs or the instructions on DIY postbac programs on these boards.

Understood. I was planning on an MBA since I am an econ major but hearing this information I have now decided against it. I already plan to engage in one year of a DIY PB and a formal quarter by quarter postbacc with my alma mater. Additionally if one has done around 400 hours of research in undergrad would it be wise to continue it elsewhere ? I have an offer for a research internship but I desire moreso to pursue a Phlebotomy certification and begin to work. Thoughts ?

 

[eigen]

Do you want to do research as part of your future career? Do you like research?

The truth is, the answer to the vast majority of questions when it comes to preparing for medical school are "what interests you and what do you feel called to do". If those don't align well with what will get you into medical school, then you should take a hard look at whether it's a good fit for you and why you're trying to go.