MS/PhD neuroscience

[neuro1617]

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Does anyone know anything about getting an MS then PhD in neuroscience? How long does it take and how competitive are the programs compared to medical school admissions? I'm assuming they would expect you to have research beyond what one would normally have for med school applications? With everyone saying you should have a plan B, I'm thinking about doing a MS program then reapplying (if that's possible time-wise) & if not I'll just go on to get my PhD in neuroscience.

 

[armybound]

an MS usually takes 2-3 years, depending on how quickly you get your research done. I don't know if it's common everywhere, but my school does not offer a terminal MS in Neuroscience, you have to get a PhD.

 

[URHere]

I am currently in a MS program in Neuroscience. In my experience, MS and PhD programs are easier to get into than MD programs with MS programs being easiest, that is if a school offers them. This is most likely because most people apply to a certain department, and there is often not a set limit to the number of PhD spaces - I know that some universities in fact do not end up with as many matriculating PhD students if you would like. That being said, if you have really lousy stats or interview terribly, it will still probably be difficult to get into graduate school.

I think that if you ultimately want a PhD in neuroscience, there is no reason to do a separate MS program first. The PhD program will actually award you a MS after qualifying exams in most cases. Doing the MS first will just mean wasting a couple of years of your money if you later pursue a PhD at the same school and, if you switch schools, you will just take longer than necessary to get your PhD and have to repeat many courses you have already taken some version of.

So, if you have some awesome reason for doing a MS program go for it. Some schools will let you do an accelerated version (1 year) especially if you start it as an undergraduate. If you don't have a specific reason for wanting the separate MS, I'd say to skip it.

 

[URHere]

OK...damn habit of not reading posts through to the end.

If this is a backup for med school, and you are sure that research experience if what you lack, it might be smarter to work as a lab tech (so you can make money instead of spending it) and then reapply. This would also make it easier to interview because you wouldn't be missing classes.

I would definitely not do a PhD if you are sure you want to be an MD. Way too many years are needed to finish and, if your heart isn't in it - you will probably be downright miserable.

 

[Maxprime]

First off, if you want to get into med school then do an SMP. There is no better plan B.

Second, some schools have a terminal MS in neuroscience - but it's tough to find one that will allow you to do it in one year. Mine is 2 years and I've had to cram everything into one, it's discouraged and a lot of PI's won't work with you because you're no use to them.

 

[neuro1617]

First off, if you want to get into med school then do an SMP. There is no better plan B.

Second, some schools have a terminal MS in neuroscience - but it's tough to find one that will allow you to do it in one year. Mine is 2 years and I've had to cram everything into one, it's discouraged and a lot of PI's won't work with you because you're no use to them.

Isn't a SMP just if your GPA is subpar? Right now I have a 3.89 as a junior, so it would probably be another part of my app I'd have to improve upon. I wasn't sure if you could do it in just 1 year but I'm really interested in neuroscience so I thought maybe getting my MS would be a good idea.

 

[neuro1617]

OK...damn habit of not reading posts through to the end.

If this is a backup for med school, and you are sure that research experience if what you lack, it might be smarter to work as a lab tech (so you can make money instead of spending it) and then reapply. This would also make it easier to interview because you wouldn't be missing classes.

I would definitely not do a PhD if you are sure you want to be an MD. Way too many years are needed to finish and, if your heart isn't in it - you will probably be downright miserable.

Good point about the lab tech if I'm lacking in research when I apply next yr. I am sure I want to be an MD & if I got into med school, I probably wouldn't pursue a PhD. So you wouldn't recommend PhD as a second option if not med school? I might go with PA or something then....I know I'd only want to do something in the healthcare field or medical science-related.

 

[engineers]

getting into a really good phd program is slightly less difficult than getting into medical school - most schools don't care about test scores as much, but they do care about your ability to do independent research. most people applying to the phd program i am in currently have done tech work post-college. you really need to work hard during both the school year and summer to show you have the research background you need to get a phd. it's good to have at least 1 publication in process when you apply.

if you are certain that you want to see patients then go to medical school. getting a phd in neuroscience will likely require you to be in the lab 50-60 hours a week for anywhere between 5-7 years. the classes are very different and require a different skill set than the ones you take as a medical student. there are plenty of mds that do research - you don't need a phd to do it. however, as a phd it is easier to get your irb proposal passed/work done if you are interested in human subjects if you have an md or collaborate with one.

research can be incredible and inspiring, but if what motivates you is a desire to interact with patients and isn't pure intellectual curiosity, go for the md.

 

[Maxwell Edison]

Caveat on the Neuro PhD: at my university, they have a reputation for being *extremely* long degrees. We're talking +8 years in some cases.

Just so you know.

 

[jr doctor in sd]

First off, if you want to get into med school then do an SMP. There is no better plan B.

Second, some schools have a terminal MS in neuroscience - but it's tough to find one that will allow you to do it in one year. Mine is 2 years and I've had to cram everything into one, it's discouraged and a lot of PI's won't work with you because you're no use to them.

Sorry to ask an unrelated Q OP, but SMP is a one-year master's program? or can someone please clarify I read about it all the time!

Thanks!!!

And goodluck, I'm a neuroscience major myself 👍

 

[neuro1617]

Sorry to ask an unrelated Q OP, but SMP is a one-year master's program? or can someone please clarify I read about it all the time!

Thanks!!!

And goodluck, I'm a neuroscience major myself 👍

I'm not sure myself. Someone above said do a SMP, but I thought that was just for low GPA's? As I said above, right now I have a ~3.9 so I think it would be a different part of my app I'd have to fix should I not be accepted. Or does anyone do SMP just to get another degree? Maybe someone can clarify? Thanks🙂

 

[kami333]

A SMP is generally not a plan B, it's like plan E, or M. It's basically the last ditch effort to get in for those with low GPAs, after all else fails (post bacc, taking a year or two to work/volunteer, etc) and you don't want to go a Caribean school, then you do a SMP. A good grade in a SMP is still not a guarantee of getting in (although a good percentage of people do get in, either to a linked school or somewhere else) BUT a less than stellar grade (a 3.0?) in a SMP will generally make you unacceptable to all US allo/osteo schools and even the better Carib schools. You basically take the 1st year classes with all the medical students, get the certificate, and apply after that (or while you are doing the SMP).