Need Advice: what type of masters/grad school should I consider?

[ace45]

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Hi Everyone,

SO I need some advice about medical school.

Here's my background: I graduated last year with a bachelors in biomedical engineering with a 3.69 GPA and it wasn't until junior year of undergrad that i decided I wanted to get into medical school. So I don't have a lot of extracurricular activities, but I have completed all the prerequisite courses for medical school. I do have some medical volunteering experience and biomedical research experience from undergrad, but I know it's not enough. I initially planned to take a gap year to gain research experience, volunteering hours, and shadowing opportunities, but this year hasn't gone as planned. I did some training in clinical research and got GCP certified but It's March and I haven't been able to get a decent research related job both in clinical and biomedical research and honestly at this point, I think my best bet is to go back to school. I also haven’t taken the MCAT yet. I

I was considering doing a masters in medical sciences but I was wondering if it was worth it and if there's any use for it besides medical school? I also thought of biomedical sciences but I think the application for most programs are closed right now. Honestly I'm looking for a degree that would be useful in landing a job just in case of anything. I want something that could help me prepare for medical school but also has some relevance in the corporate world.

What do you guys suggest I do? Is a master’s in medical science worth it, or is there another degree or option I should consider?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Unless your are missing intermediate biomedical science classes, you don't need a special masters program.

Read

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[chilly_md]

Hi Everyone,

SO I need some advice about medical school.

Here's my background: I graduated last year with a bachelors in biomedical engineering with a 3.69 GPA and it wasn't until junior year of undergrad that i decided I wanted to get into medical school. So I don't have a lot of extracurricular activities, but I have completed all the prerequisite courses for medical school. I do have some medical volunteering experience and biomedical research experience from undergrad, but I know it's not enough. I initially planned to take a gap year to gain research experience, volunteering hours, and shadowing opportunities, but this year hasn't gone as planned. I did some training in clinical research and got GCP certified but It's March and I haven't been able to get a decent research related job both in clinical and biomedical research and honestly at this point, I think my best bet is to go back to school. I also haven’t taken the MCAT yet.

I see no reason for why you should go back to school. If you did BME, that qualifies you enough for a job if you wanted an alternative career or something to make money now.

 

[AJS59]

Don't waste more money. Plenty of ways to grow extracurricular experience without paying (and in many areas, they'll pay you).

 

[Med Ed]

Research is a common premed activity, but you don't actually need any to get into medical school.

What you will *absolutely* need is non-clinical volunteering and a sufficient amount of clinical exposure to justify you choice.

If you want to do research then go for it, just don't fixate on the optional at the expense of the mandatory.

 

[ace45]

I see no reason for why you should go back to school. If you did BME, that qualifies you enough for a job if you wanted an alternative career or something to make money now.

I don't think so. I have everything except maybe psychology but I don't think thats going to be a big issue.

 

[ace45]

Don't waste more money. Plenty of ways to grow extracurricular experience without paying (and in many areas, they'll pay you).

I didn't know that. what opportunities should I look at?

 

[ace45]

Research is a common premed activity, but you don't actually need any to get into medical school.

What you will *absolutely* need is non-clinical volunteering and a sufficient amount of clinical exposure to justify you choice.

If you want to do research then go for it, just don't fixate on the optional at the expense of the mandatory.

Thank you. The thing is i'm also an international student and I don't want to lose my status in the states, so I've been considering going back to grad school to maintain that but I'm not sure what to study. Some of the people I know suggested an MPH or an MHA but I'm not sure how thats going to help in this situation.

 

[Med Ed]

Thank you. The thing is i'm also an international student and I don't want to lose my status in the states, so I've been considering going back to grad school to maintain that but I'm not sure what to study. Some of the people I know suggested an MPH or an MHA but I'm not sure how thats going to help in this situation.

Way to bury the lede.

The odds of getting into a US medical school as an international student are quite low. Funding becomes a major issue, as well. Your primary concern should be obtaining a Green Card.

 

[AJS59]

Thank you. The thing is i'm also an international student and I don't want to lose my status in the states, so I've been considering going back to grad school to maintain that but I'm not sure what to study. Some of the people I know suggested an MPH or an MHA but I'm not sure how thats going to help in this situation.

Yeah this complicates things, quite a bit.

In that case, pick a program you'd be happy doing if med school ultimately doesn't work out.