Obtaining a Masters before Pod school

[Telekinesis]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Would obtaining a masters help with scholarship consideration with Pod schools? Is it looked upon favorably?

 

[lzu8413]

Would obtaining a masters help with scholarship consideration with Pod schools? Is it looked upon favorably?

I don't think it will do a whole lot. If your classes boost your GPA that would help though. Scholarships are mainly given based off your MCAT and GPA.

 

[Telekinesis]

I don't think it will do a whole lot. If your classes boost your GPA that would help though. Scholarships are mainly given based off your MCAT and GPA.

Yea that's really the main reason why I want to do it. Continue my upward trend for at least a year in a Kinese masters

 

[lzu8413]

Yea. So that could be beneficial. How low is your GPA now? Waiting a year to apply could also mean you wait a year to start earning your doctor salary, which may not be worth a 10k scholarship. Scholarships aren't really guaranteed even with high GPAs. Whats your MCAT?

 

[Telekinesis]

Yea. So that could be beneficial. How low is your GPA now? Waiting a year to apply could also mean you wait a year to start earning your doctor salary, which may not be worth a 10k scholarship. Scholarships aren't really guaranteed even with high GPAs. Whats your MCAT?

I would have to wait a yr anyway for a number of reasons. I can start the masters in the Spring and finish by Summer 2015 if I go to school the entire duration. My GPA is probably a 2.7 with a lower science GPA. I have alot of retakes on my transcript so that's why my GPA is so low.

 

[Telekinesis]

With those GPAs I would recommend doing a 1 year masters program. Get As in all your courses and re-apply. Did you take the MCAT yet? You might want to take the MCAT to try and score >20. Then focus solely on your Masters courses so you can do really well. Studying for Masters courses and studying for the MCAT at the same time, in order to apply for podiatry school, is a really tough thing to do. Especially since your Kinesiology graduate level courses are not really testable material on the MCAT.

Well I haven't finished OChem or Physics yet. I was gonna take the MCAT in January.

 

[MaxillofacialMN]

i agree with everyone else. do a postbac or 1 year masters degree to boost your gpa. getting a "real" masters degree for the sake of a better scholarship is illogical. You'll spend more money getting the masters degree (tuition, living expenses, etc) than the scholarship will offer. Also, someone brought up a year of "lost salary" which is another valid concern.

Another concern: If you start the a 1 year masters program this summer/fall, you can't really apply until you have grades from that program to bring you up. That means you won't really be able to apply until summer 2015. If you are able to finish your program before July 1st, 2015, you MIGHT be able to snag the very end of that cycle, but more likely, you'd have to wait until the 2015-2016 cycle opens, meaning you won't start school until fall 2016.

 

[heybrother]

To add 1 more to the pile - a masters for "scholarship" money? Heck no.

To differentiate yourself... eh. I'm actually in the no column here. I think a "killer" MCAT is the best way to set yourself apart and in the podiatry community that is is just greater than 25. I don't disagree with people at all that some schools will screen you out just based on your GPA number, but that number is really hard to change. All you can do is add "good" semesters on top of it after awhile. Your application file will display these semesters as separate sections so the evidence is there. That said - I thought I would have to explain some less than excellent semesters, but they kept saying "nice MCAT", closing my folder, and asking me what my hobbies were. Its cheaper. Its quicker. Its more predictable with time and practice.

 

[EK18]

A master's just for the sake of getting scholarship money? No, I don't think that's a good idea. Take post-bac courses at a CC and knock out your MCAT simultaneously if you want to get some entering scholarships. A much cheaper plan and reasonable plan I think.

Also, don't forget that many schools also offer continuing scholarships to students that do well their first-year. I know podiatry school is expensive but don't let entering scholarship be the most important thing you consider.

 

[Telekinesis]

I really just want to get into Scholl. Doing everything possible to better myself for 2014 cycle next August.

 

[lzu8413]

I really just want to get into Scholl. Doing everything possible to better myself for 2014 cycle next August.

When will your MCAT be? I agree with what everyone else said in regards to getting a good MCAT score and taking some CC credits to boost the GPA a bit. I think schools for the most part screen away everyone with a cGPA below 2.75. Saying that, if you can get your GPA above that I think you would have a good shot at Scholl with a solid MCAT. Keep in mind retakes are averaged with previous scores. Realistically, I think it will be unlikely to expect any significant scholarships, but you really never know. I've also heard that this past year DMU automatically rejected applicants with below a 3.0 sGPA. (I could be wrong though)

 

[Telekinesis]

When will your MCAT be? I agree with what everyone else said in regards to getting a good MCAT score and taking some CC credits to boost the GPA a bit. I think schools for the most part screen away everyone with a cGPA below 2.75. Saying that, if you can get your GPA above that I think you would have a good shot at Scholl with a solid MCAT. Keep in mind retakes are averaged with previous scores. Realistically, I think it will be unlikely to expect any significant scholarships, but you really never know. I've also heard that this past year DMU automatically rejected applicants with below a 3.0 sGPA. (I could be wrong though)

Jan. after I finish OChem 1. Or I may push it back to April after I completely finish Ochem 2 and Phys 1.

 

[MaxillofacialMN]

Jan. after I finish OChem 1. Or I may push it back to April after I completely finish Ochem 2 and Phys 1.

Uhhh, yeah wait until you finish ochem 2 and physics 1. These are somewhat significant portions to your MCAT, and you gain absolutely NOTHING by taking the MCAT in January instead of in April. When do you finish physics 2? If that happens before October 1st, I would wait until you are at least 1/2 through that course as well... Again, the cycle doesn't open until August first (and they don't send any school anything until September, and there isn't a whole lot of interviewing in September anyways), so you can take your MCAT up until the last sitting in the fall and still be considered "early." Based on your GPA, I would listen to my advice, push the MCAT back as far as possible, and study your tookus off to get a score in the high twenties/low thirties. Actually, the thought of you wanting to take the MCAT in January blows my mind.

 

[rushrhees]

April is not too late to apply, so wait for the MCAT then. In all honesty though with your GPA what it is what it is, but you want to look into what happend that you got those grades and what will be different. POD school is much harder than undergrad, if you were treading water in undergrad you will sink in POD school quickly.

In all honesty though get a 25 or better on the MCAT do well in the interview, one of the nine will take you. Best of luck

 

[Telekinesis]

April is not too late to apply, so wait for the MCAT then. In all honesty though with your GPA what it is what it is, but you want to look into what happend that you got those grades and what will be different. POD school is much harder than undergrad, if you were treading water in undergrad you will sink in POD school quickly.

In all honesty though get a 25 or better on the MCAT do well in the interview, one of the nine will take you. Best of luck

Well the only classes I retook was Gen Chem. I did well in my Bios and such

 

[Chamahk]

wait, so, guys, getting a masters (not for the scholarship) is good? i have 3 more semesters (not counting this one) until graduation. if my grades don't come up high enough I was thinking do a 1 year masters then apply, but i read else where undergrad is taken more seriously that masters, so was wondering how beneficial it would be.

also with a 2.7 can one really get into any masters programs?