PhD/Masters/Post Bacc?

[Dutchess]

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If for some reason you don't get into medical school (eeek 😱), what would be the best path to pursue, to make yourself a stronger applicant?

A post bacc, a masters degree, or start working toward a PhD?

Also, if you have a PhD or a masters, does that make you more competitive? (does it compensate for either a poor MCAT or a mediocre GPA)

 

[Gut Shot]

Graduate work doesn't really help that much. It's a nice feather in your cap, to be sure, but the payoff is small relative to the time and effort involved.

You would be much, much, much better served by buffering your GPA with a postbac, while studying hard for the MCAT.

 

[NPEMTIV]

If for some reason you don't get into medical school (eeek 😱), what would be the best path to pursue, to make yourself a stronger applicant?

A post bacc, a masters degree, or start working toward a PhD?

Also, if you have a PhD or a masters, does that make you more competitive? (does it compensate for either a poor MCAT or a mediocre GPA)

Post-bacc is more practical as it's designed to help a student improve their application. A masters isn't a bad option, but some require 2 years.

A PhD/Masters does not intrinsically make you more competitive. It all depends on how you tie it into your application and how you present it just like the rest of the application.

 

[rajaholick]

there are plenty of masters programs that offer a curriculum similar to the first year of med school and some of 2nd year
i was in such a program at wayne state, and definitely think it helped solidfy my application