Hello everyone! I’m a current senior in undergrad but I’m looking to apply to some MS or SMP programs next. I was looking into MS in kinesiology vs a SMP. Is there one that would increase my chances for acceptance overall? For MS programs I am only looking at ones that are research heavy and allow you to write a master thesis. Additionally my undergraduate gpa is around 3.1, sgpa is around 2.9(but should go up this semester). I am interested in going into PM&R and working in bionics and prosthetics (hence the MS in kines) if that affects you answer in any way (I don’t know if MD or DO is better for my goal)
question about smp vs MS in kinesiology
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Straight As in a traditional masters program in kinesiology is not going to increase your chances at MD schools. DO schools, however, incorporate the masters GPA into their overall application GPAs, and they also consider kinesiology classes to be "science" which MD schools do not. Keep in mind that DO schools are far less likely to find research activity important to their decision-making process.
An SMP, where you compete with current medical students to get high grades, would give you your best chance at MD, provided your GPA is 3.7+.
Thank you! This is good to know. So for MD would a masters do nothing at all to help boost my app or even look negative?
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It would look negative if you had mediocre grades (aka, Bs). Even with straight As, it won't be a positive and won't in any way compensate for your low-for-MD-applicants GPAs. It also would not boost your BCPM GPA, as AMCAS doesn't view kinesiology as a hard science. https://aamc-orange.global.ssl.fast...ab328dc/amcas_course_classification_guide.pdf
Oh ok that makes sense thank you. I thought it would also look good having some good research background but I guess if it doesn’t fix the biggest problem with my apps then it’s not a good idea.
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A funded masters might also lead to teaching opportunities that both MD and DO schools find appealing.
yeah i have really good community service and great ECs, worked with underserved populations, have decent clinical experience and by t he time i graduate undergrad i'll have 1 year of research in a pub health study.
do you mean TA positions?
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Yes. Or teaching exercise classes at the University.
ok thank you!
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You're welcome.
@Catalystik I am in a similar situation as this one, would your advice be the same for someone with a cGPA of 3.5 and sGPA of 3.3 in kinesiology?
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Are these GPAs from undergraduate grades? Why is the sGPA on the low side: from recent grades, from freshman year, etc?
My sGPA includes university and community college and university credit totaling 87 hours.
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It's fine to have an undergrad major in kinesiology, so long as you do well in the prerequisites and have a good BCPM GPA (or sGPA) and take rigorous classes in your major. As your sGPA is below the average for those accepted to MD schools, if that is your goal, you need a string of high upper-level science grades to raise it.
If your low science grades are from freshman year and you've done great since then, you have already established an upward grade trend and need to do less repair work than if the low science grades were in the most recent terms.
Getting a traditional masters degree in kinesiology is not a path I'd recommend in your situation, if you plan to target primarily MD schools, if that is the question you were asking.
Thanks for the help. I plan on taking upper level science classes to raise my sGPA after graduation in May.
