Question: Does a Master of Science degree benefit a medical school applicant?

[kakalakingma]

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Hello (pre-) medical students and physicians. Please, I need your expertise!


A little bit about myself: I want to become a doctor one day and I want to make sure that I do what I can to make myself standout in my application and interview. I’m not the brightest or most confident person in the world. Based on my high school transcript, I definitely struggled in certain subjects (but I can redo and redeem myself in college). One of my main fears is that I won’t be a strong applicant even with my undergraduate study (let’s assume that I excel in all my classes). It’s not far-fetched to say that the competitiveness in getting into a medical school, let alone a job, now is higher than ever. There was a time in history when you can get a job without college; nowadays, a bachelor degree doesn’t necessarily make you standout anymore. Now, it’s all about the “extras” that you do such as graduate study, research, internship, etc. With that being said, I was wondering if getting a science graduate degree would give me a competitive edge when I apply for medical school.


The reason why I specify Master’s degree in the title is because I really don’t want to spend more than 2 years just to get a PhD. Time flies and time is precious. One master’s program that I’m interested in is Public Health. Often time, I see doctors who carry MPH, MD after their names. I think a Masters of Public Health can give me a competitive edge and help me answer questions like, “What makes you stand out from other applicants?” or “What are your strengths?”


I’d appreciate it very much if you guys give me plenty of honest and measured opinions. Please tell me if you have a graduate degree and/or successfully got into medical school.


Thanks!

 

[kmp0410]

Not really. There are integrated programs with MPH, or some might get them...but I wouldn't say it's beneficial to getting into medical school. Some docs get a MBA on their own time...but these things are for their own benefit/something they have an interest in...not having to do with getting into medical school. There are SMPs for people who maybe didn't do quite well enough to get into medical school...and that can work. I did that and got into the same school. But I had great grades in that program.

But bottom line this is not something you should even be thinking about now. If you can't do well enough in the classes, then you won't magically do better in a graduate program. The simple fact of getting a MS will not give you an edge. Figure out how to do well in school and then rock the MCAT. Period. The extras you are talking about is overblown or more about the top programs. And even then it's not that they just went and got some fluff to make themselves look better, it's that they are amazing students and the distinctions followed.

 

[bwc]

If you are doing a master's out of personal interest, that is definitely a plus. If you are trying to rely on a master's to compensate for doing poorly as an undergrad, it will depend

There are special master's programs for those who didn't do as well in undergrad and need to demonstrate competency in science coursework. Those help if you can do well. Other master's programs that are science intensive could possibly benefit a little bit if you do well (but no guarantees). Any other master's programs are mostly for the purpose of personal interest only.

Doing a master's won't hurt your application provided that you do well. However, there is no guarantee that it will score you bonus points.

 

[deleted480308]

no one is impressed with a masters....they are all doctors. Just get good grades/mcat

 

[DrP1991]

Hi! I'm currently a MS1 at IU.

What's your current year? Are you in undergrad? If you are then the best advice I can give you is to DO WELL... You may have struggled in high school but that becomes irrelevant when you apply for medical school.

But advice on whether or not to pursue a masters... I got a masters of science in medical science degree before I came to medical school but that was only to buy time until I could defeat the mcat... I did well in undergrad but it took me a couple tries to knock the mcat out of the park. My fear was that if i sat out of school to study for the exam i wouldnt go back... But on the topic of an MPH... DON'T DO IT! if you have to enroll in a master's program because you kinda slip up in undergrad, the only way it means something is if it's science related... Trust me. I had a classmate (in graduate school) that had gotten an MPH in hopes that it would set her apart for acceptance... It didnt and ended up being two years of her time wasted.

Now that i'm in medical school i will say my MS degree has helped my performance in medical school tremendously!

Hope this helps

 

[Wolf3D]

I think a Masters of Public Health can give me a competitive edge and help me answer questions like, “What makes you stand out from other applicants?” or “What are your strengths?”

lol no
Only ever further your education if you care for the degree. Doing it for anything else is setting yourself up for disappointment and a lot of unnecessary debt

 

[nsgirl27]

I had a weak undergrad GPA, went on to do a Masters in medical ethics (read: philosophy) out of pure personal interest, and it did help me get into medical school in some ways. While my graduate GPA (3.8) was nice, it did not overcome the undergrad GPA. What did help with that was my 35 on the MCAT which I strategically took after grad school to ensure I had the right preparation. Having a Masters degree has made me stand out in terms of life experience, clinical experience (my program was housed in a medical school and focused on clinical ethics), motivation, and research. I truly believe the extra debt is ONLY worth it if you have a true passion for it. Nobody is impressed with a masters degree if it was pursued solely for the sake of getting into med school.

 

[nsgirl27]

Also - if you're interested in getting an MPH/MBA/MS/etc - most medical schools offer that in a "medical plus" program. So, if I were you, I would crush all the checkmarks you need to get accepted to med school, then apply for that program, and get the degree for free.

 

[DrP1991]

Bottom line is an MPH or most MS will not help make up with a weak GPA or other academic metrics. They can help some with motivation and commitment but also may raise questions on those motivations and commitments that you will have to defend to an adcom. So as been pointed out previously in this thread there is no substantial improvement in chances with MPH/MS to get into medical school and will cost time and money.

A special master's program (SMP) designed as basically an "audition" year for medical school does improve chances

This is absolutely not true. An MPH is worthless but if you get a MS in something science based it definitely improves chances


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