Seeking Masters program insight...

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chasingdaylight

Full Member
15+ Year Member
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Hey all, just looking for a little advice. Been scouring the past posts about different masters programs... going crazy trying to weigh the pro's/ cons.

Here's what i'm looking at:

1) Stanford 1yr Masters in Biology:
Plus side:
stay at home - free rent (also close to GF 🙂)
the course work may be easier than an intense all premed SMP.
Stanford reputation... maybe?

Con-side:
no real support system for premed student.
no med school courses, only grad courses
not necessarily designed to apply to med school while doing the program(although i suppose u can still send updates..)
In previous posts, foughtfyr said adcoms didn't count MS programs not yet completed.

2) Go to Georgetown SMP:
Plus side:
Program is designed for premed students
Take actual Med school courses
Supposedly fairly successful even if you apply the same year you are in the program

CONS:
Have to move to DC, pay attrocious housing costs, leave CA
Program truly sounds VERY hard... must score in top 10-15%
Might be able to do well... but think maybe the stanford masters will be easier to do well in.

THose who have done a masters... do you think just 1 year of graduate level science courses at Stanford will strengthen my app?

aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!! so tough deciding, could use your insights! thanks!

My info:
UC Berkeley, Cell Bio major
3.2 science
3.4 overall
33Q MCAT
3 years Research position at UCSF
Volunteer work in community and local clinics
Outreach work in areas of Taiwan and Mexico

applied 2004: 3 interviews, 3 waitlists: LLU, SUNY BU, Albany
 
wow, i just recieved a call from the adcom from Loma Linda!

yay! i'm in for class of 2005!

heheh i guess i don't have to worry about masters programs anymore!


good luck to everyone!

stretched
 
stretched said:
wow, i just recieved a call from the adcom from Loma Linda!

yay! i'm in for class of 2005!

heheh i guess i don't have to worry about masters programs anymore!


good luck to everyone!

stretched

congrats dude. i was about to write you a long dissertation comparing stanford and georgetown, but good thing I didn't.

that's awesome man! (don't forget to give up your spot at SMP so someone else can get in)