Should I Get a Master's Degree First?

[newooub]

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I'm thinking to apply to MD/Phd program, but I think I will only be able to get a few months of research experience if I apply during or right after my undergraduate, so I have some questions below:

1. I'm wondering if getting master's degree first & doing some research at the same time would be better for me or is it better to just try to apply with limited research?
2. If I take a master program, is it usually possible to transfer my graduate level credits to MD/Phd program? Is it possible to finish the Phd part earlier if I get master's degree first?

 

[OncDoc19]

I'm thinking to apply to MD/Phd program, but I think I will only be able to get a few months of research experience if I apply during or right after my undergraduate, so I have some questions below:

1. I'm wondering if getting master's degree first & doing some research at the same time would be better for me or is it better to just try to apply with limited research?
2. If I take a master program, is it usually possible to transfer my graduate level credits to MD/Phd program? Is it possible to finish the Phd part earlier if I get master's degree first?

I'm not sure that master's degrees are generally helpful in the sciences. Certainly unless you stay at the same school and in the same lab you will have to start over on your research. Try a post-bac research program. I know they have then at NIH. You could also work as a lab tech or manager to get experience.

 

[newooub]

I'm not sure that master's degrees are generally helpful in the sciences.

I was hoping that if I could transfer some of the Master's credits to the Phd part of MD/Phd, I could finish the entire program within the same period as someone who apply right after he finishes undergrad. So, I need to figure out if I could do that.

 

[seraph524]

As student who is getting a Masters heres my two cents...

First of all, if you think your research experience is lacking, then I would highly suggest the Masters before applying to MD/PhD. The graduate program will show schools that you have the maturity and experience to tackle graduate level research and classes, and would make you a strong applicant.

That being said, I would agree with what OncDoc said...don't count on shortening your PhD with your masters classes... I've tried this at the schools I've interviewed at, and the response was basically "No." My classes for my Masters is the same as the PhD students, and I still couldn't get any transfers...

 

[newooub]

...my situation is not as good as I had hoped...

What's the advantage of a combined program, instead of getting separate Phd then MD, if you already get a Master's & can't transfer your credit? Also, is it hard or even possible for graduate students get into to Md/phd program in his school (I heard it's possible for MD student to apply for Md/Phd)? Is internal MSTP admission usually harder or easier?

 

[Rocky22]

I think the benefit of getting a masters first differs by field. What is your area of interest? I was able to transfer some of my credits towards my PhD. A masters might be more helpful if your undergrad GPA is less than ideal. I would recommend spending a year (or two) doing research. This way you would improve your research skills, which may help you finish your PhD in a timely manner.

 

[gbwillner]

I'm thinking to apply to MD/Phd program, but I think I will only be able to get a few months of research experience if I apply during or right after my undergraduate, so I have some questions below:

1. I'm wondering if getting master's degree first & doing some research at the same time would be better for me or is it better to just try to apply with limited research?
2. If I take a master program, is it usually possible to transfer my graduate level credits to MD/Phd program? Is it possible to finish the Phd part earlier if I get master's degree first?

IMHO, your best bet is to try to apply ASAP and have concurrent research going on... That means find a lab now while an undergrad. If you don't land a spot, THEN try to find other means of getting in, provided you really know what you're getting yourself into. Part of the reason MSTPs are likely to look down on you for NOT having a lot of research experience is that you are likely to NOT like it, and drop out of the program. If you are only at the stage of THINkiNG about applying, now is a great time to start on that path. No one is expecting you to have any publications or major presentations at this point- just that you know what you are doing.

In this sense getting a masters degree is a waste of time for most. Yeah, I get it that you might as well get a degree if you are doing research just for experience... but why take classes for a year or two if you're just going to repeat them? I think some places may give you credit for SOME classes but not all, and you'll still have to do all the required rotations and PhD eligibility exams. I thnk it would be better to go to the NIH for a year than to do a master's, and show a real commitment to research.

As you may have seen over and over on this form, masters will also do nothing to overcome poor undergrad grades or MCAT scores.

 

[newooub]

I think the benefit of getting a masters first differs by field. What is your area of interest?

Right now, I'm leaning toward Biomed engineering & in my school, getting into biomed program without prior engineering classes isn't really a problem.

If you are only at the stage of THINkiNG about applying, now is a great time to start on that path.

I originally plan to apply to MD only, so for extracurricular, I only did things like volunteering, etc, but I didn't do any serious research. I'm just started thinking for MD/Phd, but it's a bit late, coz I previously had a different plan.

 

[magwi11]

I originally plan to apply to MD only, so for extracurricular, I only did things like volunteering, etc, but I didn't do any serious research. I'm just started thinking for MD/Phd, but it's a bit late, coz I previously had a different plan.

My story is pretty similar, and IMHO your best bet is probably full time research, either as a tech or through a fellowship like those available at NIH (I've been here for two years as an IRTA.) If you were planning on straight med school, I'm assuming that your GPA is solid, and working 40 (or 60) hours a week in a lab will give you the chance to make sure that you actually LIKE research (and I have several friends who realized the opposite), and give you something to talk about in MD/PhD interviews (and, depending on your adviser, presentations and publications). Plus, if you come to NIH, UMD (which is pretty close by) has an evening post-bacc premed program that could help you boost a less than solid GPA, as the case may be.

 

[zelbest]

magwi11 is right on. I have recently spoken with a director of MSTP program and what he basically said is that masters can be considered as a mean to boost GPA but as far as boosting research, lab tech is probably the best way because it allows you to put significant time into research( as opposed to classes you have to take for masters) and be able to accomplish some parts in a project.

 

[Epibackpacker]

As someone getting their master's degree and then trying to go the MD/PhD route Ill throw in my two cents. I would say it really depends on the field that you are interested in. Im getting my Master's in epidemiology and virtually all the schools Ive spoken with have said that I can transfer at least some if not most of my credit. Also in epidemiology and certain other public health fields it is easier to get a jump into research based on the coursework than just simply working for someone since there is not the same kind of entry level positions as there can be in bench science.

 

[seraph524]

magwi11 is right on. I have recently spoken with a director of MSTP program and what he basically said is that masters can be considered as a mean to boost GPA but as far as boosting research, lab tech is probably the best way because it allows you to put significant time into research( as opposed to classes you have to take for masters) and be able to accomplish some parts in a project.

I think that is probably due to the fact that an overwhelming majority of masters programs are class based, not research based. I never knew that is how these programs view a masters degree...that sucks.

 

[QofQuimica]

As someone getting their master's degree and then trying to go the MD/PhD route Ill throw in my two cents. I would say it really depends on the field that you are interested in. Im getting my Master's in epidemiology and virtually all the schools Ive spoken with have said that I can transfer at least some if not most of my credit. Also in epidemiology and certain other public health fields it is easier to get a jump into research based on the coursework than just simply working for someone since there is not the same kind of entry level positions as there can be in bench science.

I was also able to transfer in my MS classes when I began my PhD (both in organic chemistry). They did make me take a couple of additional courses that I had not taken at my first grad school, but I didn't repeat anything I had already taken. However, I was in a straight PhD program, not an MD/PhD program, and I don't know whether MD/PhD programs would be the same. Thankfully, my second grad school's chem department definitely had the philosophy that the less time you "wasted" in class in lieu of being in the lab, the better.

OP, I agree with the others who have said that you should get some significant research experience before deciding that you want to do a PhD. I don't think it matters if you get the MS or not. Another option you might consider (although it will probably be more expensive) is to go ahead and apply MD-only, then apply for a PhD after you matriculate into medical school. Many schools offer this option for their medical students who want to add on a PhD.

to you. 🙂

 

[newooub]

As student who is getting a Masters heres my two cents...

That being said, I would agree with what OncDoc said...don't count on shortening your PhD with your masters classes... I've tried this at the schools I've interviewed at, and the response was basically "No." My classes for my Masters is the same as the PhD students, and I still couldn't get any transfers...

As someone getting their master's degree and then trying to go the MD/PhD route Ill throw in my two cents. I would say it really depends on the field that you are interested in. Im getting my Master's in epidemiology and virtually all the schools Ive spoken with have said that I can transfer at least some if not most of my credit.

How come you guys get really different experience?

 

[seraph524]

How come you guys get really different experience?

I think it depends on which schools you ask... For me, schools like WashU and Yale were like "nice try, but you are going to have to re-take those classes."