I will be applying this June to matriculate next september. I am also starting a Masters degree this Fall. It will be hard work to finish my masters degree in one year, but it is possible. Should I refrain from telling medical schools that I am pursuing a masters, in case I do not finish in time? Will medical schools revoke my acceptance if I don't complete the Masters on time, or offer me deferred admission? Will pursuing the masters be a big plus on my application, big enough to take this risk?
Should I tell medical schools that I am doing a Masters degree?
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What type of Master's program are we talking about? MPH? MS? MA?
The short answer is that yes, at some point you will have to disclose that you are applying from a Master's program. This will cause some schools to toss your application in the trash. If you do not finish on time it may cause problems at other schools. The benefit to obtaining a 1-year degree is marginal, at best. Utterly not worth the risk, IMHO.
The short answer is that yes, at some point you will have to disclose that you are applying from a Master's program. This will cause some schools to toss your application in the trash. If you do not finish on time it may cause problems at other schools. The benefit to obtaining a 1-year degree is marginal, at best. Utterly not worth the risk, IMHO.
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I got an MPH before medical school (I am starting this fall). It is only worth it if you truly are interested in the degree, I am interested in doing clinical research later so the program was a good fit for me. I think that it did help my application and got me into some great schools but only because it made sense with my story. That being said I wouldn't say it was a HUGE plus, more it was something interesting about me that I could talk about in interviews. In addition, do not underestimate the amount of work that the application cycle takes from writing essays to interviewing. Granted I also work full time and have little kids, but going to school full time while applying was rough.
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can somebody back this up???? I assume the Masters would only help me. It's an MSc and it makes a lot of sense with my story.
If you do not think you will finish in time then do not do the masters. Is it a one year program? They won't throw out your app because of the masters, but they might if it is obvious that you wont be able to finish before the med school starts. Most schools require you to complete the degree programs you've started before matriculating to med school.
I don't think the masters will help you though- so don't do it for that reason. Only do it if it is necessary for your future career. Doing full-time research and trying to work towards a publication would have the same effect
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I have to concur. The benefits of an additional degree are fairly small, so your time would be better spent if you worked full-time. The money would be useful to have.
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For all of the reasons mentioned above, definitely not worth the added stress for a minuscule (if that) positive bump to your app.
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As @gonnif stated, if you take classes, you are ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED to disclose this. An omission of this will be a red flag on the app. Adcoms have ways of seeing these things. I myself was in the middle of a part-time masters program and have no intention of finishing it. I was only doing it to occupy time and because my company was reimbursing for it. Aside from that, it would have taken a long time to complete part time, I didn't see any of the material as pertinent to my job and saw no reason to postpone med school to finish it. My schools did not care. Just make that clear during an interview or any secondary questions that may come up but find a more tactful way of addressing it than I just did.
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