So Many Questions!

[Lelis Gomez]

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Hello,

I am a pre-med student getting a major in biology with a minor in psychology. I would like to get a masters in public health and then apply to med school.

How do you apply to med school with a masters?
What do you do about the requirements?
Is it a good idea to get a masters in this field before med school?

Thank you!

 

[mspeedwagon]

How do you apply to med school with a masters?
The same way you apply without a masters... AMCAS (to MD) and AACOMAS (to DO). Those are the centralized application services (a quick google search will bring them up).

What do you do about the requirements?
Take them and the MCAT! (take classes preferably at a 4 yr college, but a community college could work (though I suggest limiting the number of community college classes)).

Is it a good idea to get a masters in this field before med school?
If you are interested, sure. It will have absolutely no bearing on your medical school admission. Of course, if you do poorly, it'll hurt your chances.

 

[LiveNow]

Hi Lelis,

You apply the same way you would with just a bachelor's, although the GPA calculations change. I am no quite sure but I think most schools take your UG GPA and Masters GPA separately.
Have you done your pre-med requirements?
You don't necessarily need to get your master's first, if you need to increase your GPA then I would suggest doing more UG post-bac upper level sciences, but if not you can apply to med school after you're done with pre-reqs.
Hope this helps...

 

[2010houston]

Welcome!

You'll still have to get the pre-med requirements, either before, during, or after your master's program. No matter when you take them, they'll count in with your undergrad GPA. Your master's GPA will be separate and will be much, much less meaningful.

I think getting the MPH degree is a lot more useful for med school admissions if you 1) do some research, preferably publishable, during or after school; and 2) work in the field for a year or two before applying to medical school. I think it gives you a much better public health perspective to have employment in the field in addition to just the degree. And you'll have a lot of stuff to write about on your apps ;-) Just my two cents...

Good luck!

 

[krs881]

If public health is something you are passionate about and part of what makes you want to go into medicine and get an MD, than doing an MPH will certainly "help" in the sense that it will help you gain more prespective on the field you are entering, focus in on what is most interesting to you in health/medicine, and help you express that perspective and focus to medical schools when you apply.

I agree strongly with the previous poster that you are best also working for a year or two in the field after getting an MPH. I've worked in public health research for 6 years now, and have moved up the ladder to project Manager without an MPH (I've been doing post bac, apps etc for the past ~4 years, and am starting med school in the fall). I have been the supervisor of many MPH students and recent grads, even doctoral students, and can attest to the fact that the degree on its own, without work and hands on research experience experience, will only get you so far. It is not a very practical degree. In fact, there are some MPH programs that require work experience in the field PRIOR to starting. This is another route you might consider.

Good luck!