Unusual Postbacc Option

[Desperate]

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So I couldn't commit to returning to school to get a second bachelor's degree just for premed. It's just way too expensive and way too risky. However I was accepted into a Master's degree program for History (my BA field) so I can teach if I want to. I was thinking of possibly taking the medical school pre req's while I work on my graduate degree. Also I was accepted into a hospital volunteer program at my school. I thought this might be a good idea because I could build a good graduate GPA before applying. Is this a feasible plan? Oh and before anyone says it, I do not have the uGPA to get into any formal post baccalaureate program for medical school, nor have I taken the MCAT.

 

[TriagePreMed]

The MA in history would probably be a waste of money and time. Unless it's something that's for free and you see it as great benefit to your life immediately or in the future, it's best not to embark on it. If you cannot afford to go to a 4-year college, you should consider doing community college credits. It's a prevalent myth in these forums that community college classes will mean you won't get in anywhere, but experience of many that have will tell you this is completely false.

 

[Goro]

Concur with this poster. From an AdCom member's viewpoint, an MS history is simply not the equivalent of a post-bac that prepares you for medical school. We need to see that you can handle the load.

The MA in history would probably be a waste of money and time. Unless it's something that's for free and you see it as great benefit to your life immediately or in the future, it's best not to embark on it. If you cannot afford to go to a 4-year college, you should consider doing community college credits. It's a prevalent myth in these forums that community college classes will mean you won't get in anywhere, but experience of many that have will tell you this is completely false.

 

[drctother]

The MA in history would probably be a waste of money and time. Unless it's something that's for free and you see it as great benefit to your life immediately or in the future, it's best not to embark on it. If you cannot afford to go to a 4-year college, you should consider doing community college credits. It's a prevalent myth in these forums that community college classes will mean you won't get in anywhere, but experience of many that have will tell you this is completely false.

As Triage stated, this is a false myth. I got into two medical schools having done my full first year of biology and half of my first year general chemistry at a community college. Also I believe I took 3 of the 6 required english credits at the same college.

I have to agree with both posters, I dont think a masters in history is of any benefit unless you dont plan on applying/getting into medicine for a few years. I would recommend taking the pre-reqs at a community college personally for two reasons:

1) Apparently CC is cheap as hell in the states compared to university (you would know this better than me, im Canadian)

2) CC is a hell of a lot easier (no matter where you are) and you can rock your pre-reqs, plus get some good reference letters since you will be in smaller classes and you can shine

Good luck

 

[willen101383]

Agreed with above. Granted I personally did a unconventional masters for my post bacc (forensics) and I had no trouble getting accepted after that.

But we had anatomy,phys,osteology, 2 semesters of tox, 4 semesters of pathology, an autopsy class where I did about 6 autopsies with the chief ME in philly, anthro, etc. They were all basically hard sciences.

History isnt going to tell adcoms anything about you ability to handle the sciences. Being a major history dork myself if you want to get the masters for personal reasons go for it...but its probably not going to put you in higher standing with adcoms.

 

[JESSFALLING]

Could you gear your Masters thesis around something medically related? i.e. "History of xxx infectious outbreak" or "History and challenges of the osteopathic profession"... that might at least give you brownie points...??

 

[Desperate]

Could you gear your Masters thesis around something medically related? i.e. "History of xxx infectious outbreak" or "History and challenges of the osteopathic profession"... that might at least give you brownie points...??

Thanks for the feedback everyone and sorry for the bump here. I'm considering a Plan B now (probably more like W at this point lol.) Speaking hypothetically here, what if I switched my MA to Interdisciplinary Studies from History. At my university it's a self designed program that consists of 3 or more fields with at least 12 hours in each, no thesis. What if I pursued my basic premed requirements, and then took some biology courses at the graduate level, and eventually take the MCAT. Would this be a viable informal post baccalaureate option?

 

[TriagePreMed]

Thanks for the feedback everyone and sorry for the bump here. I'm considering a Plan B now (probably more like W at this point lol.) Speaking hypothetically here, what if I switched my MA to Interdisciplinary Studies from History. At my university it's a self designed program that consists of 3 or more fields with at least 12 hours in each, no thesis. What if I pursued my basic premed requirements, and then took some biology courses at the graduate level, and eventually take the MCAT. Would this be a viable informal post baccalaureate option?

Any form of MA or MS is largely useless. Only thing that matters is taking your prerequisites. Whatever way you take them, and as long as they are undergraduate courses, you should be fine.

 

[willen101383]

Any form of MA or MS is largely useless. Only thing that matters is taking your prerequisites. Whatever way you take them, and as long as they are undergraduate courses, you should be fine.

Really? Because I got accepted to 4 DO schools with my MS in forensics. And with a 2.45 undergrad gpa im pretty sure it is safe to conclude it was the masters that showed them I could make it.

Unless you are referring to the OP having an okay GPA and just needing to take pre reqs. and OP if that is the case drexel here in philly has programs JUST for that purpose. Prereqs 1 year..certificate..done.

 

[Desperate]

Really? Because I got accepted to 4 DO schools with my MS in forensics. And with a 2.45 undergrad gpa im pretty sure it is safe to conclude it was the masters that showed them I could make it.

Unless you are referring to the OP having an okay GPA and just needing to take pre reqs. and OP if that is the case drexel here in philly has programs JUST for that purpose. Prereqs 1 year..certificate..done.

Willen, my ugpa was about a 2.8 so I think I could really benefit from grad school. Mind if I ask what your mcat was?

 

[willen101383]

Willen, my ugpa was about a 2.8 so I think I could really benefit from grad school. Mind if I ask what your mcat was?

Not at all was accepted with a 27.