What M.S. Degree should I get?

[leaveit2rani]

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I am going to be finishing my undergraduate B.S. in Biology a year early and wanted to pursue an M.S. for an additional year before I apply to medical school and to give me more time to work on my ECs. My GPA is around the 3.9 range so it is not like I am doing this as a post-bacc or anything.

I have 2 options:

Basic Medical Science (linked with my university's medical school):

http://gradprograms.med.wayne.edu/program-spotlight.php?id=34

or my schools Biomedical Engineering M.S. (which I think I would enjoy a lot more)

the M.S. in basic med science has a lot of similar classes to the ones you take in the preclinical years though.

I want something that would give me an edge when I am applying to some really good schools (hopefully the University of Michigan).

They take the same amount of time and cost about the same.

 

[Hemorrage]

You don't need an MS, get an MD you have a great gpa

 

[leaveit2rani]

I really do need time to get my ECs up tho. Would it be better to do a crazy amount of ECs, research etc instead of getting an M.S.?

 

[Verum]

I would do Ecs. MSs are known fro being grade inflated.

 

[Poetic Silence]

What kind of EC's are you planning? What kind of research?

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Why not just work for a year?

 

[Hemorrage]

I really do need time to get my ECs up tho. Would it be better to do a crazy amount of ECs, research etc instead of getting an M.S.?

yes. Medical schools don't give a crap about your graduate degree (Unless it was an SMP). Go for a year of research, EC's and working. I do this during my summers and i have to tell you its far more relaxing then having to study.

 

[EnergyDrink]

yes. Medical schools don't give a crap about your graduate degree (Unless it was an SMP). Go for a year of research, EC's and working. I do this during my summers and i have to tell you its far more relaxing then having to study.

It really depends on the medical school and the M.S. I wouldn't say they're known for being inflated, because the courses are more difficult than undergraduate classes. Graduate courses are pretty much a lot of things you learned as an undergraduate, but also the application of those things.

Does it make up for a poor undergraduate GPA? Well, probably not if you're really low. But it adds an extra dimension to your application. If you're borderline, it could put you over the edge. I have a low undergraduate GPA and a high graduate GPA and above average MCAT, I'm applying this cycle, so I guess I'll see how it goes.

I wouldn't worry about what your M.S. degree says. Its about what you did to earn it. First find out what schools you like, then look at the research being done at those schools. If there is something particularly interesting, then apply to that program.

If you want to do research an M.S. would be extremely useful.

 

[Cinclus]

Be very careful about "fast-track" graduate degrees. Sometimes, they just aren't as fast as they were supposed to be. My "1-year" MS took me a year longer than it should have, considering I finished all of my requirements on time. PI wouldn't let me graduate until I did extra work.

 

[Narmerguy]

Be very careful about "fast-track" graduate degrees. Sometimes, they just aren't as fast as they were supposed to be. My "1-year" MS took me a year longer than it should have, considering I finished all of my requirements on time. PI wouldn't let me graduate until I did extra work.

Bingo. This happens often. Not to mention, their value is sometimes suspect when they can cram a full masters into a year. I actually had a professor dissuade me from applying to his own school's masters program (I was considering doing a fast track + early college graduation thing too).

Best of luck though.

 

[Sephiroth]

Be very careful about "fast-track" graduate degrees. Sometimes, they just aren't as fast as they were supposed to be. My "1-year" MS took me a year longer than it should have, considering I finished all of my requirements on time. PI wouldn't let me graduate until I did extra work.

That seems to be an issue with almost any graduate program - you can never be certain how long it will take to graduate. It seems many masters students in the natural sciences end up having to take 3 years to graduate.

 

[notbobtrustme]

If you do some volunteering and shadowing, you'll be fine. You don't need a year off.

 

[armybound]

I would apply now.

 

[leaveit2rani]

Yeah, I would apply now. Only problem is my ECs are almost non existent. I've been working 2 jobs the whole time while doing undergrad. About to start hospital and shadowing soon, and maybe some other humanitarian work. But I don't feel it is enough compared to everything you guys have and do.

 

[Parklife]

Get that MCAT score then we can talk.

 

[whatbout2morrow]

Since you're aiming for top schools, get some research under your belt as well.

 

[Alejandro]

I didn't see an MCAT,so let's wait on that first. Second, since you have the GPA, just spend your extra year just working and volunteering. You don't have to do more school. Medical schools are looking for well-rounded applicants...by taking a master's...you're kinda defeating that goal. Volunteer, work, travel, etc-all can help you gain perspective and change you as a person.