Which Gap year program is better

[vectorman]

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Hi
I don't really need to increase my GPA but I am considering joining one of the following programs for gap year while Im applying to Med School (so GPA doesn't matter that much and most med schools won't even look at my GPA). I would really appreciate it if you can post your opinion on which program is good for the purposes of gaining acceptance to Allopathic med school.

I have gotten accepted to the following programs:

Which of these programs

VCU Has a nice little linkage to their med school (3.5 in their program and >28 you get an interview)

J. Hopkins Masters in Health Sciences (hardcore science classes but offered by their Public health division). Great name but expensive and no linkages.

U Penn Special sciences which is mostly upper level undergrad courses and likage with NJ state medical school.

Lancaster (Top 20 univ. in England) MS in Biomedicine. Looks unique and also will be getting masters. cost 20K

U. of Bristol (top 10 in England) MPH


I am also hoping to hear back from:

Drexel IMS- Will take Med school classes with med school students but no linkages.

U. of Toledo- Will take Med school classes with med school students and interview with med school but really expensive out of state.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I personally don't like the England choices. They won't be known well enough by profs all around the US in my opinion. J Hopkins gets you a masters and a name school - helps. Research with a prof at a med school may also be of help - especially at that school. I don't really see any good choice compared to Johns Hopkins and research.

 

[DeadCactus]

Hopkins or England.

Hopkins for the name and opportunities there-in.

England because time abroad will probably do more for you personally and extensive time abroad tends to be the sort of thing people want to talk to you about.

Personally, I'd do England. Sounds far more rewarding and (pure speculation and only how I would look at it if making a choice for myself) I find it easier to imagine getting an interview because someone wants to here about your time abroad than someone being impressed with who you did your research under.

Compromise: Try e-mailing professors at Cambridge/Oxford about working in their labs rather than doing a formal degree? Not sure how things work in that regard over there.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

uhm...how are you gonna interview in the US if you are in England getting a Masters?

Since your gpa apparently isn't lacking I would go with the research (and maybe at a volunteer position)...a) you get paid b) you might get published c) you are in the country for interviews d) research is flexible so that you can travel for interviews (most likely, unless your PI is an a**) e) you can probably get a research position in a city of your choosing (since you don't seem to care about location, judging by your choices of programs) f) you pay no tuition

there are more good reasons but I think those will do.

 

[redlight]

which program within the masters are you doing? none of the four programs seem hardcore (as in hard science) and i really wouldn't do it unless you are really interested in pub health and plan on doing something in the field.

otherwise, i think you should go with the research, earn some $$, gain some experience, and chill or maybe get more clinical while you're at it.

 

[vectorman]

Thank you guys for all your responses and opinions. 🙂

But I do have one more issue here. I went to a less well known state although it is affiliated with a medical school . That's why I was wondering if affiliating myself with a very prestigeous school like Johns Hopkins might help my application.

After having heard from many of you I am debating the following options.
1. Johns Hopkins
2. Research

And England is kind of in the mix (Im sure I can manage the commute for interviews). So which of these options do you think would be a better?

Again, thanks for everybody who responded so far and thanks in advance for people yet to respond. Any opinion is greatly appreciated.🙂

 

[vectorman]

Another concern I am having with choosing research is that so many people do it and it doesn't stand out as much as having a masters degree from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health (although public health, this specific masters program involves taking a lot of hard core sciences so it will look good for med schools).

 

[vectorman]

Another drawback to research that i see is that I am not going to be able to get a paper before interview season, or to that effect get a lot done.

But JHU's program will immediately stand out in my application and I can chose to release grades at the end of first quarter which is during the interview season. And I heard most of the people end up getting a GPA of like 3.6 (average) in the program and people rarely get a 'C.'

 

[vectorman]

at the same time JHU's program is like 40K--all loans (one year in a private med school). So do you think taking on this prestigeous, interesting, but expensive program is a good idea? I am certain that the science classes will also help out with med school.

aaannd...at i just realized I've been talking with myself over the past few threads...sorry... kinda freaking out about this major decision...PLEASE HELP!!

 

[vickpick]

research ftw

 

[scarletgirl777]

at the same time JHU's program is like 40K--all loans (one year in a private med school). So do you think taking on this prestigeous, interesting, but expensive program is a good idea? I am certain that the science classes will also help out with med school.

aaannd...at i just realized I've been talking with myself over the past few threads...sorry... kinda freaking out about this major decision...PLEASE HELP!!

You're right, you won't be able to get any publications before fall, but if you do clinical research and get in on a project already happening, you could get one before any late interviews you have. Plus, a publication/abstract is something to update people on post-interview. More importantly, you can talk about your work during the interviews, and as long as you understand it and are excited about it it's guaranteed to make you look better as an interviewee.

Obviously if you do the Johns Hopkins degree, the name will be on your resume in time for an interview, but you won't actually have done any of the classes yet so they would have no way of knowing whether or not you did well...plus, you wouldn't start class until like September? So you'd have very few months under your belt by the time you started any early interviews. You should only do this option if you would have wanted to get an MPH or other public health degree anyway, NOT because it says Johns Hopkins. If we're going to play the prestige game, a prestige wh*re may not necessarily be impressed by the rigor of a public health degree no matter where it came from...

 

[sarahl86]

I would do research. Had I not gotten in this year, I was considering very similar options (mind you, I'm already in my "gap year") so far as getting accepted to Hopkins' MHS program. But to me that cost with a decent GPA is unjustifiable...mine was a 3.85 so I didn't think I needed to 'prove' I could handle medical school academically. I think gaining experience will be more beneficial and if you can get paid to do it through research, I'd do that.

Save yourself the money and do research at a med school. You'll hopefully get great LORs, make connections, and use that money for medical school eventually.

 

[drizzt3117]

I would do research unless you have a strong interest in public health and want to do it for that reason.

 

[mallard]

JHU: 1) Risky given no need for a GPA boost
2) Not really that much more unique than research
3) -40k before you even begin med school
4) Taking intense science classes during the year you are supposed to be preventing a "burn out"

Research:
1) More flexible come interview season
2) Chance of updating interviewers of your potential publications/abstracts
3) (Might) Leave time to do some other clinical opportunities
4) You get paid

Hmmmm

 

[TexasPhysician]

If money isn't an issue, I still say Johns Hopkins hands down. In a public health masters, you can learn valuable tools towards being a more effective doctor. If epidemiology related, you will learn statistics which is a medical school course. Also if you want to do academic medicine later on in life, having the Johns Hopkins name will help you. Academic institutions like having "name" people around. We have 1 guy at my school that I swear no one likes, but I think we keep him because he went to every "name" school there is. I can't find another reason.

If money is an issue (40k is a chunk of change), I'd do research where you have a chance of getting published. Any research will do as a pre-med, but if you get published, that research experience can stay on your CV FOREVER. Otherwise after your medical school acceptance comes in, your experience becomes meaningless (minus what you personally gained from the experience).