Why people with high GPA are doing masters while they are taking year off?

[libraryismyhome]

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I have seen several people in my class who are doing masters despite of their stellar GPA during undergrad. Why are they doing that?

Though applicants must be able to write what were they doing while taking year off, is it worthy enough to spend $20,000 doing masters and risking GPA just to show adcoms that I did something???

Aren't volunteering, shadowing and research just enough???

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Some people don't want to get out of the schooling mindset. Or are interested in something and want to study that before they sell their souls for 7+ yrs.

 

[Isoprop]

I have seen several people in my class who are doing masters despite of their stellar GPA during undergrad. Why are they doing that?

Though applicants must be able to write what were they doing while taking year off, is it worthy enough to spend $20,000 doing masters and risking GPA just to show adcoms that I did something???

Aren't volunteering, shadowing and research just enough???

Maybe they are interested. Aside from SMPs, an MS program is basically a really good EC. Grad. gpa doesn't really matter (unless you do poorly).

And a lot of grad students get assistantships in research or teaching that pays for grad school + more.

Volunteering, shadowing, research is "enough" for med school. I don't recommend an traditional masters program if you're not interested. And an SMP won't be any good to an applicant with a high GPA.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Maybe they are doing it for reasons other than medical school admissions? Or are these SMP programs? Maybe poor ECs?

 

[gravitywave]

it sounds like they are afraid of getting a job.

or maybe they can't find one. these days that wouldn't necessarily be their fault.

 

[libraryismyhome]

My question is does doing masters even with high GPA during undergrad enhance their application?? If it does then I will do it too.

At my school, one med dean recommended me doing masters while another former deal told me to not to. I feel ambivalent.

 

[Isoprop]

My question is does doing masters even with high GPA during undergrad enhance their application?? If it does then I will do it too.

At my school, one med dean recommended me doing masters while another former deal told me to not to. I feel ambivalent.

Yes, doing a masters will enhance your application. But it's probably not worth it. You don't need it to get into a good school.

 

[gravitywave]

My question is does doing masters even with high GPA during undergrad enhance their application?? If it does then I will do it too.

At my school, one med dean recommended me doing masters while another former deal told me to not to. I feel ambivalent.

yes it enhances your application. does it enhance your application enough to be worth the time and money when your ultimate goal is med school? nope.

OTOH, if you truly want to explore your studies at the graduate level before starting your medical career, you should do that. just don't do it just because you think it's what adcoms want to see.

 

[libraryismyhome]

Does doing masters in business help too? Since I will be learning all science stuff in med, I don't see why I should spend $20,000 on something redundant on top of $200K for med. 🙁

 

[Musclemass]

I have seen several people in my class who are doing masters despite of their stellar GPA during undergrad. Why are they doing that?

Why not ask them?

 

[mmmcdowe]

My question is does doing masters even with high GPA during undergrad enhance their application?? If it does then I will do it too.

At my school, one med dean recommended me doing masters while another former deal told me to not to. I feel ambivalent.

Why would you do a masters if you don't feel like you need it and aren't particularly interested in it? There are way better ways for you to spend a year off. Other than for grades/SMP, most people do a Masters because they want a Masters in the topic they are are planning to do Masters thesis on.

 

[Isoprop]

Does doing masters in business help too? Since I will be learning all science stuff in med, I don't see why I should spend $20,000 on something redundant on top of $200K for med. 🙁

If you're interested in an MBA, a number of schools offer an MD/MBA 5-year program. It saves a year (assuming you don't have business experience and couldn't get an MBA in 1 year from a traditional program).

Seriously though, it sounds like you want to do an master's just b/c it will help with admissions. If you're not interested in it, it's really not worth it.

 

[libraryismyhome]

I am more than delighted that so many people are helping me out here. The reason that I am so concerned is that I am somewhat "forced" to take two years off. I currently do not have a green card, so I am waiting for it now. I seriously don't know what to do besides improving my MCAT verbal score by couple of points.

I certainly don't want adcoms put me at a disadvantage just because of these unwanted gap years without much productivity compared to my premed years. 🙁

 

[Isoprop]

You don't necessarily have to do a Masters. If you're more interested in working, volunteering, shadowing, research, etc then I would suggest you do that. Join Americorps, get a job as a research assistant, work for Teach for America, whatever you are interested in. Just make sure you get some clinical experience in there too (hospital, shadowing, etc.).

A gap can be a wonderful time to grow and give you perspective on your life and career. You can use this time to really test your enthusiasm for medicine or other fields. If you use your time wisely, I don't think your gap would be negative at all. In fact, it could work in your favor.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

op you strike me as an odd person...

 

[LizzyM]

There are good reasons to stay in school including postponing loan payback, cheap health insurance, and staying in the US on a student visa. You can also learn valuable skills that will help in med school. MBA -- not so much if you haven't had a few years of business experience. Biology, biochem, bioengineering, biostatisitcs anything along those lines is going to be helpful.