<p>Are MS programs as competitive as PhD programs in biology and is it worth going the MS to PhD route? Do PhD programs even care about MS grades?</p>
<p>Background:</p>
<p>I applied to a few PhD programs and got rejected due to my overall application weakness. For example only 4 mo research experience, ~3.2 gpa, 1250gre etc. </p>
<p>There's no way for me to go back to undergrad (have way too many units) and I've been looking for any job for over a year. In my current location I have zero opportunity to get into a biology-related career or unpaid internship. </p>
<p>Due to this, I think an MS is the only way for me to get experience and improve my GPA. Yes, I realize it'll be more debt and years off my life (but what isn't?).</p>
<p>Sort of answered my own question on whether I should go or not. </p>
<p>Is my current application even competitive for a MS program?</p>
<p>PhD programs stress research experience a lot more than MS programs so I personally think you have a good shot at MS programs. With that said, have you considered trying to secure a research associate/assistant or technician position in an academic lab (perhaps at your UG institution?). Your lack of research experience is probably what hurt you the most and there are other ways to rack up experience other than a costly MS, especially if a PhD is your ultimate end goal.</p>
<p>Most MS bio programs have much more lenient admission standards than PhD programs, esp if you will be a full pay student. (For some departments, master degree programs are cash cows.)</p>
<p>As far as getting to a bio-relation career track–are you willing/able to relocate? There are bachelor’s level jobs available, esp at or near major universities/research centers. </p>
<p>The suggestion to look for jobs at your undergrad institution is a good one.</p>
<p>I haven’t had luck looking around the universities near here in the past two years. Even finding an unpaid internship was/is tough.</p>
<p>As for relocation, I currently live in CA and would be willing to relocate but the only place I’ve seen really hiring is SF and that’s a city far too expensive for me.</p>
<p>Your odds of getting into a program that will fully fund an tuition + stipend M.S. are poor, but a program where you pay tuition should be very feasible. You can also do a masters of engineering in your field, if that suits you (and those are only 1 year). If you went to a top school for undergrad, then a funded or partially MS may still be possible. Good luck!</p>
<p>What is your overall goal? Is it to get a PhD, or an MS? Can you accomplish your goal with a BS rather than an PhD or an MS? I am asking this question because the state of the economy has played a large part in the glut of applications for graduate programs. It may not have been that your stats were glaringly weak, but the competition for spots is steeper than before the economy went into the crapper. I would also look for RA positions at your current university with profs that you have a relationship with. They could be real advocates for you if you want to get into a PhD program at your home university. </p>
<p>I would also suggest finding a funded MS program, they do exist you just have to look (not saying you didn’t already). There is the NIH post-bac IRTA program, UMICH PIBS has a post bac program and most of their post bac students are accepted the following year into various PhD programs. Or just look for a job as a biologist, or med-tech on careerbuilder. Many companies are looking for temp-to-hire employees. Do this for a 6mo-1yr, and apply next year, and you will have a year worth of “reasearch experience”. </p>
<p>But bear in mind, waiting a year, or geting a MS will have its drawbacks in the current political cycle. The Ryan Budget will hurt federal R&D funding in the sciences, and that will probably mean the competition will only get stiffer than it currently is for spots in grad programs and fellowships. But that’ s if it passes.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses so far. Haven’t thought of a med-tech program. I might look into that.</p>
<p>Clarifying points:</p>
<ul>
<li>My ultimate goal is to continue learning about biology beyond what I learned in undergrad (I think an MS or PhD will be helpful there)</li>
<li>I graduated 2011 and I’m soon entering year 2 of my job hunt out of school. 0% luck so far.</li>
<li>One of those universities nearby is my undergrad institution. I haven’t had luck getting a paid internship there in four years. Maybe I smell bad or something.</li>
<li>My old profs don’t have anything available and don’t know of anything. </li>
<li>I can’t do unpaid internships since I’ll need to cover bus faire.</li>
<li>If I do an MS at a state school I may be able to waive some of the tuition fees.</li>
</ul>
<p>The med research lab (private, but with a national rep in its small sliver of the field) I work at is hiring techs right now. So are labs at the state flagship U. My lab’s in New Mexico. Much lower COL than CA.</p>
<p>Do you have any computer analysis software skills? (Excel, SPSS, MatLab, etc?) Those skills will help tremendously in landing a tech job. Might be useful to pick up a class either at a CC or online.</p>
<p>And if you’re limiting yourself to just posted jobs, then you’re shortchanging yourself. Younger kiddo found a unposted job by cold emailing each and every research group’s lab manager at a uni she wanted to work at. (BF in grad school there.) She tailored a personalized cover letter telling them how her skills would be valuable to the group and included her CV. She got mostly “thanks, but no thanks” replies if she got replies at all. But she did get several referrals to other groups with openings/possible openings. She eventually had 3 phone interviews with different groups. And one group decided they really wanted her and created a position for her.</p>
<p>You might try drafting a sample cover letter to a research group inquiring about an [imaginary] opening, then take it by the career center at your former college. Take your CV too. You could be presenting yourself poorly.</p>