Is it okay to apply to MSTP programs with a masters degree? Should I wait?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>I have pondered what I will do during my gap year between senior year and med school. I have looked into some master's degree programs at schools in my state (oregon), and it looks like there are programs which give you a free masters degree in the sciences if you either do research at the school or some sort of assistant ship.<br>
There are two options: a one year masters degree with no thesis, or a two year masters degree with thesis. I will obviously pick the one year, but you can always switch it to the two year. </p>

<p>People on here have suggested to me taking one or two years off after college (I will be 19 when I get my bachelors degree). Right now I am going to be a junior in college, and will be taking at least one year off. Since I am only starting research in the fall, I will have about 2 years of research before I apply to MSTP programs (and maybe including a full-time summer). The highest possible GPA I can get is a 3.79, and that is only IF I get straight A's, which is like totally impossible because I will be taking ochem in the fall! D: </p>

<p>So my GPA will be in the 3.7's range. I will be starting volunteering only in the fall as well, so in terms of medically-related things, I will only have 2 years of research and 2 years of clinical volunteering. And maybe I'll fit in a leadership position during my senior year, so that might give me a year of leadership. I'll also get some shadowing in, and I have non-medical work experience with computers. </p>

<p>So my question is, would it be worth it to take two years off instead of one, and by the time of application I would have completed 3 years of research and a masters degree? I am just worried that my undergrad GPA won't cut it for MSTP programs, since it will only be in the 3.7's range. I am particularly only looking to go to either OHSU or UW (since they are close to home), but I will still apply widely to MSTP programs. And I am thinking, if I take two years off, I could do the two year masters degree, obviously raising my GPA during the master's degree. But I don't know if this is even worth it? My main goal is MSTP. </p>

<p>Do some MSTP programs look down on the fact that you would have a masters degree already? Thanks guys.</p>

2

<p>why would they look down on it? They might look down on doing a 1 year, thesis-less master’s vs. a 2 year master’s with a thesis.</p>

<p>I would think that your research experience (if I recall, you’ll have 1 summer at the time of your application) is a much, much bigger problem for your app then your 3.7 GPA.</p>

<p>You know that the vast majority of MSTPs don’t give master’s degrees along the way (whom am I kidding, you don’t know that, you know so little) so it would be sort of weird to look down on someone who did it.</p>

3

<p>By the time of application, I will have 2 years of research and a full-time summer, if I apply right after senior year of college.</p>

4

<p>You do realize, right, it’s not just the hours put in at a research lab, but what you accomplish there that counts.</p>

<p>Two years where you’re a ‘meh’ member of the team will do little to stand you in good stead with MSTP programs. You need to have actually accomplished something while you’re there. (Not publication necessarily since that’s typically not within your control, but something along the lines of an original research project/senior honors thesis where you actually have some significant results.)</p>

5

<p>That sounds good because I got into the honors program at my college and they require you to do a thesis, so I will probably do it regarding the research (during my senior year).</p>

6

<p>sorry OP, got your timeline mixed up. I guess I was conflating deciding to apply to a program designed to train researchers with no research experience and actually applying with no research experience.</p>