<p>Hey all, haven't posted since high school. Now im in college and have a little bit of a dilemma.
I was going to be bio major, but was on the fence with bio and biochemistry. I recently found out that at my school (NYU) I could stay an extra year if i be a biochemistry major and take classes at the med school and have a masters degree, as well as a research project that they'll help me get in with.
So, I was originally just gonna do my 4 years, get a bachelors, do some research, and apply to med school.</p>
<p>Is it worth it to do 5 years instead of 4, get a masters and a research project, and THen apply? Will it make a big enough difference?
im rele in a pickle, i have others telling me it wont make a difference if i have a high GPA and good MCATs anyway, and that my school is just looking to get more money... PLZ any HELP</p>
<p>It's not supposed to be that helpful to have a master's degree in med school admissions. Research does help, especially if you can get any publications or presentations on your research during your master's program. </p>
<p>If you don't already have strong research, then that would be a good reason to do the extra year/master's (if the extra $ isn't too much of an issue).</p>
<p>I think the masters program would help if you are looking into the top ranked research heavy schools (vandy, wustl, etc) or a MD/PhD program. However, you would still need to have good undergrad grades. You would also be 1 yr older and you could play up the maturity thing.</p>
<p>Is there any reason why you couldn't do research junior and senior year like everyone else in the department? I'm just not convinced the MS will be that helpful, especially considering the cost of NYU. (I was a chemistry major at NYU, so I have a sense of what the major, department, and costs are like.)</p>
<p>Well, i'm on a pretty good scholarship, so money is not a HUGE issue, buts its def. there. And yes, of COURSE, whether or not I do this program I will be getting research at NYU in the department, volunteer or paid. So its really matter of now going one year further with the research to make it into a thesis for my masters degree. See, thats what intrigues me, a bit of my thesis will be already done since its carried over from my undergrad research. My grades rite now are like 3.7 here.. im only a freshman... with no real research yet...</p>