Entering Med School with an Online Degree.

It appears to me that entry into medical school is now so competitive that one has to consider options such as an advanced degree in addition to pre-medical sciences and an average GPA. The link to the AAMC gives a lot of valuable information for those considering attending medical school post bachelors with a non pre-med course of study. I guess one could attend a community college for pre-reqs but if you look at the schools they mention all of them are universities. Probably a wise choice if you want to be competitive. In addition, it shows options that may lead to a masters degree which may make one even more competitive and have better utility than earning a second bachelors degree. I provided the links to broaden horizons nothing more nothing less. People have to look at all their options and the advice on this forum may or may not be helpful. Another thing to consider now is making yourself attractive for a residency. Perhaps pre medical courses and an MPH from a US school instead of a second bachelors would help? The AAMC website gives great advice!

 

I always had the impression my GPA would be a primary factor along with my MCAT. But if AMCAS won't include my GPA from my degree then I'll start looking into the HES health program or other state school's pre-health program and try to ace that + better MCAT and hopefully I'll get a look in at a mid-tier med school.

Just thinking of ways to better improve my application.
I like Delta's option of a MPH !
But that might take extra time too ):

 

You can tell the admissions committee that you have years upon years of medical experience. In fact, you have even performed operations. When they ask how, when and where? You can tell them you've had training using one of this:mfg:

 

Hi all !

Another question that has come to my mind if anyone can answer.

Dose it matter which MED school I enter ? Is the "medical" rankings like Law school ? No T14 = hard time going anywhere etc.

Was wondering if it would effect my chances (to further study; specialization, or finding employment, or even finding residency) later on if I enter a 'lower ranked' DO school as compared to something higher up the table?

I'm considering the 'ranks' through rate of admission by MCAT scores. I notice some of them have an entry of about 26~28 MCAT.

 

Where one gets a residency and in what specialty is what "matters" the most! I have seen graduates of well respected medical schools go unmatched their first year with huge student loans to pay. Why? They got a low score on the USMLE step 1. Getting a particular residency depends a lot on how high you score on the USMLE! I hate to use the phrase "less competitive" because some graduates have a passion for these type of specialties even with very high USMLE scores. However, Family Medicine and Internal Medicine seem to go to those with lower USLME scores while Surgery, Orthopedics, ENT ,Radiology, Anesthesia, etc go to those with higher scores. I've seen a lot of graduates get what they get and not necessarily what they want or are meant to be. Not every medical graduate is meant to be a Surgeon but it attracts people because of the earning potential. So now we have a person with a high score but sucks as a Surgeon and a person with a low score that should have been a Surgeon. I remember when Psychiatry used to be a less sought after specialty and now is a highly sought after specialty because of the hours and lifestyle. OB/GYN is competitive but may not be a first choice because you are on call 24/7 for the rest of your life!

I would prefer schools that don't leave me with a tremendous debt burden. I know a few people who really enjoyed the Texas system (in state tuition), graduated with less debt and obtained a quality residency of their choice. The media and schools advertise there is a shortage of Physicians but the fact is, there is a shortage of residencies to train physicians and that is why a high USMLE score is so important. Unlike a PA or NP, an MD or DO is dead in the water without a residency!

 

Hello everyone, i'm using my hubby's account to post an update.

I've been researching attending medical school and recently contacted some DO/MD schools to seek advise on admissions. I found out that some MD schools accept online pre-med classes. I quoted the New England post-bac pre-med classes offered through distance learning. Some MD schools said they will take that under consideration. Most DO schools were fine with it. I hope that helps if anyone has intention of going to medical school using an online degree. I also had my own credentials evaluated through WES and it was quite shocking. My 4 year BA in education taken in Singapore together with my GSCE A levels was given as 165 credits. But the GPA calculated was not too bad. I stand at 3.47 on the US scale. I've taken up some volunteering through the local red cross blood donation department here.

So hopefully once I'm done with my pre-med classes through New England + 2 years or so of volunteering + a GPA of 3.47 and an MCAT of 31, I might stand some chance of getting that interview.
Come 2015, I'll have some free time, and I'm thinking of taking up a Masters to boost my resume and GPA abit. An MPH program maybe, or if I can think of something else that might be more useful.

If anyone has any questions or comments, please do say

 

Note that UNE doesn't currently offer Physics II, a standard med school prerequisite, online. Physics II typically includes electricity, magnetism, and optics, and sometimes other topics.

But note this: HES Gen Chem and Physics Online, and January Weeklong Labs. The labs are in-person in Cambridge. Details at the link.

Congratulations! Per my post above, I believe that won't go towards your "main" GPAs, on your AMCAS medical school application because it was earned outside of the U.S. or Canada, and it might similarly not go toward the GPAs on your AACOMAS application. But medical schools might look at this separately on their own.

Awesome! You and they are both fortunate.

Medical schools look at undergraduate overall and undergraduate science GPAs separately from graduate. Graduate will not boost your GPA for med school application purposes. There are some Special Master's Programs (SMPs) designed for applicants with low undergraduate GPAs applying to medical or dental school; they don't affect the undergraduate GPA, but the good ones offer med-school-like coursework and show med schools applicants' ability to succeed in them.

Anyway, you can cross that bridge when you come to it – hopefully with a great American GPA that doesn't need any remediation.

 

Hi Johnathan,

I've not reached Physics 2 yet but I'm almost certain to be doing the "II" courses on campus since I'm preparing to take 1 year of shadowing in the US. That would give me some time to clear the last few classes. I forgot to add, I need to have a DO/MD that graduated from a US med-school to write me a recommendation letter, and there's none here.
Come to think of it, I don't have ANY science courses during my undergraduate studies. If Med school is only going to judge whatever pre-med classes I'm taking, which is barely 40 credits, I'll take it ! lol.
I've seen those SPM programs, but I'm wondering, what is their utility outside of applying into medical school ?
And I must add, for anyone who's thinking of applying into a US medical school, some schools did reply me and matter of fact told me that they won't consider a graduate from an overseas university even if the person is a US citizen.

 

I don't see why it wouldn't be as widely applicable as any coursework (non-thesis) master's in human biology. But my best understanding is that a non-SMP coursework masters in human biology would generally be appreciably less valuable than a good SMP for med school admissions.

 

I certainly believe this to be true. When I ran on a critical care ambulance there was this RN who would work summers and breaks with us. He had come up through the ranks, Paramedic - RN- Med School with quite the alternative education. He did pre-regs at both the local CC and the local big State University, finally finishing a biology degree at State U. He then went to a Med School down in the Caribbean islands somewhere. This guy felt like it was all coming down to placement...no matter where we went this guy would go shmooze doctors trying to get reference letters and bolster support for his residency aspirations. He was certain that everything was riding on US placement...without it he said he wouldn't be able to practice in the US, his back up plan was a move to Europe.

 

Just to throw into the mix, med school is expensive. In my opinion, adding expensive classes that are required is one thing, but adding full degree programs (graduate school) just to make your ap look better is silly. Do what's required, pull solid grades, do your volunteer work, rock your MCAT and apply. All the other stuff just moves back the goal post....which after a few years will have you circling the drain. Current grades and fast- just do it! Don't fart around.