Getting into a U.S. medical school is no easy feat. With just around 40 percent of applicants matriculating, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, those applying must set themselves apart and be as competitive as possible.
For some, the path to medical school is a straight trajectory from college, but for others the path is not as linear. Applicants may have graduated years ago, had poor grades or took an alternative career path before applying. To be competitive enough to gain admission, many consider a postbaccalaureate program or a special master’s program.
Postbacs, which offer undergraduate-level courses so students can boost their college GPA, are a well-known option among premeds. In contrast, SMPs provide graduate-level courses and appear as a separate GPA in students’ applications.
SMPs are one- or two-year graduate degree programs designed with a premed student in mind. Schools that offer SMPs understand that most students will be enrolling to strengthen their application to medical school. As such, they design the programs to replicate aspects of medical school, including having students take courses along with first-year med students and sit for national medical exams.
Here’s what to know about special master’s programs to help you decide if enrolling in one is the next best step in your path to medical school.
[See six types of applicants who would benefit from a postbac program.]
— Type of degree earned: Each program will offer a different master’s degree at the completion of the requirements. Commonly, students will receive a master’s in medical sciences or a master’s in medical physiology.
Keep in mind that medical school admissions committees are most interested in the type of coursework — the difficulty level and whether courses are similar to those taken by a first-year medical student — rather than the specific degree obtained.
— How med school admissions committees view SMPs: When you submit your American Medical College Application Service, or AMCAS, application, your undergraduate and graduate grades will be cumulated as separate GPAs.
Each medical school has its own system when considering these GPAs, but in general, if an applicant has a low undergraduate GPA, a high graduate GPA will help compensate for this.
Medical schools tend to recognize SMPs as more rigorous and representative of medical school than, say, an MBA or online Master of Public Health degree. Therefore, a 4.0 from an SMP will be most reflective of your academic capabilities as a future medical student.
— Benefits of an SMP: Most special master’s programs will offer a variety of activities with the goals of premed students in mind. Many will provide research opportunities, which is helpful if this is a potential area of weakness in your application. They may also have opportunities for clinical experience and volunteer work.
In addition, many will provide MCAT preparation and advising to ensure all areas of an application are in check.
— Downsides of an SMP: Special master’s programs are not for everyone. The programs can be costly, with tuition at some universities upward of $50,000 per year.
Additionally, you do have to apply to these programs, and although they cater to premeds that have lower GPAs, acceptance is not guaranteed.
Students must also consider the timing of applying. For instance, if the degree length for a specific SMP is one year, you ideally want to submit your medical school application after having completed the program to demonstrate your success. This means that you would not matriculate into medical school until a year after completing the SMP.
In addition, you should have all of your medical school prerequisite courses completed before the SMP. This is because the SMP will offer graduate level coursework, and this will not satisfy requirements for general science courses such as organic chemistry or physics.
— Who should consider an SMP: Let’s look at a couple of real-life examples of students for whom an SMP is an ideal route.
One student completed college with subpar grades. He finished his medical school prerequisites, but his overall GPA was a 3.4. In his case, if he performs well in an SMP, he can show medical schools his true academic capabilities as he completes courses alongside current medical students.
Another student finished a biology major but took 10 years off from school and ran a business. She has her prerequisites completed but is lacking research and medical-related activities. An SMP is ideal for her because she can provide admissions committees with a more recent GPA and also have the opportunity to bolster her extracurricular activities through the program.
Ultimately, enrolling in a special master’s program can greatly enhance your application to medical school. If you’re struggling to gain acceptance to medical school or want to strengthen your academic record before applying, an SMP may be the next best step for you.
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How Special Master’s Programs Can Help You Get Into Medical School originally appeared on usnews.com
