In contrast to the number of students applying to medical schools, the admission rate is relatively low. This, however, explains why gaining admission to medical schools around the world is not an easy task; as there is a high level of competition.
In an attempt to increase their chances of enrolling, most students opt for a master’s degree in medical sciences program that will help their admission to these medical schools.
By the end of this article, you should know about the best one-year master’s programs for medical schools, and special master’s programs, as well as answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Table of Contents.
- Master’s Programs for Medical Schools
- What are the Special Master’s Programs – SMP?
- How Medical School Admissions Committees View SMPs
- Advantages of a special master’s program
- Disadvantages of a Special Master’s Program
- Who should consider a special medical program?
- What are the Special Master’s Programs – SMP?
- What are the best one-year master’s programs for medical schools?
- #1 MSc in Medical Physiology
- #2 Master of Medical Sciences
- #3 Master of Biomedical Sciences
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Best One-Year Masters Programs for Medical Schools
- Conclusion
Master’s Programs for Medical Schools
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, only about 40 percent of applicants to medical schools matriculate. This implies that applicants must differentiate themselves and be as competitive as possible.
In order to differentiate themselves, some opt for the Pre-Med Graduate Program, while most students earn master’s degrees and other graduate degrees that will help increase their chances of getting into medical schools.
There are typically two groups of people who earn a graduate or master’s degree before going to medical school. The first group is made up of people who do not intend to practice medicine and who have graduated with a different professional purpose.
Ultimately, they decided to change careers to medicine, but have an additional degree to start with.
The second group is made up of people who have always planned to do medicine and are planning to obtain or have already obtained a graduate degree before entering medicine, mainly to make themselves more attractive candidates.
Today, Master of Medical Sciences programs are offered at various colleges and universities that can be used for medical schools. This can come in the form of special master’s programs for medical schools.
What are the Special Master’s Programs – SMP?
Special Master’s programs are one- or two-year graduate programs designed with a pre-med student in mind.
This is because schools that offer SMP understand that most students will enroll to strengthen their application to medical school.
As such, they design the programs to replicate aspects of medical school, including ensuring that students take courses alongside first-year medical students and sit for national medical exams.
However, the master’s degree students earn upon completing the requirements differs between programs. Students will typically receive a Master of Medical Science or Master of Medical Physiology.
Keep in mind that medical school admissions committees are more interested in the type of course (the level of difficulty and whether the courses are similar to what a first-year medical student takes) rather than the degree obtained.
How Medical School Admissions Committees View SMPs
By submitting your American Medical College Application for Service, or AMCAS application, your undergraduate and graduate grades will accumulate as separate GPAs.
However, each medical school has its own system when considering these GPAs, but in general, if a candidate has a low undergraduate GPA, a high graduate GPA will help make up for this.
However, most medical schools tend to recognize SMPs as a more rigorous and better representative of medical school than other master’s degrees, for example, an MBA.
Therefore, a 4.0 from an SMP will be a better reflection of your academic abilities as a future medical student.
Advantages of a special master’s program
The benefits of an SMP for a graduate student intending to enroll in medical school cannot be overstated.
This is due to the fact that most special master’s programs will offer a variety of activities with the goals of pre-medical students in mind.
Many will provide research opportunities, which is especially helpful if this is one of your app’s weaknesses.
In addition, students have opportunities for clinical experience and volunteer work.
Additionally, many will provide MCAT preparation and advice to ensure all medical school application requirements are in check.
Disadvantages of a Special Master’s Program
Special Master’s programs are not for everyone. The programs can be expensive, with tuition fees at some universities as high as $50,000 per year.
Also, you have to apply to these programs, and while they do cater to drugs that have lower GPAs, acceptance is not guaranteed.
Students should also consider the timing of their application. For example, if the duration of a specific SMP is one year, it is ideal that you submit your medical school application after you have completed the program to demonstrate your success.
In short, this means you won’t enroll in medical school until a year after completing the SMP.
Additionally, all prerequisite courses at your medical school must be completed prior to the SMP. In fact, the SMP will offer graduate courses, which will not meet the requirements for general science courses, such as organic chemistry or physics.
Who should consider a special medical program?
In general, any student who wants to pursue a medical career can apply for an SMP. However, an SMP will be required for the following:
- A student who completed medical school prerequisites with a low GPA
- A student who has his prerequisites long gone but lacks medical-related research and activities.
- Students who cannot be admitted to medical school may enroll in an SMP.
Let’s look at some concrete examples of students for whom an SMP is an ideal fit.
A student completed college with below-average grades. She completed the prerequisites for medical school, but her overall GPA was 3.4.
In your case, if you do well in an SMP, you can show medical schools your true academic capabilities while completing courses alongside current medical students.
Another student completed a biology major but took 10 years off school and ran a business. Although he has his prerequisites completed, he lacks medical-related research and activities.
With an SMP, you can provide admission committees with a more recent GPA, and you also have the opportunity to strengthen your extracurricular activities through the program.
In conclusion, enrolling in a special master’s program can greatly improve your application for medical school.
If you’re having difficulty getting into medical school or want to improve your academic record before applying, an SMP may be just the thing for you.
What is the best year? Masters Programs for medical schools?
Below are some of the best one-year master’s programs that students who want to enroll in medical schools can get:
- Master in Medical Physiology
- Master of Medical Sciences
- Master’s Program in Biomedical Sciences
#1 MSc in Medical Physiology
Medical physiology is the study of the function of human biological systems at the level of whole organisms, tissues, cells, and molecules, and also how they relate to and interact with each other.
A one-year master’s program in medical physiology will help improve a college graduate’s academic record for application to medical schools and other professional programs such as Pharmacy Dental Veterinary Medicine, Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, or Basic or Applied Sciences (Ph .D. ).
In general, the program’s curriculum provides a mix of medical school and graduate school training, as it is specifically geared toward students interested in attending medical school.
Additionally, graduates of this program will have a strong foundation for medical school, graduate school, and employment in academic, industrial, or government positions.
Schools offering this program include
- Wisconsin Medical College
- The University of Illinois College of Medicine.
- Special Master’s Program in Physiology | Georgetown university
- University of Cincinnati
- Keck School of Medicine – University of Southern California
- Case Western Reserve University
#2 Master of Medical Sciences
Medical science covers many topics that try to explain how the human body works and how to improve human health. Starting with basic biology is generally divided into disciplines such as anatomy, physiology, and pathology with some biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, and genetics among others.
A master’s degree in medical sciences is one of the oldest and most successful special master’s degree programs in the United States.
The program prepares students for a career in medicine by providing an academic environment that fosters integrity, collaboration, professionalism, cultural competency, and lifelong learning.
- Boston University – School of Medicine
- University of South Florida
- Brown University Warren Alpert School of Medicine
- University of Mississippi
#3 Master of Biomedical Sciences
Biomedical sciences is a body of science that applies parts of the natural sciences or formal sciences, or both, to knowledge, interventions, or technologies that are useful in the field of medical care or public health.
It offers a unique opportunity to enhance students’ credentials so that they become competitive candidates for medical schools or other health professional schools.
5 SECRETS TO WIN ANY SCHOLARSHIP
INCREASE QUANTITY WITHOUT SACRIFICING QUALITY
Scholarship winners don’t just apply for a few scholarships, they apply for every scholarship they can and learn to use the information shared in one application for many others. Scholarship essays may be used more than once, paying close attention to word count and topic.
Often, only a few minor writing tweaks are required to turn one large essay into several, allowing the student to apply for more scholarships and spend less time writing new essays for each one.
Application details are often very similar, so making copies of all applications and simply transferring the information from one application to another is another way to save time and apply for more scholarships.
Use your time wisely
Reading the fine print in all scholarship guidelines is crucial to correctly applying for scholarships and not wasting time applying for ones a student doesn’t qualify for.
For example, if the scholarship guidelines require applicants to have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, a student with a 3.4 GPA should not bother applying.
Scholarship judges first look for easy reasons to eliminate applicants and then take more time to narrow down potential winners. Incomplete applications (not including all required materials) and ignoring clearly stated applicant guidelines are the easiest ways to get applications into the loser pile.
Students who meticulously adhere to all the guidelines will have a better chance of winning the scholarship money, even before the judges start reading their essays.
DON’T LET AN ESSAY REQUIREMENT SCARE YOU
Scholarships should never be ignored or omitted due to essay requirements. The essay is the student’s opportunity to show the judges, in great personal detail, exactly why they believe they deserve the scholarship money.
Many students avoid applying for scholarships with an essay, so these scholarships tend to have less competition, which means a higher chance of winning for the smart student who takes the time to write a compelling essay.
Make your apps stop
Because competition is very good for most scholarships, students must find ways to make their applications stand out and get noticed by the judges.
Small details such as the paperweight, envelope size, clear and appropriate typeface, scholarship activity or summary, quality letters of recommendation, and the overall presentation of the scholarship application package can make a big difference. in the way, a judge rates the applicant.
Simply filling out a scholarship application and sending it by chance to the required address may seem like a student has done all they can, but learning how to polish and perfect the application is crucial to getting college scholarships.
Online-only applications can also be submitted with additional details that most students don’t bother to include, but that make a world of difference in the eyes of the judges.
START EARLY
Finding the time and motivation to work on college scholarship applications is a huge hurdle for many students.
A great way to overcome this is to encourage students to start applying for scholarships long before their peers.
Most students don’t even begin to think about winning scholarships until they apply to college and begin to see the enormous cost associated with higher education.
This is often the spring of your senior year of high school and by that time, a large number of scholarship application deadlines have already passed.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Best One-Year Masters Programs for Medical Schools
Can I start this if I have another master’s?
Yes, it establishes that the master’s degree is related to medicine. Admission committees tend to look favorably on postgraduate training that is applicable to medicine.
What are SMPs?
SMPs are one- or two-year graduate programs designed with a pre-med student in mind.
What kind of degree do I get at the end of the program?
Each master’s program will offer a different master’s degree upon completion of the requirements. Students typically earn a Master of Medical Science or Master of Medical Physiology.
How are future students evaluated?
Admission committees evaluate each applicant with GPA, MCAT, letters of recommendation, personal statement, research, volunteer experiences, and extracurricular activities. Each committee will weigh them differently, but most rank the MCAT and GPA as the most influential factors.
Who should enroll in an SMP
Students who cannot be admitted to medical school may enroll in an SMP.
A student who finished medical school prerequisites with a low GPA.
A student who has his prerequisites long gone but lacks medical-related research and activities.
Conclusion
The article above breaks down the best one-year master’s programs for medical schools and the schools that offer them. Plus, we learn what special master’s programs are, the benefits and drawbacks, as well as answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
I hope this helps you in choosing master’s programs for medical schools.
