Masters degree and residency

[neeL24]

Hello,
If I work on a masters degree while at SMU, how much will that help me in ascertaining a residency program?

[IMG2006]

Hello,
If I work on a masters degree while at SMU, how much will that help me in ascertaining a residency program?

Attaining.
It will spark minimal interest. I didn't find that too many PDs were blown away by it. What did work though was that I talked about how I wanted to use it to further my goal of getting involved in medical education. They then asked if it was an educationally directed degree... which it isn't.
Bottom line... you're going to have to lay out a career plan for them. Otherwise, you look like you're trying to pad the IMG thing. If you have a good plan though, this should be a bonus for you.

[albans]

I agree. It does give you a few points but it doesn't blow them away. When asked why I did it, I said it was a great opportunity to learn more about the way healthcare works because these days all physicians have to understand it, yada yada. Depending on their reaction to that I would go further and mention my involvement in being active about things like tort reform (which is very politically neutral with docs)... etc.

The best thing the degree did for me was that when I was asked why I didn't go straight from graduating to residency - why I waited until the next cyle - I could say I wanted to finish up my masters in health care admin. They LOVED that answer. It was much better than my -- "scared to death I wouldn't pass step 2 on first attempt and I wanted more time to study."

Just use the angle that you wanted to take the opportunity to learn more about what you will be involved in. It makes you sound well-rounded, interesting, aware, and eager to learn.

The above poster was correct though, it isn't going to blow them away. It will nudge them though.

[GoodDoc]

Hello,
If I work on a masters degree while at SMU, how much will that help me in ascertaining a residency program?

In my hospital, the president of the hospital has MHSA degree. During the my interview season, I had seen many hospital administrators in the residency programs who had MHSA degrees. Not only that, actually I have met several people who got MHSA degree from St Joseph's College.

In my hospital, there are 300 to 400 applicants for the FP program. First selection we could do is that we eliminated foreign graduate with no US history. The applicants who has US ** degree has more chance than Non-** degree. The applicants who has MBA/MPH/MHSA has more chance than Non-master degree applicants.

I dont' recommend you to do St Joe for this purpose. But I had a big advantage when I applied to residency programs even though I haven't finish MHSA yet at that time.

[Junito]

Try to get an internship or some research. I know that the MHSA is not really conducive to research, but try finding out if this is at all possible. There are numerous possibilities for research during clinicals. Hope this helps.

[Banker794]

I'd hope that the MHSA degree will help polish your application....for residency.

According to Dr. P a lot of current doctor's are going back to school in order to secure a masters. His explanation as to why wasnt too clear but he said in Maine it is becomming a trend.

[IMG2006]

Try to get an internship or some research. I know that the MHSA is not really conducive to research, but try finding out if this is at all possible. There are numerous possibilities for research during clinicals. Hope this helps.


Good call on that Juni. I had a prof offer to help me publish one of the papers I wrote in her class in a journal. I didn't have time to do it then, but am going to do it between grad and internship. I think people who have that chance will have a real edge, sicne there is a blank on ERAS for publications.

[AmericanIMG]

...In my hospital, there are 300 to 400 applicants for the FP program. First selection we could do is that we eliminated foreign graduate with no US history.
what hospital would do this??? shouldn't the hospital look at the person's step1 score first? seems totally illogical to simply toss an app because someone was from outside the US...i could have sworn there was a US law about discrimination in job hiring somewhere...

[Junito]

I think he was referring to FMG's who have no US clinical exposure. I spoke to a PD that said the same thing: No US clinical exposure was the first to go. This would be possible since there are so many applicants to choose from.

[dr2004usa]

This is true... a friend without clinical exposure in the US was overlooked by Yale, even though she had harvard research experience, ya yada tada,.. not even interview.. no us clinical.. ouuuuuttttt:twisted:

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[GoodDoc]

what hospital would do this??? shouldn't the hospital look at the person's step1 score first? seems totally illogical to simply toss an app because someone was from outside the US...i could have sworn there was a US law about discrimination in job hiring somewhere...

Every programs has its own selection criteria. Generally, there are differences in IM, FP, Inner city hospitals and rural hospitals. IM and urban hospitals look at more USMLE score but FP and rural hospital look at more communication skills including English fluency.

In our hospital, one third of applicants are FMG who's never been in the States even their home address are foreign countries. For example, there is an applicant from one country from Southeast Asia. He has good USMLE scores. He applies one hundreds program in IM and FP. He got rejected from all FP programs and rural IMs. But he got several interviews from big city IM programs.

Another case, he is a US citizen and studied in a Caribbean country. He barely passed the Step I and II. He applied more than one hundred programs in IM and FPs. He got all rejected from IM but he got several interviews from FP in rural area including his home town.

Overally, FP programs do not look at USMLE score alone. :D

[IMG X-Files]

To answer the latter: Depending on the residency....but generally speaking !!
Program Directors are looking at these 5 criteria:
1. USMLE and Board results FIRST !!
2. US/Canada Clerkship exposure
3. Rotations performed and relation to your desired residency...(i.e if all your electives are in internal medicine....then...chances are you will not get into neurosurgery..)
4. Research and Academic performance while in medical school
5. Dean's Letter and Letters of recommendations (I grouped them into one category, since when I screen for residents I often look at both...)

Don't hold your breath with additional degrees...... To be competitive do well on your boards, decide your residency and tailor your electives accordingly....make sure your mentors are REALLY impressed !!! (MA/MPH/MSc/PhD are ok to have however have little or no impact on P.D. Decision process..!!!)

Best wishes,

[Banker794]

If you want really helpful info speak with Dr. P. His wife is part of the MMC an admissions commitee at MMC

[IMG2006]

what hospital would do this??? shouldn't the hospital look at the person's step1 score first? seems totally illogical to simply toss an app because someone was from outside the US...i could have sworn there was a US law about discrimination in job hiring somewhere...

They weren't basing it on age, gender, race, creed, or ethnicity... That's what the law covers. I actually think this is interesting. Many states make it hard on the 2 and 2 IMGs to get a license, but programs tend to prefer us. It's a crappy paradox....