Special Master’s Programs – SMPs, Is It Helpful?

As the name suggests, Special Master’s Programs are designed specifically for students who want to specialize or gain additional knowledge in a particular field of education along with a basic bachelor’s degree. These programs are designed while keeping the growing educational needs in the world, which is an upsurge nowadays that requires additional or extraordinary expertise in academics to be successful at a young age. 

Special Master’s Programs are available in many education fields, but here we will be particularly discussing the SMPs (Special Master’s Programs) in the field of medical education. This term is often associated with or quite familiar in the fields of Medical Sciences or any related education fields. So is Special Master’s Program helpful?

Quick Takeaways

• It is a special course that allows medical students to fill their gap years with more knowledge and make complete use of it while applying for majors in a prestigious medical college. 
• It is definitely useful as it will help you to enhance your GPA and will also help you in building up a good student profile. 
• SMPs are usually costly and can add up to the already high-cost medical education courses. 

Though we will be discussing these schools in detail, let us know some enthralling facts about Special master’s programs.

About Special Master’s Programs

Specialized Master’s programs are designed to enhance medical students’ knowledge before joining a medical school. Many students tend to take a gap year for varied reasons before applying for a medical major to find their ultimate interest, to enhance their knowledge in a particular subject, or due to any other reason. That is the time when Special Master’s Programs come into the picture.

• Special master’s can be opted for after completing a bachelor’s degree or at a graduate level. These degrees are particularly aimed to intensify knowledge before applying for a major or a master’s degree.
• These degrees are quite trending in the colleges of the United States of America.
• These programs also enhance the GPA, research-based skills, clinical experiences, and all other academic-nonacademic experiences which are required for securing admission to professional medical schools. 

• Some Special Master’s Programs can allow a student to secure admission in the first-year med school program, or even enrol directly with MD students. These SMPs are taken into consideration by medical schools and admission committees for the placement of a student at an appropriate level.
• If you are going to medical school, you must make sure to know the ways by which you can make the money.
• These programs will also help to increase your chances of getting paid in medical school.
• Generally, the Special Master’s Programs are one or two-year-long courses. The course duration typically depends on the institution the student chooses or the affiliated medical college. 

Who can opt for Special Master’s Programs?

The students who want to:

• Enhance the GPA, research-based skills, clinical experiences, and all other academic-nonacademic experiences which are required for securing admission to professional medical schools. 
• The students who are seeking admission to prestigious or ivy league medical schools that have specific admission requirements.  

• The students who want to specialize in a piece of particular subjective knowledge, due to interest or to meet the advancing educational needs, or to be eligible to gain a well-secured job with additional qualifications. 
• The students who are re-submitting their application or re-applying for a course. 
• The students want to get familiar with the medical school environment and the major they are going to be applying to.
• The students who want to fill their gap year or pursue a continuation program. 

What are the plausible benefits of Special Master’s Programs?

• SMPs usually tend to increase the chances to enter prestigious medical schools or the school of your dreams. These programs are usually affiliated with specific medical schools that require outstanding applications, GPA, clinical experiences, etc. You will also need to send the VITA application or med school diversity essay to the school along with these programs.
• It will also help to increase the chances of getting into the interview for which you will need the right outfit.
• These programs also enhance the GPA, research-based skills, clinical experiences, and all other academic-nonacademic experiences which are required for securing admission to professional medical schools. 
• Flexible schedules. Many schools also provide online SMPs which allow the students to be more flexible regarding the timings. Some of them may also pay you a refund cheque or even offer you laptops.
• Builds a good student profile. 
• You can add it to your CV and can also try to send the supplemental application to easily get admission.

What are the plausible drawbacks of Special Master’s Programs?

• SMPs are usually costly and can add up to the already high-cost medical education courses. 
• It has become such a hip trend for young professionals or newly graduated students that disregarding their interests, they can tend to take up such programs and can be least benefitted. 
• Adds more years in degree completion before starting as a professional. 

Here is a short list of colleges that provide Special Master’s Programs:

• Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland-Ohio
• Georgetown University, Washington DC
• Eastern Virginia Medical School, Virginia
• Loyola University, Chicago
• Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey
• Boston University, Boston 
• University of Cincinnati, Ohio
• New York Medical College, New York
• Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia

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