Local MSc before PhD? (International Chem student)

[Madmoony]

Hello everyone!

At the moment I am studying for (will start my final year next month) a BSc in Chemistry in my home country, but want to get my PhD in the USA. However, I am not sure about my chances of acceptance in the programs I want to get in, mainly because of my research experience (6 months) and how my undergraduate education will be viewed (it is a 3-year degree, but almost entirely chemistry). So I have been considering getting a 2-year MSc degree here before applying to PhD.

Somehow the only con I see is that I would start (and finish) the PhD 2 years later, but can you think of any others?