I've been doing a lot of research lately on SMP and post bacc programs and from what I know there is none that start in the spring. There are some that you can start in the summer, but most are Fall semesters.
Hey guys does anyone know which smp programs accept students for the spring semester.
I'm a CA resident. And I took the mcat 4/4/13 didn't go as planned so I'm retaking. Which means I won't be able to apply anywhere to start this fall. So my question is which programs enroll in the spring this way I have enough time to retake mcat an apply. I know USC global medicine accepts in the spring. But don't know which others do.
Thanks for all the help.
This is going to be very SMP specific - so dont assume thats a blanket assumption.I ended up finding out the answer. While the fact is that AMCAS calculations are indeed for med school admissions purposes, the SMP admissions look at your gpa from your university/college. So if in fact your school offers grade forgiveness the SMP admissions will only care to see your gpa which will most likely be without repeats calculated in (the higher of the repeated). But it is a good thing to keep in mind AMCAS gpas is what will count in admissions for MD programs. But for the sake of SMP it's your gpa without repeats. The reason I asked was because some SMP has linkage programs and they actually look at how you do in the master's program more so then in your undergrad from which I was told.
I called:
Barry University
USF
Midwestern (Glendale, AZ)
EVMS
My question was SMP specific. There was no assumptions of anything. I also mentioned that the person should be aware because AMCAS gpa IS the one that counts for med school admissions.
Your question was not specific and you made your answer broad and sweeping.My question was SMP specific. There was no assumptions of anything. I also mentioned that the person should be aware because AMCAS gpa IS the one that counts for med school admissions.
How about adding my SMP classes to my AMCAS/AACOMAS?
You should now be applying/start applying to applying to SMPs (It is January of 2007 now- start of the new year is usually when applications open up). By May, you should know where you may be. By the time that AMCAS/AACOMAS opens up in early June/late May, you should have hopefully made some preliminary decision about where you will attend. That said, acquire a list of the courses you will be taking for the entire SMP year (if you can get them- Im sure the course director can provide you with this), and add it on AMCAS as classes you will be taking in your planned SMP. If possible, since not ALL schools know about what SMPs are- under the school name in which you list your graduate classes- list your school as XXX School of Medicine (if indeed your classes take place there in the official SMPs). Not only will this catch adcoms eyes, but it should give a heads up to those unfamiliar with what an SMP is. This is what I did with my AMCAS- I listed my entire course list under University of Cincinnati School of Medicine as graduate work.
Hi does anybody got some personal experience with Loyola's MSPS program? I have been accepted into Loyola's MSPS and Midwestern (AZ)'s Masters of Arts in Biomed Science program. I'm having a hard time deciding which is the better program to go to. any input would be greatly appreciated!
Loyola has an MD school. Midwestern has some DO schools. That matters.
You're off by one thread: reviews are in the "Rate your SMP & Postbac" thread. Ignore the reviews that don't include whether people got into med school or not.Thanks and yes I've considered that, but I kind of wanted to know about the program from any personal experiences.
You're off by one thread: reviews are in the "Rate your SMP & Postbac" thread. Ignore the reviews that don't include whether people got into med school or not.
If your goal is to go to med school, then you need to find grads of those programs who are in med school. People don't come back to SDN and report with any frequency. You may do better to directly ask the programs for alumni contacts.
If you honestly don't understand how to choose between Loyola & Midwestern's MS program in AZ, it's this simple: Go to Loyola if you want to get into a US MD school. Go to Midwestern AZ program if you want to go to a DO school.
Generally you can blow it at a program like Loyola and end up at a DO school. And generally you can get into a US MD school from a DO masters if you have MD stats going in.
Best of luck to you.
Generally you can blow it at a program like Loyola and end up at a DO school.
i notice that in IMS, only 50 out of 140 people get the B or better in every class and the 27 MCAT. that's a reflection on the students, not the program. but i worry for the 90 kids who have blown it. i doubt DO schools take them.
1) There's no god damn way 50 people made the guaranteed interview at IMS. No freaking way. It varies year to year, but a better number is 15-30 out of 140. This last year, the number was about 15.
1) There's no god damn way 50 people made the guaranteed interview at IMS. No freaking way. It varies year to year, but a better number is 15-30 out of 140. This last year, the number was about 15.
2) The definition of 'blowing it' varies dramatically. A lot who are struggling drop a class or two and maintain their GPA (they still manage DO interviews). Others drop out. If you maintain a 3.0 in IMS, you are guaranteed (regardless of what classes you dropped) admission into the the MBS program, which is a master's program. After that, a lot more get interviews into DO or occasionally MD schools including Drexel.
A 3.0 is a fixable situation, at least at Drexel. A lot who drop out realize they don't want to work that hard to be a doctor and find other things to do. A handful are only there because their parents want them to be a doctor. They fail everything and eventually have to own up to their parents.
You said your GPA is fine.... until you fix your MCAT, forget SMPsI have taken the MCAT twice, the first time two years ago and this year again. I have scores in the low twenties and I obviously can't apply. But my GPAs are fine. Are there specific SMPs that you could recommend for the lower GPA? It seems like Georgetown for example is very hard to get into and that you need at least a 28 to apply, any advice?
Most people who do SMPs weren't getting into med school without themDo most people who attend SMPs find out they get into a better med school than they could have without the SMPs? I'm looking at the list of schools Boston MAMS students got accepted to, and they're all pretty good--lots of mid tier, some mid high. I was expecting people who need to do SMPs don't have a chance getting into even a low tier medical school (and that's why they do SMPs), and AFTER they do SMPs, they get into a low tier school. ...but then they get into great schools, so I was wondering if this is usually the case?
Most people who do SMPs weren't getting into med school without them
Doing well in an SMP is a universal "i can cut it in med school" which a lot of med schools (of varying tiers) respect.
And in regard to the tier thing, there is a lot less difference between the "worst" med school and the "best" med school than there is between a top 10 undergrad and the "worst 4-year degree". People match into competitive specialties at competitive programs from all sorts of US MD schools (note the lack of Carib...)
From what I've heard, there's a difference between the medical schools in terms of residency, right? Like, they favor more notable names or like research more than low tiers or something? And if that's true, and you can get into a better medical school with the SMP (than you could have without it), and you even have the advantage of some M1 classes for second exposure, why don't more people apply to the SMPs? Time and the expensive tuition?
Hey guys, I've gotten acceptances to the Georgetown SMP and the Tulane Masters in Pharmacology. I'm really conflicted in how I should go about selecting which program to follow through with. From weighing the pros and cons of each, they're pretty dead even.
Georgetown is more established and is widely known by many med schools but it is expensive, very difficult, and I'm guessing impersonal (~100 students).
Tulane MS Pharm is also relatively established, cheaper, and personal (~30 students); however, after scouring the threads, I have not been able to find enough information to deem it as reliable as gtown.
(Also as an aside, I'm not sure how to weigh the programs by the number of classes they compare you to med students with [Gtown has 6 med classes, Tulane has 2 med classes]. Is more or less 'better'?)
To those who have completed either SMP and have gotten into a med school, what else should I consider to make this decision?
This might be a silly question, but I am feelign quite nervy about the intensity/workload of Cincinnati SMP program I am attending in less than a month.
So, how bad is it really? Will I still have time to relax -- I know working hard would be the primary focus but I think I would burn out after such a long period of studying (almost 11 months long).
Would it be similar to, for instance, taking 20 units of science courses in a pregistiuous university?
i'm pretty damn nervous about my SMP (drexel) as well. i read the survival guide and past testimonials on the rate your smp thread. cincy has few reviews but they do have a survival guide on the smp website - read it.
i already looked at the notes. the first module fundamentals is 10 days and i am responsible for 140 pages of module notes. all the ims students say i have to read these notes 2-3 times before the real studying begins. 140 pages single spaed in 10 days! although cincy may not be as bad. i spoke to someone who compared tulane and ims and they said ims tests a lot of small details that tulane does not.
+ 11) don't prestudy. You need context of lectures to understand what you're reading.
2) you don't do physician and patient, so you can throw those notes out (reduces it to something like ~100 pages, which is easy).
3) i got to the point where i could read ~50 pages per hour of brand new material. If you're inefficient because of facebook and reddit, 50 pages can take 8 hours. it's about discipline. You'll figure it out quickly, so don't stress out now.
4) by february, you'll be responsible for 300 pages for a week of exams. in med school, that number can balloon up to 500-700. You get used to it.
You said your GPA is fine.... until you fix your MCAT, forget SMPs
IMO, yesI am in the same boat. I have a 27 mcat. Only weakness i feel to my application. my gpa is 3.5 and i have good amount of ECs and research.
From everything I have read these SMPs are good for people with low GPAs. For people in my position of low MCAT would you say SMPs are a waste of money and time?
Do some research - but typically costs $50k. I don't believe FAP gets you anything for SMPs - so you'd have to do private loans for the whole thing.edit: i was looking at the SMPs that give you at least an interview at their school. should i consider it? how much does a 1 year SMP cost? i believe I am economically disadvantage. I qualified for FAP
IMO, yes
Do some research - but typically costs $50k. I don't believe FAP gets you anything for SMPs - so you'd have to do private loans for the whole thing.
Re-taking the MCAT and spending $1500 on a prep-class is much cheaper and more effective than a $50k SMP.
I've said it (and others have said it to) -an SMP is not a solution for a crappy MCAT; only retaking the MCAT is
"Post-bac" doesn't equal SMPi just mentioned FAP cause some post-bac you need to be economically disadvantage.
Hi all,
Hope applications are going well for those of you who are applying. I'm here looking for help with SMP. I read up on them a little, but I'm still a little unclear on how they work in terms of when do you apply to Medical School. Just a little background, I'm a first time applicant and have been filling out secondaries. I have a 2.95 sGPA and 3.49cGPA. I know they are both significantly lower than what is accepted, especially the sGPA, but I still applied. I took the MCAT twice and got a 23 and then a 29 in April 2013. I feel it is too late to turn back now since I've been sending back secondaries and I guess I hope a school interviews me and gives me a chance. The realization of my GPA hit me when a DO school said I didn't meet their standards for a secondary and after I spoke to one of my friends who is an M3 at Georgetown.
Now my questions: Do people apply to SMP after they realize Medical School wont work out? Or do they apply to it simultaneously with Medical School? I'm going to hope for the best with some of my in-state schools and some DOs and if not, look into SMP. Would I still be able to apply next summer if this year doesn't work out and put SMP in progress or would I have to wait for 2015 to apply after receiving all of my grades?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
I believe most of your questions have been answered by the first post.
You're right. Thank you. Does anyone know if there's a wamc thread for smp?
No, but you're generally competitive for SMPs if you have above a 65 LizzyM score, with more than half of the score coming from the MCAT.
(By SMPs, I assume you're talking about "real" SMPs - programs where you take classes alongside medical students)
SMPs are looking for students that would probably get into medical schools on their own already, and just need that boost in grades.
However, all I'm seeing is they want people with 3.4 overall and science which leads me to ask the question, how can I prove I belong if I can't even get into a SMP?
Everyone that goes into a SMP thinks that they can handle it before reality hits. It's definitely a trial by fire.
As for getting into a SMP, your MCAT is the biggest obstacle on your application. SMP attempts to make up for a bad cumulative GPA, not cover up a bad MCAT score.
No, but there is with medical schools; and it doesnt start with a 2....for those of you who have been accepted into SMPs, was there a magic number you found with the MCAT? I took it twice already and first time got a 23 (had an extremely heavy course load and poor decision on my part) and a 29 the second time. Do I really need to take it a third time? I've only really looked at 2 SMP (Georgetown and Drexel) and my 29 would be accepted. However, I'm sure there is some kind of magic number associated with the SMPs.
Do more reading.So I read in the first post (written 7 years ago...) that SMPs are considered to be graduate level courses, obviously, and that medical schools tend to weight these less than undergraduate courses. I wanted to know if a post-bac certificate program would be considered a graduate level course or undergrad level course according to the adcoms for med school.
No, but there is with medical schools; and it doesnt start with a 2....