Advice: Am I an applicant that would benefit from a SMP?

[Ggnome]

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I have been accepted to Drexel's IMS program, and am waiting for a decision from Tufts' MBS program.

I am on 2 medschool waitlists from this year (RFU and Drexel) as it was my first application try and I was unsuccessful. Of around 25-30 apps, I had 3 interviews.

My gpa: 3.45 overall, 3.36 science- it's only so low because of community college courses I took in high school (long story, I pulled a 2.78 there, but a 3.55 at UCLA/UCSD where I finished my undergrad).

MCAT: 30O - 10, 10, 10,- balanced.

CA residency

Secondaries completed Sept.-Nov. last time

The problem is: will an SMP be the best option for me? Or will applying early (as I am now) and doing something else will be better? I don't think I have problems with my ECs- just the GPA.

Another problem: I have a serious boyfriend of 7 years that won't be able to move with me. That's good and bad, but I just don't want to fall apart in the SMP from being away from him for the first time. Did you know anyone in your SMP that went through this? Any advice?

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I appreciate any advice!

 

[RoadRunner17]

I feel like you might be better off doing a post-bac. You can get your grades up, especially the BCPM GPA with one year's worth of work. You'd get above a 3.5, competitive enough for most schools.

One of my classmates had similar numbers; a little bit below 3.5 overall GPA and a 3.45 sciences GPA, a 35 MCAT, from CA... he didn't get into any of the CA schools but he got acceptances to Penn State, Univ. of Maryland and got waitlists at Duke and Ohio State.. and he was an Asian male as well. I don't think you're that far off from being successful with a year's worth of coursework as long as the rest of your application is strong.

SMPs are more for the applicants whose GPA is significantly lower than yours, between 3.0 and 3.3 and can't raise their GPA up to the neighborhood of a 3.5 with a post-bac, I think. With some work, you can make yourself even more competitive, and it'd probably cost you less in terms of money and stress.

 

[postbacker]

I have been accepted to Drexel's IMS program, and am waiting for a decision from Tufts' MBS program.

I am on 2 medschool waitlists from this year (RFU and Drexel) as it was my first application try and I was unsuccessful. Of around 25-30 apps, I had 3 interviews.

My gpa: 3.45 overall, 3.36 science- it's only so low because of community college courses I took in high school (long story, I pulled a 2.78 there, but a 3.55 at UCLA/UCSD where I finished my undergrad).

MCAT: 30O - 10, 10, 10,- balanced.

CA residency

Secondaries completed Sept.-Nov. last time

The problem is: will an SMP be the best option for me? Or will applying early (as I am now) and doing something else will be better? I don't think I have problems with my ECs- just the GPA.

Another problem: I have a serious boyfriend of 7 years that won't be able to move with me. That's good and bad, but I just don't want to fall apart in the SMP from being away from him for the first time. Did you know anyone in your SMP that went through this? Any advice?

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I appreciate any advice!

Your post begs the question - what have you done since your first app cycle to improve your application? Any post bac classes? Any additional ECs? Were you able to write a stronger PS? Did you obtain any new and improved LORs?

This is just a general observation, but it seems to me that most applicants do nothing during the app cycle to improve their profile, and applicants in the "grey zone" such as the OP really should be boosting their profile during the app year with additional course work, ECs, LORs, etc.

You are a likely candidate for an SMP, but you might consider post bac work this next year for some upper level sci classes to raise your BCMP...but whatever you do in this second app cycle, continue to improve your profile "just in case" you are in the same boat a year from now...

 

[RoadRunner17]

Your post begs the question - what have you done since your first app cycle to improve your application? Any post bac classes? Any additional ECs? Were you able to write a stronger PS? Did you obtain any new and improved LORs?

This is just a general observation, but it seems to me that most applicants do nothing during the app cycle to improve their profile, and applicants in the "grey zone" such as the OP really should be boosting their profile during the app year with additional course work, ECs, LORs, etc.

You are a likely candidate for an SMP, but you might consider post bac work this next year for some upper level sci classes to raise your BCMP...but whatever you do in this second app cycle, continue to improve your profile "just in case" you are in the same boat a year from now...

Lets hope she's not in the same boat a year from now, whichever way she decides to go. You know, keep in mind that my advice is only based on discussions with premedical advisors who know my own situation and have explained different pros and cons to decisions. Ultimately, I really think you should schedule an appointment with your school's premedical advisor and talk to him/her about it. Good luck with your decision!

 

[Ggnome]

Thank you for all of the help and advice- everyone. I appreciate it greatly.

As for what I've been doing this past year, I did try to improve my application. I didn't take any postbac classes (an unwise decision in hindsight), chiefly because of wanting to spend this year earning some money and paying off debt, so I moved back home. I did gain new shadowing experiences, new volunteer experiences, finished up a research project and got active in my community (I serve as a board member for my city). I felt that community involvement was lacking in my last app. I also worked full-time+, not doing research, but doing something I enjoyed-teaching science at a school for kids with learning disabilities.

I got extensive help with re-working my PS and also got 2 new letters- both very strong.

I know that my GPA seems to be the killer, but I didn't want to take post-bac classes at a community college (the only option that was available to me), but it seems that perhaps I should have? Either way, I have to work with what I have now.

I appreciate the encouraging words about my 7-year relationship, Perrotfish. Two semesters is short in the long run.

I am planning to contact several of the med schools that I was rejected from and ask their advice. To try to help out others in my situation, I'll post what I find out here.

Thanks again to everyone!