Advice for potential reapplication! SMP?

[fd25]

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Hey everybody, I’m looking into a potential reapplication for this year and am debating whether I should spend the coming cycle enrolled in an SMP or working a clinical or research job. Any advice appreciated!!

Stats for current cycle:
- 3.63cGPA, 3.56sGPA, 511 MCAT (126/130/127/128)
- 1000hrs research (no pubs/posters)
- 75hrs shadowing
- 135hr clinical volunteering
- 150hrs artistic endeavor at a high level
- 1500 hours non-clinical employment
- 450 hrs leadership, president of clinical volunteering organization at my school
- 30 hours senior editor of school’s medical publication journal


Current cycle outcome:
- 25 MD apps
- 3 II, 2WL, 1 no response yet
- sent letter of intent to top choice, not on HPWL


Things I have added during this application cycle:
- 2 months full-time EMT paid employment (320hrs)
- 2000 hours full-time research job (working as a tech/lab manager) but also conducting my own independent project; significant progress made and will hopefully submit something for publication this summer

plan for upcoming activity:
- hoping to start volunteering soon with Crisis Text Line

dilemma for upcoming year:
1) move back to hometown with my partner and our daughter for cheaper cost of living and good public schools; work clinical or research job; near emory, not sure if it could increase chances of II

2) SMP somewhere like EVMS with hood linkage near guarantee of II?

I know SMPs are typically for people with GPAs closer to ~3.0-3.2, but my GPA is still on the lower side.

Any advice for how I can improve my application would be greatly appreciated!

 

[JimKimSlim]

I’d say you really need to bulk up your clinical experience. Try scribing, and I don’t think SMP is necessary for your GPA.

 

[fd25]

I’d say you really need to bulk up your clinical experience. Try scribing, and I don’t think SMP is necessary for your GPA.

thanks for the input! I actually haven’t been told before that my clinical experience could be an issue. I have 135hrs volunteering and 320 new hours of clinical employment, so about 450 hours total. How many hours do you think I should aim for? And thanks again!

 

[JimKimSlim]

thanks for the input! I actually haven’t been told before that my clinical experience could be an issue. I have 135hrs volunteering and 320 new hours of clinical employment, so about 450 hours total. How many hours do you think I should aim for? And thanks again!

450 should be enough, but clinical is one way to compensate for your below median GPA for matriculants. As always, more the merrier, and try to add some more shadowing if possible. I don’t think your GPA is an issue here, since you got a few ii’s. If you think the interview didn’t go well, working in a research lab is great because you won’t run out of things to say if you pay attention at work.

 

[fd25]

450 should be enough, but clinical is one way to compensate for your below median GPA for matriculants. As always, more the merrier, and try to add some more shadowing if possible. I don’t think your GPA is an issue here, since you got a few ii’s. If you think the interview didn’t go well, working in a research lab is great because you won’t run out of things to say if you pay attention at work.

Awesome! Thanks a bunch for the input

 

[Goro]

Hey everybody, I’m looking into a potential reapplication for this year and am debating whether I should spend the coming cycle enrolled in an SMP or working a clinical or research job. Any advice appreciated!!

Stats for current cycle:
- 3.63cGPA, 3.56sGPA, 511 MCAT (126/130/127/128)
- 1000hrs research (no pubs/posters)
- 75hrs shadowing
- 135hr clinical volunteering
- 150hrs artistic endeavor at a high level
- 1500 hours non-clinical employment
- 450 hrs leadership, president of clinical volunteering organization at my school
- 30 hours senior editor of school’s medical publication journal


Current cycle outcome:
- 25 MD apps
- 3 II, 2WL, 1 no response yet
- sent letter of intent to top choice, not on HPWL


Things I have added during this application cycle:
- 2 months full-time EMT paid employment (320hrs)
- 2000 hours full-time research job (working as a tech/lab manager) but also conducting my own independent project; significant progress made and will hopefully submit something for publication this summer

plan for upcoming activity:
- hoping to start volunteering soon with Crisis Text Line

dilemma for upcoming year:
1) move back to hometown with my partner and our daughter for cheaper cost of living and good public schools; work clinical or research job; near emory, not sure if it could increase chances of II

2) SMP somewhere like EVMS with hood linkage near guarantee of II?

I know SMPs are typically for people with GPAs closer to ~3.0-3.2, but my GPA is still on the lower side.

Any advice for how I can improve my application would be greatly appreciated!

SMP? No way. Improve your app, starting with interview skills. Your stats will not be keeping you out of medical school