advice needed...

[kmc3830]

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Hi everyone!

So as an avid follower (but never poster) of the post-bac forum, I decided to seek some advice. Because of my low gpa (BCPM 3.0, cum 3.3), I have decided to take a year off and do an SMP with my top choices being EVMS, Georgetown, Cincy, Tufts, and Boston. I just got my scores from the May 22 MCAT and got a 27Q (9s in all sections). The way I see it, I have two options: 1) Study this summer on top of my full time job and take the MCAT sometime in July or August hoping for a better score 2) Put of retaking the MCAT and apply to SMPs with the hope of getting in and wait until next summer to take the MCAT.

Which of these make the most sense? Do you think I would be a competitive applicant for some of the tougher SMPs with my stats?

Thanks for the advice, and sorry if I should have posted this somewhere else!

 

[DrMidlife]

I have decided to take a year off and do an SMP with my top choices being EVMS, Georgetown, Cincy, Tufts, and Boston.

Which year? This coming fall? Apps are closed for those programs for Fall '09, except Tufts. Apps start opening around October; many close by April. Just like med school apps, you want to apply early.

I just got my scores from the May 22 MCAT and got a 27Q (9s in all sections). The way I see it, I have two options: 1) Study this summer on top of my full time job and take the MCAT sometime in July or August hoping for a better score 2) Put of retaking the MCAT and apply to SMPs with the hope of getting in and wait until next summer to take the MCAT.

Either way, don't take the test again until you're able to get yourself where you are scoring above your goal on multiple consecutive practice exams (not the ones from a prep company - the ones on e-mcat.com). That won't happen in 2 months. Most retakes either don't change or they go down. There are lots of ways to improve an MCAT score, substantially, but none of them involve doing it in a hurry or on top of a full time job.

Do you think I would be a competitive applicant for some of the tougher SMPs with my stats?

Sure, if we're talking about fall 2010.

Best of luck to you.

 

[kmc3830]

I would want to enter the SMP in the fall of 2010, so I would be applying this coming year.