Advice on best course of action

[amp2380]

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Hi all! I wanted some input on my path to medical school and thought I'd put some feelers out here. I am currently 24 y/o and hoping to apply to med school in the next couple of years. Here's where my stats are at though.. cGPA:2.98 sGPA: 2.89. I've been out of undergrad for a couple years now and took a few online classes to boost my GPA while working full time. Unfortunately, COVID hit and my work exploded. I didn't manage my time well and ended up with 2 B's in the classes I was hoping to get A's in. At this point I have decided that my best bet is to do an SMP prior to applying to medical, but I'm worried that these scores may affect my acceptance into one since they were technically lower level classes. What are your thoughts on this? Is there another approach you all would take? I haven't taken the MCAT yet, but am planning to do so towards the end of this year, early next year.

 

[Coffee&Scrubs26]

If you truly want to be a doctor I would recommend you take the MCAT first and see how you do. Then depending on how you score you can more adequately assess your situation. I personally am not a fan of SMPs because they tend to be expensive and high-risk high reward but if you are looking for one try to find one with a strong linkage to their med school.

 

[deleted936470]

No GPA trend and no MCAT? Cannot recommend SMP.
Get your undergraduate GPAs > 3.0 with a significant upward trend, 1+ year of A's realistically, before even thinking about a SMP.
If those grades are coupled with a good MCAT score, you may get some love from DO. If heart is still set on MD at that point, then consider SMP.

 

[amp2380]

No GPA trend and no MCAT? Cannot recommend SMP.
Get your undergraduate GPAs > 3.0 with a significant upward trend, 1+ year of A's realistically, before even thinking about a SMP.
If those grades are coupled with a good MCAT score, you may get some love from DO. If heart is still set on MD at that point, then consider SMP.

Let's say.. best possible case I score 510+ (that's what I'm shooting for), do you think an SMP would be a more viable choice then? I'm actually leaning towards DO anyway

 

[deleted936470]

Let's say.. best possible case I score 510+ (that's what I'm shooting for), do you think an SMP would be a more viable choice then? I'm actually leaning towards DO anyway

I'm biased and don't recommend SMPs at all really, but you should do your own research to see if that path makes sense to you and whether the extra school and debt is worth just a shot at MD. If you do poorly in it, then both MD + DO will be out of reach.
SMP won't be needed for DO. Get 1+ year(s) of As, 510 will net you DO interviews. That's essentially what happened to me.
You wouldn't even need a 510 with 1-2 years of reinvention.

 

[amp2380]

I'm biased and don't recommend SMPs at all really, but you should do your own research to see if that path makes sense to you and whether the extra school and debt is worth just a shot at MD. If you do poorly in it, then both MD + DO will be out of reach.
SMP won't be needed for DO. Get 1+ year(s) of As, 510 will net you DO acceptances. That's essentially what happened to me.
You wouldn't even need a 510 with 1-2 years of reinvention.

Thanks so much for your input!! It's very appreciated. I will look into other options beyond an SMP now!

 

[DocJanItor]

I'm biased and don't recommend SMPs at all really, but you should do your own research to see if that path makes sense to you and whether the extra school and debt is worth just a shot at MD. If you do poorly in it, then both MD + DO will be out of reach.
SMP won't be needed for DO. Get 1+ year(s) of As, 510 will net you DO interviews. That's essentially what happened to me.
You wouldn't even need a 510 with 1-2 years of reinvention.

SMPs are good for people like me whose uGPA was unrecoverable. Anyone on the cusp of a 3.0 or above shouldn't use them.

 

[deleted936470]

SMPs are good for people like me whose uGPA was unrecoverable. Anyone on the cusp of a 3.0 or above shouldn't use them.

Agreed, or if they really want MD over DO despite reinvention / failed applications.
Concerned that recommending a SMP with no grade trend / strong MCAT is a death sentence for OP as it is for many people.

 

[DocJanItor]

Agreed, or if they really want MD despite reinvention.
just worried a SMP with no grade trend / strong MCAT being a death sentence as it is for many people.

It's my opinion that if they can't do well in an SMP then they wouldn't do well in M1 either. Sure it's an expensive mistake, but so is matriculating and eventually failing out. Both are unrecoverable.

As for the MD thing, it's a big risk just for that. Although the best schools have linkage, even if you do well you're not guaranteed to be accepted. Many of my classmates from SMP still ended up going to DO school.

 

[deleted936470]

It's my opinion that if they can't do well in an SMP then they wouldn't do well in M1 either. Sure it's an expensive mistake, but so is matriculating and eventually failing out. Both are unrecoverable.

As for the MD thing, it's a big risk just for that. Although the best schools have linkage, even if you do well you're not guaranteed to be accepted. Many of my classmates from SMP still ended up going to DO school.

While performing poorly in a SMP means you probably won't do well M1/M2, even performing marginally below average can be damning for your chances.
Too risky given the average tuition of these programs; OP is best doing a DIY post-bacc at the cheapest, local college.

 

[DocJanItor]

While performing poorly in a SMP means you probably won't do well M1/M2, even performing marginally below average can be damning for your chances.
Too risky given the average tuition of these programs; OP is best doing a DIY post-bacc at the cheapest, local college.

Oh, yeah, this person should totally avoid it. I'm just saying in general.

 

[Goro]

Hi all! I wanted some input on my path to medical school and thought I'd put some feelers out here. I am currently 24 y/o and hoping to apply to med school in the next couple of years. Here's where my stats are at though.. cGPA:2.98 sGPA: 2.89. I've been out of undergrad for a couple years now and took a few online classes to boost my GPA while working full time. Unfortunately, COVID hit and my work exploded. I didn't manage my time well and ended up with 2 B's in the classes I was hoping to get A's in. At this point I have decided that my best bet is to do an SMP prior to applying to medical, but I'm worried that these scores may affect my acceptance into one since they were technically lower level classes. What are your thoughts on this? Is there another approach you all would take? I haven't taken the MCAT yet, but am planning to do so towards the end of this year, early next year.

Plenty of med schools reward reinvention.

Read this:

• Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

 

[amp2380]

Plenty of med schools reward reinvention.

Read this:

• Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention

Thanks so much! That post was very helpful. Also, noting that reinvention can be done at a CC takes a huge financial burden off and also allows me to continue working full-time. I'm glad to know there is still hope.