Applied to ten smps need advice

[moosfam]

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Hey everyone, I could really use some honest advice.

I applied to about 10 SMP/post-bacc programs this cycle (Temple, PCOM, NYIT, Drexel, Vermont, Larkin, LMU, WVSOM, Rocky Vista, Rowan). So far I’ve been rejected from 7, and I’m still waiting to hear back from PCOM, NYIT, and Drexel.

The only acceptance I’ve gotten is from Larkin University’s MBS program, which has linkage agreements with some DO schools (guaranteed interview if you meet certain requirements).

Now I’m kind of stuck on what to do if I don’t get into the remaining programs.

On one hand:

Larkin gives me a clear path with linkage to only Caribbean schools and articulation agreements with ICOM AND Orlando CON (which seems valuable given my GPA)

I wouldn’t be wasting another year

On the other hand:

It’s expensive

Not as well-known as some of the other SMPs

I’m wondering if I’d be better off strengthening my app and reapplying next cycle

For context:

Low undergrad GPA (~2.0, upward trend)

Stronger performance in later years

Goal is US DO (open to MD but realistically DO)

So I guess my question is:

If Larkin is my only acceptance, would you take it or wait a year and try again for stronger SMPs?

Would really appreciate honest opinions, especially from anyone who’s been in a similar spot

 

[polymerization]

No, I would not. Larkin is not a legitimate academic institution and is not going to increase your stateside competitiveness at all. South FL is known for a lot of for-profit healthcare training scams, mostly nursing. Worse, their linkage/articulation agreements push students into Caribbean programs, where students will be further taken advantage of financially.

All of these programs run on an attrition-based business model. They are motivated to accept anyone and everyone who can pull a loan, make the content harder than it needs to be, and then provide you with very few resources to do well, so that you fail out. Even if you make it past the SMP, Caribbean schools operate on the same premises. There are a lot of posts about why Caribbean schools are not really an "option" the way they advertise themselves as an option.

And when a student does fail out, I can guarantee you that the school will not view themselves as having failed you. They will turn it around and say that you weren't good enough. Not smart enough. Not dedicated enough. And you will look at your academic history and feel you cannot disagree on an objective basis. It will feel worse than you probably feel now.

Behind closed doors, these executives think to themselves it is really your own fault for being scammed, because someone willing to go to "school" at a repurposed 3-story office building across the street from a warehouse is likely in some kind of denial about their situation, or worse, desperate to the point where they know the likelihood of you suing them is low. You will be in ostentatious degrees of debt and with no day job or job prospects; who could afford legal help? What these people do is a crime, but of course, it doesn't get the attention it deserves because the public would probably agree that they don't want healthcare professionals who could not meet ordinary standards.

If this is really your goal, I think you will need to take a step back and fix your life to the point where you are confident you can get straight As, and then go back to college for a DIY post-bacc (second bachelor's) and show schools you can do it for 50+ credits. You need a solid MCAT score, and all of the other ECs medical school applicants need. Your application is probably dead and buried for MD schools, but I can see newer DO programs taking a shot on you if you rehabilitate. It is going to be a multiple-year situation and you probably won't know if it will ever pay off until you've done all of the work.

There won't be a "clear path" out of this one. But I'd rather take the risk knowing that there is an actual feasible outcome at the end vs a path that is mostly in the business of selling you dreams and promises upfront.

Just my 2c. I apologize in advance if I'm coming across brash, maybe even condescending. I worked at Larkin at one point... and I'm sharing what I've learned.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

There's no "choose your medical school" rules for SMPs. If you don't want to go (spend your money) there, you don't have to accept (give them a non-refundable enrollment deposit). Shop for better if you can. Have a plan if you strike out. Larkin does not sound like a great option.

We don't have your WAMC profile. There's a reason why none of the SMP's have accepted you. There's a bigger story you're not telling us (MCAT???) to advise you properly.

 

[moosfam]

Welcome to the forums.

There's no "choose your medical school" rules for SMPs. If you don't want to go (spend your money) there, you don't have to accept (give them a non-refundable enrollment deposit). Shop for better if you can. Have a plan if you strike out. Larkin does not sound like a great option.

We don't have your WAMC profile. There's a reason why none of the SMP's have accepted you. There's a bigger story you're not telling us (MCAT???) to advise you properly.

I got a 498 on the mcat

 

[Moko]

Hey everyone, I could really use some honest advice.

I applied to about 10 SMP/post-bacc programs this cycle (Temple, PCOM, NYIT, Drexel, Vermont, Larkin, LMU, WVSOM, Rocky Vista, Rowan). So far I’ve been rejected from 7, and I’m still waiting to hear back from PCOM, NYIT, and Drexel.

The only acceptance I’ve gotten is from Larkin University’s MBS program, which has linkage agreements with some DO schools (guaranteed interview if you meet certain requirements).

Now I’m kind of stuck on what to do if I don’t get into the remaining programs.

On one hand:

Larkin gives me a clear path with linkage to only Caribbean schools and articulation agreements with ICOM AND Orlando CON (which seems valuable given my GPA)

I wouldn’t be wasting another year

On the other hand:

It’s expensive

Not as well-known as some of the other SMPs

I’m wondering if I’d be better off strengthening my app and reapplying next cycle

For context:

Low undergrad GPA (~2.0, upward trend)

Stronger performance in later years

Goal is US DO (open to MD but realistically DO)

So I guess my question is:

If Larkin is my only acceptance, would you take it or wait a year and try again for stronger SMPs?

Would really appreciate honest opinions, especially from anyone who’s been in a similar spot

A ~2.0 GPA, even with an upward trend, is simply not competitive for any US MD or DO schools. SMPs are a valuable tool for 'reinventors', but this is typically for applicants whose undergrad GPA is ~3.0+. I can't recommend attending a SMP when even a great SMP performance is unlikely to lead to a med school acceptance in your case. Guaranteed interviews mean nothing when it's just a courtesy, and SMPs do not magically erase your undergrad record.

What other careers are you interested in? My advice is to focus your time, energy, and money on building those careers rather than wasting it in a futile attempt to pursue medicine. Just my thoughts.

 

[moosfam]

A ~2.0 GPA, even with an upward trend, is simply not competitive for any US MD or DO schools. SMPs are a valuable tool for 'reinventors', but this is typically for applicants whose undergrad GPA is ~3.0+. I can't recommend attending a SMP when even a great SMP performance is unlikely to lead to a med school acceptance in your case. Guaranteed interviews mean nothing when it's just a courtesy, and SMPs do not magically erase your undergrad record.

What other careers are you interested in? My advice is to focus your time, energy, and money on building those careers rather than wasting it in a futile attempt to pursue medicine. Just my thoughts.

My gpa is a 2.65 with upward trend, my life goal is to become a doctor. I appreciate your honesty but tbh I wont be changing career paths anytime soon

 

[Moko]

My gpa is a 2.65 with upward trend, my life goal is to become a doctor. I appreciate your honesty but tbh I wont be changing career paths anytime soon

A 2.65 GPA is completely different than a "~2.0" GPA. If you want accurate advice, you need to give accurate information.

With a 2.65 GPA, how many credits of 3.7-4.0 will it take to bring your undergraduate GPA above 3.0? SMPs will be displayed as a Masters GPA, and will not affect your undergraduate GPA, the latter of which is often used as a screening tool (3.0 being the magic cutoff at many schools). A guaranteed interview will not change the fact that your application will still not be considered competitive post-interview. If you can get your uGPA above 3.0 followed by a strong SMP showing, that will give you the best chance of a US medical school acceptance on your first attempt.

Your reinvention timeline is realistically going to be a few years. If you haven't already, you should read: Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention (updated for 2021) . Best of luck.

 

[vedo]

Which of the Drexel program did you apply to?

 

[Goro]

Welcome to the forums.

There's no "choose your medical school" rules for SMPs. If you don't want to go (spend your money) there, you don't have to accept (give them a non-refundable enrollment deposit). Shop for better if you can. Have a plan if you strike out. Larkin does not sound like a great option.

We don't have your WAMC profile. There's a reason why none of the SMP's have accepted you. There's a bigger story you're not telling us (MCAT???) to advise you properly.

Agree 100%.
SMPs are a dime a dozen, so keep shopping. Try LECOM and EVMS, for example