applying to post-bac and med schools at the same time?

[halekulani]

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I'm going to be a senior this fall, and because my grades are low (3.3 GPA right now), I felt it was better that I apply to med school after I finish my senior year with a higher GPA. I haven't completely decided what to do with my year off since I won't be applying until 2007 for the 2008 class. I am taking the MCATs this August. I have a few questions though.

1. How many applicants apply for SMP programs such as Georgetown, and how many get in?

2. Is it unusual to apply for post-bac the same time as med school?

3. If accepted to a post-bac program, do med schools see your grades during your year at the postbac? Is this a good way to attempt to get into med school? Is this viewed as a positive or negative? Are you more likely to be put on the waitlist until you finish the program?

My main concern is that I have no problem taking 1 year off to do something else, but I really want to avoid a "glide year." Any input on how to remedy the situation would be great. Thanks.

Other info-
MCAT unknown, but I should be in the 30+
GPA 3.3, Science GPA 3.4 (potentially I can graduate with a 3.4 and 3.5 respectively)
Volunteer 1 year at a hospital + Department Coordinator Assistant for the volunteer program
Tutoring program for my third year now, currently one of the leaders of the program
Currently doing clinical research at a hospital with the cardiology department
No lab research (my major is Kinesiology, and no funding for kinese lab research on campus)
Dean's list for the past 3 semesters

 

[KrnFord920]

I'm going to be a senior this fall, and because my grades are low (3.3 GPA right now), I felt it was better that I apply to med school after I finish my senior year with a higher GPA. I haven't completely decided what to do with my year off since I won't be applying until 2007 for the 2008 class. I am taking the MCATs this August. I have a few questions though.

1. How many applicants apply for SMP programs such as Georgetown, and how many get in?

2. Is it unusual to apply for post-bac the same time as med school?

3. If accepted to a post-bac program, do med schools see your grades during your year at the postbac? Is this a good way to attempt to get into med school? Is this viewed as a positive or negative? Are you more likely to be put on the waitlist until you finish the program?

My main concern is that I have no problem taking 1 year off to do something else, but I really want to avoid a "glide year." Any input on how to remedy the situation would be great. Thanks.

Other info-
MCAT unknown, but I should be in the 30+
GPA 3.3, Science GPA 3.4 (potentially I can graduate with a 3.4 and 3.5 respectively)
Volunteer 1 year at a hospital + Department Coordinator Assistant for the volunteer program
Tutoring program for my third year now, currently one of the leaders of the program
Currently doing clinical research at a hospital with the cardiology department
No lab research (my major is Kinesiology, and no funding for kinese lab research on campus)
Dean's list for the past 3 semesters

With the stats you have right now, I would actually say hold off on applying for post-bacc/SMP for now, and apply to med school. Alot of post-bacc/SMP programs don't even start accepting applications until January anyway since these programs are meant for people who haven't finished their pre-reqs, have not been accepted to a medical school and want to have a back up, or want to enhance their application before applying to med school. So start your med school apps now, and if you havent been accepted by February, start applying to SMP/post-baccs.

As for number of applicants, I think around 800 or 900 applied to Georgetown SMP, and about 150 were accepted. So it can be pretty competitive even at the SMP level. But i'm not sure for other schools. Their numbers are probably a little lower because Georgetown is so well-known and is the oldest program.

If you do a post-bacc/SMP, and if you are applying during the year you are doing it, then the post-bacc/SMP program should send a letter to all the med schools you are applying to to tell them about the program, etc. Grades get sent out as soon as they are available. But, they may not even need to see your grades to accept you... anything is possible, just depends on what kind of applicant you are.

Hope that answers some of your questions...

Good luck!

 

[chaeymaey]

Krn, we're MCAT twins! Are you gonna retake this August, too?

 

[KrnFord920]

Krn, we're MCAT twins! Are you gonna retake this August, too?

i've been telling myself that i'm gonna take the august test all summer, but i still have yet to crack open any review books... so, most likely, it won't be happening...

 

[WWU_Viking]

I am transfering from a CC to a state university for another full three years (+ maybe two summer quarters, i'll take excess credits, end up with a cool minor perhaps). My GPA now is 2.9, im going to try really hard at the university.

I am also planning on applying to SMPs and medical schools my last undergrad year. I'll still have a part time job 1-2 days a week and also come back and work in a pharmacy during the breaks so I hope I will have enough money. I would hate to waste the year long gap, and I think that doing the one year SMP is a good idea.

 

[silkworm]

1. How many applicants apply for SMP programs such as Georgetown, and how many get in?

2. Is it unusual to apply for post-bac the same time as med school?

3. If accepted to a post-bac program, do med schools see your grades during your year at the postbac? Is this a good way to attempt to get into med school? Is this viewed as a positive or negative? Are you more likely to be put on the waitlist until you finish the program?

My main concern is that I have no problem taking 1 year off to do something else, but I really want to avoid a "glide year." Any input on how to remedy the situation would be great. Thanks.

Dean's list for the past 3 semesters

1. for Georgetown it's 750 applicants for 150 spots. With your numbers, you should have a good chance to get in.

2. dunno, but see no reason why not.

3. med schools will see your grades. But one drawback is that they may hold your application until they are satisified that you could hack it in the program, which my result in disadvantages in rolling admission schools. But for people who need to redempt the past sins (poor GPA), it's still the best option.

 

[halekulani]

With the stats you have right now, I would actually say hold off on applying for post-bacc/SMP for now, and apply to med school. Alot of post-bacc/SMP programs don't even start accepting applications until January anyway since these programs are meant for people who haven't finished their pre-reqs, have not been accepted to a medical school and want to have a back up, or want to enhance their application before applying to med school. So start your med school apps now, and if you havent been accepted by February, start applying to SMP/post-baccs.

If you do a post-bacc/SMP, and if you are applying during the year you are doing it, then the post-bacc/SMP program should send a letter to all the med schools you are applying to to tell them about the program, etc. Grades get sent out as soon as they are available. But, they may not even need to see your grades to accept you... anything is possible, just depends on what kind of applicant you are.

Hope that answers some of your questions...

Good luck!

Thanks for the reponses.

As for the first paragraph, I don't plan on applying for med school until next year. I'm not trying to start in the fall of 07; I'm shooting for the '08 class.

I'm wondering if the SMP is worth it because if I apply while I'm doing the SMP, can the SMP really benefit me that much? It seems like the glide year is almost necessary for it's true benefit to show in the application. I'm not sure :\ Half a year at an SMP isn't enough to boost my grades real high....nor will the master's degree be legit until after I actually finish the program.

 

[KrnFord920]

Thanks for the reponses.

As for the first paragraph, I don't plan on applying for med school until next year. I'm not trying to start in the fall of 07; I'm shooting for the '08 class.

I'm wondering if the SMP is worth it because if I apply while I'm doing the SMP, can the SMP really benefit me that much? It seems like the glide year is almost necessary for it's true benefit to show in the application. I'm not sure :\ Half a year at an SMP isn't enough to boost my grades real high....nor will the master's degree be legit until after I actually finish the program.

a lot of times, med schools will hold off on an applicant until ALL of their final grades have come in. thus, they may not be accepted until july, even august, of the year they matriculate. thats the advantage of applying during your SMP year.

again, an SMP is very good if 1) you didnt get accepted this round; 2) you want to boost your application. However, like i said, with your stats, and especially if you have a good mcat, i really dont think an SMP is that necessary without applying to med schools first. If you don't happen to get in, perhaps the SMP will then be what puts you over to then be accepted the next round.

if you have the money and time to do an SMP, then by all means go for it. but maybe you could also spend that year working at a cool medically related place earning some cash, as well as experience.

if you dont mind me asking, what's the reason behind you not wanting to apply this cycle?

 

[halekulani]

I didn't want to apply during this cycle because I felt my application is not strong enough. I also work full-time at my internship and am studying for the MCATs, which is extremely tiring. When I apply, I want to be able to show them everything I've got. I am considering SMP mainly because I haven't decided what to do when I graduate. I will be applying during that period, but I also need to fill in the time with something meaningful.