Applying to SMPs in February?

[jtgcr0511]

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Hello All,

Im scheduled to take the Jan 28th, 2012 MCAT and the scores come in on Feb 28th. I am a senior and decided to go to the SMP route,

GPA: 3.3
sGPA: 3.1
this is all excluding this 1st semester of 4th year which would probably bring it up slightly,

-EMT for 3 Years
-Stem Cell Institute Research for 1 Year
-Physician Shadowing - Interventional Radiologist at a major university hospital (current/till May of 2012)


4 Science Professor Rec's (1 from Research)
2 History Professor Rec's (History Minor)
and more to come from this year


Would applying at the end of February be too late considering my stats?

I'll also be applying to UMDNJ - NJMS GSBS, UMDNJ - RWJ GSBS, Temple Advanced Core in Medical Sciences Program, Drexel MSP, EVMS SMP and possibly others.

Is it possible or beneficial to send applications without MCAT scores (and without this semester's grades) or waiting till February is not a major issue?

Also I know this varies but, What MCAT score would make me competitive for the Georgetown SMP?

Thanks in advance!

 

[NJD519]

Depending on your MCAT score, I'm not sure it will make a HUGE difference. Some SMPs do allow you to submit the application with pending MCAT or courses, but you are in the realm of the average applicant for SMPs regardless. Also, some of the programs don't even start looking at applications until January despite the early submission. You should e-mail the programs you are interested in and convey your concern; they are generally helpful and could advise you best.

 

[DancinSarah]

I sent all my SMP apps in May-June (Georgetown, Tulane, Rosalind Franklin) and it was fine.

 

[HerbalPlz]

I sent all my SMP apps in May-June (Georgetown, Tulane, Rosalind Franklin) and it was fine.

^ This.

I sent May-June and told them all to hold for my MCAT scores in July.

Applied to 4, got 3 acceptances by late July.

 

[davidb25]

So let me see if I understand,

If I'm trying to matriculate into an SMP in the Fall '12 semester, submitting my app as late at May-June is alright in most cases?

 

[HerbalPlz]

So let me see if I understand,

If I'm trying to matriculate into an SMP in the Fall '12 semester, submitting my app as late at May-June is alright in most cases?

I'd call and ask the specific SMP you're interested in.

 

[NJD519]

June is pushing it. I believe the majority of SMPs require all documentation to be submitted by then for the upcoming class. That in itself should be an indication for actually applying earlier to better your chances.

 

[DrMidlife]

I guess I'm glad to hear that people are able to apply so late and still get in.

For me it would have been excruciating to know in June that I'd need to be in some unknown-as-yet town by mid-August, because of moving and finding a place to live and getting financial aid settled and being ready to study when school starts. I don't like drama.

So for me it made sense to think of the SMP app year like this:
June: start ill-fated MD app cycle
October: accept that ill-fated MD app cycle is ill-fated
November: apply to SMPs that are open
January: first SMP acceptance (and now I stop twitching)
February: file FAFSA, keep applying to SMPs
March: start paying attention to craigslist for potential SMP sites
April: budget & plan for moving, narrowed down to a couple sites
April-August: as new acceptances come in, ready to deal with them

With Tulane ACP, you have to be on a waitlist (MD or DO) to apply, and there's no federal aid. Worth it if you can swing it.

Best of luck to you.

 

[jtgcr0511]

Thank you all for your help! I contacted a few SMPs and they said to apply now and then do the updates:

I dont know if they'd get annoyed if I sent in my current transcript with 1 solid recommendation (from research) and then

update 1: with this semesters grades come in
update 2: Send in final 2 recommendations (I want to use current upper level classes instead of recommendations I already have from lower level classes)
update 3: in February with MCAT scores

updating 3 times isn't too much of an issue right? maybe a positive thing?

also, if you get accepted as late as July-August,
you'd need to fill out your FAFSA then right? would you get loans approved in that short period of time?

I'm hoping even though I'll be complete in February, things don't end up being dragged that late,

 

[HerbalPlz]

For me it would have been excruciating to know in June that I'd need to be in some unknown-as-yet town by mid-August, because of moving and finding a place to live and getting financial aid settled and being ready to study when school starts. I don't like drama.

Yep, exactly why I didn't accept any offers. Way too little time to do anything at all...though, I will say if you are thoroughly prepared, applying late is not a problem. By thoroughly prepared, if you've done ALL or most of the things necessary to attend the program you want to go to beforehand. I.e. you've already scouted places out, aid stuff, and all that. I had not done any of the important stuff by the time I got my acceptance in late July...and way too little time before class started to do everything in a comfortable fashion. Just moving in...that's a lot of mental stress and to do it hastily...not recommended from personal experience 😛

OP, I think you're in the same boat as me...I'll be doing Jan 28 MCAT too 🙂 But I won't even be starting my applications till mid January at the earliest. Probably after my MCAT. Granted, I do have my LORs lined up already and most of them just need the word from to send their letter.

I was thinking of applying early too, like right now or December. But I don't really see a point? The app won't be completed till MCAT marks are in. The only thing I did concerning my app is get in touch with my referrers. That way, when I apply in Jan/Feb, that burden will be mostly taken care of. I think the month after your MCAT to when the scores are released is a lot of time to complete SMP apps. To me, it came down to: Worry myself with apps right now OR focus completely on my MCATs, for the best possible mark.

 

[DancinSarah]

I should have been more clear with my earlier post regarding applying in May-June and getting acceptances. I only applied to SMPs because I realized my medical school waitlists weren't gonna materialize into acceptances, which I realized on that May 15 national traffic deadline. What the others said above is absolutely correct - I would definitely recommend applying early. It was somewhat painful for me in terms of finding housing and the like since I was accepted so late. I actually switched schools almost at the last minute. So basically, apply early to be safe, but if worse comes to worst and its nearing the end of May, I still recommend sending out SMP apps.