Are my stats good enough for SMPs?

[GatorsDoc]

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I am looking to get into a SMP. I'm just not sure how competitive I am though. My cum. gpa is 3.11 and my science is 2.65. My MCAT score is a 23M. I'm thinking about applying to USF, Barry, UMDNJ, Drexel, Rosalind Franklin, EVMS, and VCU. Do I have a decent shot at those? Are there any more I should be considering? Thanks, any advice would be helpful.

 

[Perrotfish]

Nope, you're not even eligible to apply to most of them. SMPs are generally geared towards people with 'unbalanced' applications, meaning a high MCAT and a Low GPA or, rarely, a low MCAT and a high GPA. One of the two, though, generally needs to be good. I mean there's a chance you might get admitted (no reason not to apply), and you might have a chance with one of the lower success rate SMPs like VCU, but chances are you're going to need to get your MCAT up first. In any event you would need to retake the MCAT before you could apply to medical school, unless you were in a very high linkage program like EVMS. Sorry but you're probably looking at at least a 2 year process here.

Of course there's always the Caribbean. If you're determined to start in the fall you might be able to get in to one of the less competitive Island schools. Be aware that of those who matriculate, though, only about 1/3 graduate, so you need to be very on your game.

Good luck, whatever you choose.

 

[DrMidlife]

I am looking to get into a SMP. I'm just not sure how competitive I am though. My cum. gpa is 3.11 and my science is 2.65. My MCAT score is a 23M. I'm thinking about applying to USF, Barry, UMDNJ, Drexel, Rosalind Franklin, EVMS, and VCU. Do I have a decent shot at those? Are there any more I should be considering? Thanks, any advice would be helpful.

Here's a list of SMPs: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=489913

Your GPA is above the usual 3.0 cutoff. Your MCAT is below the usual 24-27 cutoff.

Note that application deadlines are coming up. USF's "real" SMP deadline is today.

 

[GatorsDoc]

Thanks, this info is really helpful. Should I retake the mcat for the SMP program? or do you guys think that I can eventually get into one of them if I apply to a lot of them and broadly?

 

[Perrotfish]

Thanks, this info is really helpful. Should I retake the mcat for the SMP program? or do you guys think that I can eventually get into one of them if I apply to a lot of them and broadly?

I would apply to all the SMPs you're eligibile right now (deadline's coming up) and start studying to retake the MCAT some time before August 1. If you get in to an SMP off of this round of applications, great, you use your SMP performance and your new MCAT score on the next round of MD school applications. If you don't get into an SMP start taking classes at a 4 year University and use your new 30+ MCAT score to get into SMPs/DO schools during the next round of applications.

 

[GatorsDoc]

If you don't get into an SMP start taking classes at a 4 year University.

I'm a little confused about that. What kind of classes do I take? Do I just take classes as an undergraduate again even though I will have a B.S. in Biology? and what about just a regular Master's program in anatomy or something like that? would that be an option?

 

[Lokhtar]

Take undergrad courses, not masters. You want to get that science and overall GPA up.

 

[GatorsDoc]

So you guys are saying I can get admitted to a 4 year university and take undergrad science classes for a year, even after I receive my bachelors degree in Biology? Would any school admit me for this purpose? What kind of major would I choose and which specific classes should I be taking? If I can get into a normal master's program (and not a SMP) for something like anatomy or molecular biology...wouldn't that be more beneficial to me that I can excel at more advanced classes? I also plan on retaking the MCAT after the summer. Thanks for any other advice you guys can give me.

 

[DrMidlife]

So you guys are saying I can get admitted to a 4 year university and take undergrad science classes for a year, even after I receive my bachelors degree in Biology?

Yes.

Would any school admit me for this purpose?

Not necessarily, but there are usually several doors.
- nonmatriculated status: you're not an admitted student, so you can't use most student services, and you have last priority for registration. I did this for 6 months while I was trying to get admitted.
- non-degree-seeking 5th year postbac: this means you're admitted, and you have access to most student services, typically no financial aid, and your registration priority is at least predictable.
- second-degree-seeking: you're all normal again. Note that if you start a 2nd degree program, and you get admitted to a med school halfway through, the med school might require you to finish what you started.

What kind of major would I choose and which specific classes should I be taking?

You only would have a major if you're 2nd-degree-seeking. Otherwise, you can take whatever classes you want to, if you can get in, with a very very sharp eye on what each class is doing for your GPA. I'd recommend upper div science that preloads you for med school: biochem, microbio, anatomy, physiology, neurobio, etc.

If I can get into a normal master's program (and not a SMP) for something like anatomy or molecular biology...wouldn't that be more beneficial to me that I can excel at more advanced classes?

No, because med school admissions compare you against your competition primarily on your undergrad GPA; if you have GPA repair issues, grad school doesn't help you. That said, there's no downside to doing graduate work in hard science, if it's something you want to do AFTER you're done proving yourself at the undergrad level.

I also plan on retaking the MCAT after the summer.

Don't take it again until you've beaten your goal on 3 practice tests (the ones on www.e-mcat.com).

And be smarter than me: do whatever you have to do to succeed in any further undergrad work. I got a couple of D's as a postbac and it closed doors.

Best of luck to you.

 

[GatorsDoc]

Thanks for all the info guys. Dr.Midlife, thanks for all the info it has been a huge help. If it is not too much trouble, I was wondering if you could give me a flowchart of how I should go about this. This is what i'm thinking:

-1 year of undergrad work in upper division sciences to get my science and overall gpa up.
-apply to and complete one year of a SMP program. (would i need this if my undergrad gpa becomes competitive?)
-apply to med schools.

*retake mcat when i'm ready to do really well on it.

Also I currently attend the University of Florida. When I graduate will they let me stay there to do more undergrad work (non-degree seeking)? Do I have to reapply there?

 

[DrMidlife]

-1 year of undergrad work in upper division sciences to get my science and overall gpa up.

You have to do the math to figure out what this will do to your GPAs. One year might not do it. But basically, yes.

-apply to and complete one year of a SMP program. (would i need this if my undergrad gpa becomes competitive?)

You should be trying to NOT need an SMP. As soon as your undergrad GPA is over, say, 3.4, you should not be looking at SMPs anymore.

-apply to med schools.
*retake mcat when i'm ready to do really well on it.

These go in reverse. I'm against applying ahead of a retake. If you don't have your new killer score in hand, don't apply yet. Also you want impressive, long-lasting extra-curriculars before you apply, and you need to start collecting letters of recommendation. Be ready, with all this tidy, by early June in your year of application.

I think there are 2 new med schools opening in Florida next year, so your extended timing is good.

Also I currently attend the University of Florida. When I graduate will they let me stay there to do more undergrad work (non-degree seeking)? Do I have to reapply there?

I think you should be looking at postponing graduation, to maximize convenience. You should be able to just extend your stay, but go see an advisor in your department. You may need to add a minor or jump through a couple of hoops, but you'll be MUCH better off by extending your garden-variety 4 year program to a fairly-garden-variety 5 year program.

Go get 'em.