Best "gap-year" option for a re-applicant with a low science GPA?...More courses, job, SMP?

[PS2summerdays]

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Hey everyone. Thank you for taking your time to read this.

I'm currently a 4th undergraduate year student (graduating this year) who was unsuccessful with his medical school application his year. I got a couple of interviews, but no acceptances. My stats are listed below:
MCAT: 34
GPA: 3.6
sGPA: 3.25 (downward trend)
Other: I am a science major. I have a lot of clinical experience and I took part in research studies as well, with poster presentations and completed papers. I also attend a very competitive school where the academics are notoriously difficult ("top 10"). I think my low sGPA killed it for me - I took a lot of high level courses which I didn't do too well on.

Ideally, I would like to apply again this cycle, so the following activities would be done simultaneously with my applications.. What would be the best course of action for me to take?
1. Take extra undergrad science classes during summer/fall while working part time. (to boost GPA)
2. Complete a 1-year Master's Degree in a health sciences field.
3. Complete a SMP
4. Take on a full-time clinical/healthcare job.

 

[gyngyn]

If that is you in your avatar, may I suggest that you protect your anonymity?

 

[PS2summerdays]

If that is you in your avatar, may I suggest that you protect your anonymity?

Hey gyngyn, thank you very much for your concern. But that's not me. That's just a silly man from a comedy series I watch.

 

[darkeon]

As a science major, you can only increase your science gpa by so much. Transcript has far too many science grades. Consider DO. Otherwise, do an SMP for MD schools.

 

[PS2summerdays]

As a science major, you can only increase your science gpa by so much. Transcript has far too many science grades. Consider DO. Otherwise, do an SMP for MD schools.

Thanks for your reply. Is it okay to do the AMCAS application while simultaneously taking SMP classes? I'm getting differing opinions on this. Some people say it's common while others say SMP is meaningless until after completion.

 

[darkeon]

I'm a follower of the latter. You'd be applying with no grades from an SMP. The former option is a rushed option in my opinion but again...it's just that..one of many opinions.

 

[PS2summerdays]

I'm a follower of the latter. You'd be applying with no grades from an SMP. The former option is a rushed option in my opinion but again...it's just that..one of many opinions.

Thanks dude. I appreciate the advice and your opinion.

 

[Goro]

I'm a fan of #3.

Hey everyone. Thank you for taking your time to read this.

I'm currently a 4th undergraduate year student (graduating this year) who was unsuccessful with his medical school application his year. I got a couple of interviews, but no acceptances. My stats are listed below:
MCAT: 34
GPA: 3.6
sGPA: 3.25
Other: I am a science major. I have a lot of clinical experience and I took part in research studies as well, with poster presentations and completed papers. I also attend a very competitive school where the academics are notoriously difficult ("top 10"). I think my low sGPA killed it for me - I took a lot of high level courses which I didn't do too well on.

Ideally, I would like to apply again this cycle, so the following activities would be done simultaneously with my applications.. What would be the best course of action for me to take?
1. Take extra undergrad science classes during summer/fall while working part time. (to boost GPA)
2. Complete a 1-year Master's Degree in a health sciences field.
3. Complete a SMP
4. Take on a full-time clinical/healthcare job.

 

[PS2summerdays]

I'm a fan of #3.

The SMP route? Thank you. Just one final question: how would the SMP route differ from taking independent science courses at an undergraduate institution? I think the latter option is significantly cheaper. Sorry for bugging you so much. I'm just really confused.

 

[Goro]

Pretty much the same except for this: an SMP given at a medical school will be taught by the same faculty. Thus, they get to know you and the program gets to be a back door into the med school.

The SMP route? Thank you. Just one final question: how would the SMP route differ from taking independent science courses at an undergraduate institution? I think the latter option is significantly cheaper. Sorry for bugging you so much. I'm just really confused.

 

[Blown Away]

I think you need to reevaluate your choice of medical schools. You may also want to consider your interview skills (does your school have a clinic to practice?).

My GPA is very similar to yours and I got a 30 on the MCAT. This cycle I had 8 MD interviews with 7 acceptances. I'm only n=1, but just take my two cents for it.

In either case, you should go for a SIGNIFICANT CLINICAL experience. I have 4000 hours logged into my experience, and it was all interviewers cared about ( no one brought up my low science gpa or other ECs).

Just looked at your poll and you should go against it. GO WITH the clinical experience. I was a reapplicant and it was the ONLY thing that changed on my application (0 interviews first go around).

 

[jsquared91]

If that is you in your avatar, may I suggest that you protect your anonymity?

Although OP's isn't you'd be surprised at how many people in the non-medical forums have their avatars as actual pictures. One of my recent attempts to educate them was met mostly with confusion and lack of interest.

Hey gyngyn, thank you very much for your concern. But that's not me. That's just a silly man from a comedy series I watch.

Can someone fillout an AMCAS as Charlie Kelly? We'll do a kickstarter to raise funds.

More seriously, an SMP sounds good.

 

[Salt Salt]

Hey gyngyn, thank you very much for your concern. But that's not me. That's just a silly man from a comedy series I watch.

THE NIGHTMAN

 

[PS2summerdays]

I think you need to reevaluate your choice of medical schools. You may also want to consider your interview skills (does your school have a clinic to practice?).

My GPA is very similar to yours and I got a 30 on the MCAT. This cycle I had 8 MD interviews with 7 acceptances. I'm only n=1, but just take my two cents for it.

In either case, you should go for a SIGNIFICANT CLINICAL experience. I have 4000 hours logged into my experience, and it was all interviewers cared about ( no one brought up my low science gpa or other ECs).

Just looked at your poll and you should go against it. GO WITH the clinical experience. I was a reapplicant and it was the ONLY thing that changed on my application (0 interviews first go around).

Hey there, thanks for your input. That's actually what my pre-med advisor suggested I should do. May I ask what your stats were and if you did anything special? Also, if you don't mind me asking, were you re-applying simultaneously while you were working? What would you consider a "significant clinical" experience? Is it okay to just work at any medical/healthcare facility, or does it have to be something much more than that? Thanks again - I hope I'm not pestering you too much. Congratulations on your acceptances! Please don't take it the wrong way, but it really seems amazing to me that you got SO many offers with similar stats! It's quite impressive. On my end, I think what's holding me back is a string of C grades on a few science courses in my later years...I thought fixing that would remedy the problem. I think I'm going to reapply this cycle and do something clinical (maybe take a few fall/summer science classes?). And lastly, Solid Snake rocks.

 

[ridethecliche]

Where all did you apply to this cycle?

How many interviews did you have and where? Are you on any waitlists?

Your sGPA is probably holding you back. How are your other EC's? Volunteering/shadowing/etc.

 

[PS2summerdays]

Can someone fillout an AMCAS as Charlie Kelly? We'll do a kickstarter to raise funds.

YES PLEASE.

Where all did you apply to this cycle?

How many interviews did you have and where? Are you on any waitlists?

Your sGPA is probably holding you back. How are your other EC's? Volunteering/shadowing/etc.

I applied to 16 schools (mostly because I wanted to stay within the state - my state has many medical schools). There were 3-4 state schools (non-private) and ~13 out-of-state and/or private schools.

I have been rejected from 12 schools. I received an interview from Mount Sinai (Icahn School of Medicine) and was deferred ("we can't offer you a seat right now but we are still keeping you in consideration until May when the waitlist officially starts). Still waiting to hear a final decision from them - it was always my top choice. I have heard nothing from the 3 remaining schools since August (when I was complete).

I have done a lot of volunteering/clinical research throughout my four years and mainly my summers. I also completed research study and a paper (not published or anything - it was for a pre-med summer program at a medical school and had a poster presentation for that). Other than that, I have a special talent that is documented and has been utilized in my volunteer work and I was involved heavily in 1 club in school and semi-heavily in another. My ECs overall aren't GREAT, but I think, like you said, it's the sGPA holding me back. My pre-med advisor said, however, I should probably do a clinical job during my gap year to show I'm really devoted , and if I can, to take some courses on the side.

Sorry for the long response and thanks very much for looking over my question. What do you think I should do with my gap year? Any advice you can offer would be appreciated!

 

[MrChance2]

I'm somewhat surprised you didn't get in but if you had a bad downward trend could explainin it.

I think the strongest option is the SMP but that is also the most expensive and time consuming. All the high MCAT + low gpa + SMP people I know in my school are doing very well and seem to even have a little extra free time.
I might have a few people read over your application. Maybe you had a red flag in there.
Applying more broadly might help.
A clinical job seems to help but not as much. I know people that had rejectable stats that got in from a SMP, I don't really know any that got in from clinical work. The preclinical years of medical school are so academic that I think clinical experience won't make them that much easier for you like an SMP would.

I think it comes down to your risk tolerance. I'd think that if you did an SMP or masters and did well (in an SMP that will take a lot of work) you are pretty much in unless there are hidden red flags. If you do the other stuff you have a decent shot but keep in mind you will have a couple years off and 2 rounds of rejection if it doesn't work. You could also apply DO as a backup the 2nd time around where I think you would get into one of your top choice schools.

 

[PS2summerdays]

I think it comes down to your risk tolerance. I'd think that if you did an SMP or masters and did well (in an SMP that will take a lot of work) you are pretty much in unless there are hidden red flags. If you do the other stuff you have a decent shot but keep in mind you will have a couple years off and 2 rounds of rejection if it doesn't work. You could also apply DO as a backup the 2nd time around where I think you would get into one of your top choice schools.

Thanks so much for your input! Just for clarification - you wrote that if I did a SMP OR a master's (and did well) I'd have a better shot? A lot of other people are saying that Master's Degrees are pretty much useless since grade inflation in the courses causes adcoms to ignore these grades. I wanted to do a Master's simply because it seemed more interesting and educative than a SMP. Would you be able to comment on this? Do you think taking a few more science courses (undergraduate) while working would be a bad idea?

And yeah, there was a downwards trend when I got to the higher level science courses. First term, I had a ~3.9 GPA with science (mostly A-) and non-science courses combined. It started going up and down after that. My non-science GPA is still a 3.9, but I know that only makes things look worse in my case. I honestly think this downwards trend was the red flag in my app. Thanks for the DO advice too - I spoke to one of the DO school representatives and she said even if I applied at the moment (late March) she could guarantee me an interview. I think I'll keep it as a second option when I apply again this June.

 

[MrChance2]

Glad to help, I'd be guessing too much on the SMP vs masters thing. SMP > masters but I can't say to what degree exactly or exactly how much of a push you need to get in. I do think regarding med school admissions overkill is almost always better than too little, especially with how applicants schools are getting these past few years. SMP will also definitely help you more once you get in. Agreed SMP is likely more boring but the first year of medical school is mostly just memorizing and categorizing a ton of words anyway, having a degree of familiarity with those words is pretty helpful.