CA Res 3.45 cGPA SMP/Gap year Advice

[member888565623]

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I'm currently a CA resident and a junior at a UC majoring in biochemistry with a 3.24 sGPA and a 3.45 cGPA. My GPA is low due to taking a lot of engineering oriented math/physics (Multivariable Calc/Linear Algebra) classes in my freshman year and doing poorly in them. During my second year I started doing much better and my GPA went up. I've been working in a lab since freshman year and have 4 publications so far and have also been working in another lab since sophomore that hasn't given me any publications but has given me a lot of clinical hours because my work involves interviewing patients and gathering data from them. I've also been volunteering at a hospital and have ~100 hours and ~30 hours shadowing a physician. Over this upcoming summer I plan on taking the MCAT in September and just volunteering and shadowing more. I've been seriously considering applying to some SMP programs and doing that for my gap year. My main concerns however are 1) not getting into any SMP programs and 2) the financial burden that I'll get from doing a SMP program. What if any SMP programs do you all think are suitable for me? Or does anyone have other ideas I could possibly think about for a gap year?

 

[MrLogan13]

Personally, I think you'd be better off doing a DIY post-bacc at a CC if you're taking a gap year. Much cheaper than doing an SMP. I've known quite a few people who also graduated from UCs that have done this and gone on to have successful application cycles.