Can an SMP help make up for a sub-par MCAT

[Decicco]

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I got a 26 on my MCAT (9P 9V 8B) and think that I can probably improve since I am now taking physiology, genetics, and cell/molecular biology. However, if I don't retake or dont improve, would completing an SMP from a good school help make up for my MCAT (my GPA is excellent)? Or, is an SMP just for people who want to improve their GPAs? My GPA now is pretty strong, so an SMP may even lower it... what do you think?

Clarification: I would take the SMP in hopes that it would strengthen my application, not so that it would help me retake the MCAT. My question basically is this: I have a good GPA (I plan on graduating with a 3.9+ at a good school). I have a 26 MCAT. Together, this isnt all that great of a package for MD school. If I added to that an SMP, would that significantly improve my chances of getting in?

 

[ChubbyChaser]

id say a 4.0 is pretty strong🙂

 

[JaggerPlate]

Do you mean make up for it as in ... ' If I finish my SMP I will be more prepared for the MCAT and therefore do better.' Or in the sense that 'It will raise my GPA and make up for the MCAT as far as my application is concerned?' Because I think both can be true (probably more the second one), but anything to raise your gpa/better prepare you for the MCAT is a postive thing. Plus, it seems like you already started it (could be wrong there) so if you did, just finish it!!👍

Note: I just looked at your MDApps and saw that you have a 4.0 so hahah my advice is kinda void. Why don't you take an MCAT prep class instead.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I think the problem with him is he has a 4.0 so it cant get any higher, but in my opinion I dont think taking extra classes after graduation will make up for a subpar MCAT. I would spend the extra time you would spend in those classes, studying and practicing for your MCAT

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Wait is a SMP a summer Doctors Program, cause if so that probably will help especally if you do really well at it, the university your taking it from will definitely look highly on you if you can do well in their summer doctors program.

Sorry about my dumb moment earlier

 

[Decicco]

Why don't you take an MCAT prep class instead.

Hah, that is probably what will end up happening I guess. I just hate the MCAT and would like to avoid retaking it if possible, even if it means that I have to do an SMP.

 

[Decicco]

Wait is a SMP a summer Doctors Program, cause if so that probably will help especally if you do really well at it, the university your taking it from will definitely look highly on you if you can do well in their summer doctors program.

Sorry about my dumb moment earlier

I thought than a SMP was a "Special Masters Program." I'm not sure what a summer doctors program is, but it sounds interesting 🙂

Here is Georgetowns program: http://smp.georgetown.edu/

 

[ChubbyChaser]

That looks pretty awesome, but it says you pretty much need a 28 to get in, so youll probablyhave to retake anyway. I know that ECU brody som and UNC have summer doctor programs. Its where you spend an entiresummer at the schoollearning things that would be taught in MEdical school, and apparently its very rigorous. From the people i know who did them, if you do well in the summer doctors program it virtually means acceptance to that particular school, but if you dont do well it can actually hurt you.

BUt in regards to your question, I do think that SMP would be a very good option, and would definitely strenghtne your application

 

[Decicco]

Where can I find info on a Summer Doctors Program? Google doesnt seem to have ever heard of them...

 

[BigRedPremed]

The obvious solution is to retake the MCAT and get a higher score.

 

[mindquick]

med school admissions is getting really competitive. to be "safe" you'd want good everything, especially MCAT and GPA (you won't need to worry about the GPA though).

 

[OCallag]

Retaking the MCAT sucks, but look at it this way: You're extremely close to a good score as all sections are very close to ten. If you take a prep course you should be able to retake, do better, and be in great shape. That's a simpler, less costly, more direct solution than an SMP.

 

[Decicco]

Retaking the MCAT sucks, but look at it this way: You're extremely close to a good score as all sections are very close to ten. If you take a prep course you should be able to retake, do better, and be in great shape. That's a simpler, less costly, more direct solution than an SMP.

Argh, youre right, I admit it! I guess I just needed some solid reasoning to sort out all this.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Not really sure where you can find info on the summer programs, but i know they exist, i guess you could look into medical schools you are interested in.

 

[littlealex]

I don't get it. You have an excellent GPA, why not work harder on your MCAT, improve it and goto a great school? Can you get in with a subpar MCAT? Yes, but why leave it up to chance?

Lets see,
A) do an SMP and MAYBE goto medical school, and most likely a mediocre medical school.
B) Retake the MCAT, get into a good medical school with minimal stress.


WTF take option B now.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

yeah honestly with your extracurrics and gpa, if you can get your MCAT to a 33, and if youc an rack up a little more clinical expossure, i dont see why you couldnt get into many of the top tiers. I mean how many ppl win stuff in winemaking and are in national magazines twice?

 

[Law2Doc]

The obvious solution is to retake the MCAT and get a higher score.

This is the ONLY solution for a low MCAT score. Nothing makes up for it. You just have to fix it.

 

[Law2Doc]

... if you can get your MCAT to a 33, ...

That's a huge if. Most people who struggled on the MCAT once are happy to reach a balanced 30.

 

[Decicco]

That's a huge if. Most people who struggled on the MCAT once are happy to reach a balanced 30.

Good point, but my scores are balanced to begin with. I am taking Physiology, Cell Biology, and Genetics and I will take an MCAT prep class, all of which I think will help. How much it will help I guess is the million dollar question.

 

[Law2Doc]

Good point, but my scores are balanced to begin with. I am taking Physiology, Microbiology, and Genetics and I will take an MCAT prep class, all of which I think will help. How much it will help I guess is the million dollar question.

I put my million on the prep class over the premed stuff. Most of the physio and genetics on the MCAT tends to be stuff your basic bio class should have covered. There is rarely (if ever) any micro on the MCAT. Most people who do decently on the MCAT haven't taken these courses.
Make sure you do tons of practice tests and problems. And only sit for the test when your several most recent full length practice tests dictate that you are scoring in your target range.

 

[Decicco]

Most of the physio and genetics on the MCAT tends to be stuff your basic bio class should have covered.

Should have. My bio class was good in genetics, but offered absolutely no physiology. I feel like physiology is the majority of the bio section. While I tried to learn this stuff on my own, I think the classes will help. And I messed up in the previous post: I'm not taking microbiology, I'm taking cellular/molecular biology.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I disagree, on my Mcat most of the stuff seemed to be Cell/molec bio, then physiology and genetics right behind physio

 

[pandulce321]

I received a 24O the first time I took the MCAT. I had already applied, but knew I would probably have to redo my application for the following year. I dreaded taking the MCAT again, but I knew a Masters would not be enough to make up for my score. I decided to dedicate 2 solid months to the test and it ended up paying off, resulting in a 32R.

Many will tell you that the MCAT is not everything, and it is not. However, a good MCAT score will earn you more respect than any other component in your application. You may get denied with a good score, but you won't even get looked at without it.

In my personal situation, I have a decent GPA (3.8), so I decided to teach this year over getting a masters since my retake compensated for my shortcomings.

 

[etf]

if i had a legitimate 3.8+ gpa, i would spend a year or two prepping for the mcat to get a 38 or above, at which point i'd have a reasonable shot at any school in the country.

 

[Daydreamer2008]

Good point, but my scores are balanced to begin with. I am taking Physiology, Cell Biology, and Genetics and I will take an MCAT prep class, all of which I think will help. How much it will help I guess is the million dollar question.

Personally, I think Prep classes are kind of a waste of money. If you are disciplined and can follow those mcat review books with a structured schedule, you probably won't need it.

and also about the mcat-going with the score you have can raise a red flag as to how rigorous your undergrad was. A 4.0 with a 26 mcat just doesn't add up. So I would def retake it and score better.

 

[Decicco]

and also about the mcat-going with the score you have can raise a red flag as to how rigorous your undergrad was. A 4.0 with a 26 mcat just doesn't add up. So I would def retake it and score better.

Well, I go to a well respected university with its own MD program, but I have taken a lot of summer school so that my courseload is never too difficult. This has definetly helped my GPA.

 

[meowkat444]

i respectfully disagree with the poster who says the prep courses are a waste of money, if for no other reason than it gives you unlimited practice and many full-length tests, which is crucial for improvement. overpriced, yes, but that's the game. kaplan helped me go up 12 points.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Personally, I think Prep classes are kind of a waste of money. If you are disciplined and can follow those mcat review books with a structured schedule, you probably won't need it.

and also about the mcat-going with the score you have can raise a red flag as to how rigorous your undergrad was. A 4.0 with a 26 mcat just doesn't add up. So I would def retake it and score better.

While prep courses are a bit overpriced they do work. OP, you were going to spend 40K on an SMP; a prep course probably costs around $1500, basically a drop in the bucket when compared.

The MCAT books are great alone but the courses are good because of the # practice tests that they have available, the full length trial runs that you have to go through, and the schedule that they keep you on.

To the original question: an SMP wont help w/ a low MCAT

 

[drizzt3117]

You absolutely don't want to do a SMP. Just study for the MCAT and get above 30 and you'll be good to go. As others have mentioned, a review course may be overpriced etc... but certainly it sounds like it's the better option for you than a SMP.

 

[Decicco]

To the original question: an SMP wont help w/ a low MCAT

Then what are SMPs for? If I understand correctly, they don't count towards undergraduate GPA, so they probably arent used to help in that department either.

 

[maestro1625]

Then what are SMPs for? If I understand correctly, they don't count towards undergraduate GPA, so they probably arent used to help in that department either.

theyre good for proving that you are capable of upper level academic work, even if the GPA doesn't change.

 

[Decicco]

I don't get it. You have an excellent GPA, why not work harder on your MCAT, improve it and goto a great school? Can you get in with a subpar MCAT? Yes, but why leave it up to chance?

Lets see,
A) do an SMP and MAYBE goto medical school, and most likely a mediocre medical school.
B) Retake the MCAT, get into a good medical school with minimal stress.


WTF take option B now.

Ha, I like your clarity. After that last MCAT attempt, I guess my MCAT confidence is just a little low. Besides, I wouldnt say that taking the MCAT is minimal stress. Despite all this, your advice is probably right.

 

[Maxprime]

Doing an SMP in your case would be idiotic. If your 4.0 doesn't prove that you have the ability to do well in academic coursework, a 4.0 in an SMP won't change that. You'll have the same MCAT score and a tuition bill for $30k.

If you can get a 4.0 at a decent university, you have the ability to score well on the MCAT. Take a prep course, sell your soul - whatever people do to improve their 2nd attempt. With the MCAT offered so many times a year, it's not even a gamble.

 

[CUcanMS]

From my personal experience, I think that you should focus your time on raising your MCAT score if you want to enhance you app and be most competitive with other applicants.

From the faculty and doctors I've spoken with, a high MCAT is a better indicator of success in med school and practice than a high GPA. It's because the MCAT quantitates your ability to reason through info and problems, just as you need to in school and practice.

Not taking anything away from you, but some schools may skip right over the 4.0 and focus on the 26. Why? Because grading scales differ and all schools so a 4.0 at ABC university may only be a 3.5 and DEF university, with the same work done at both, because of different scaling, you see.

That's why we all have to take the MCAT to begin with, it serves to normalize all of us on at least on plane in order to make comparison equal in at least on compartment of our applications, which are all comprehensive and show how good we would be as doctors!!

I did well on the MCAT, but it has kept me out of the specific school I want to go to (mean MCAT = 34), so I have chosen to continue my education for my application's sake, while using this time to prepare for the MCAT since most schools use that has the initial, this pile-or-that pile statistic.

Good luck, hope we all get in someday!!

 

[nka1985]

Retake the MCAT. Med schools want to see that you can do well on big scary standardized tests, because they want to have confidence that their students can pass the board exams.

 

[TheRealMD]

SMP's are for people that need to prove that their GPA is not a true reflection of their abilities. It's not for people who have a low MCAT. The only way to fix a low MCAT is to take it again.