Hello everyone,
I am a senior close to graduation (I have not graduated, yet) with about a 3.3 uGPA overall and have completed ~145 credit hours (some were AP classes, which seem to still count toward my total credits according to AMCAS). I would like to know your opinions regarding whether it would be better to delay graduation and take upper level science courses (some online calculator says I could raise my gpa to 3.4 in about 2 semesters if I maintain 3.8), OR to do an SMP program and try to excel there.
I applied late last cycle and was on the waitlist at my two state school until the day classes started, and I want to be sure to wait to apply until I have an application that will get me in. I scored a 510 on my MCAT, before I had taken physics 2, organic 2, physiology, or intermediary metabolism (biochemistry). While I believe I could score better, I would like to avoid taking it again if possible.
I also had low clinical exposure, which I am working on now. I am also working in for a biotech company and will likely have a paper or two in the next year or so.
I would like to hear any opinions, especially from those who have been in a similar situation.
Thanks for the advice.
Bonus: Does anyone know if I can have dual residency in the state where my parents live AND Ohio? (assuming I go to SMP there), it would be nice to have ~7 "in-state" schools to consider.
I am a senior close to graduation (I have not graduated, yet) with about a 3.3 uGPA overall and have completed ~145 credit hours (some were AP classes, which seem to still count toward my total credits according to AMCAS). I would like to know your opinions regarding whether it would be better to delay graduation and take upper level science courses (some online calculator says I could raise my gpa to 3.4 in about 2 semesters if I maintain 3.8), OR to do an SMP program and try to excel there.
- SMP advantages: (at Cincinnati) I can gain residency after the program completes, opening me up to a few more"in-state" schools, and that a 3.8 in med school classes may weigh heavier than a 0.1 increase in undergrad. Some other SMPs I'm looking at also have linkages to their medical schools, or offer time do conduct physiology research
- SMP disadvantages: Can't begin until next fall and I don't want to apply to med school until i have grades to show. Meaning, I wouldn't apply to med school for another 2 years.
- Advantages to delaying graduation: Cheaper (~$15k vs $40k), actually increases my uGPA rather than having an additional gpa
I applied late last cycle and was on the waitlist at my two state school until the day classes started, and I want to be sure to wait to apply until I have an application that will get me in. I scored a 510 on my MCAT, before I had taken physics 2, organic 2, physiology, or intermediary metabolism (biochemistry). While I believe I could score better, I would like to avoid taking it again if possible.
I also had low clinical exposure, which I am working on now. I am also working in for a biotech company and will likely have a paper or two in the next year or so.
I would like to hear any opinions, especially from those who have been in a similar situation.
Thanks for the advice.
Bonus: Does anyone know if I can have dual residency in the state where my parents live AND Ohio? (assuming I go to SMP there), it would be nice to have ~7 "in-state" schools to consider.
