Diffifulty of acceptance into SMPs?

[kobeforpresidnt]

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How hard is it to get accepted to SMP programs like Georgetown or Cincinnati (to name a few)? My gpa is upwards of 3.5 (I don't know what the avg gpa is for SMP students) no mcat yet...and speaking objectivly my EC's are average --- is it really important to have great ECs to get into these programs, or is acceptance relatively easy provided that you meet the GPA and MCAT cut-offs?

Im thinking of applying to med school next summer, but I live in CA so my GPa is low, even if I do well on the MCAT. I think an SMP would be a pretty good option for next year, which brings me to my next question? Do most students do SMPs while applying, and anyone speaking from experience, did that prove to help you application?

 

[DrJD]

How hard is it to get accepted to SMP programs like Georgetown or Cincinnati (to name a few)? My gpa is upwards of 3.5 (I don't know what the avg gpa is for SMP students) no mcat yet...and speaking objectivly my EC's are average --- is it really important to have great ECs to get into these programs, or is acceptance relatively easy provided that you meet the GPA and MCAT cut-offs?

Im thinking of applying to med school next summer, but I live in CA so my GPa is low, even if I do well on the MCAT. I think an SMP would be a pretty good option for next year, which brings me to my next question? Do most students do SMPs while applying, and anyone speaking from experience, did that prove to help you application?

If you GPA is near a 3.5 do NOT plan on doing an SMP at this point, that is 60 thousand dollars of your life you won't see again. Instead invest 2,000 and a lot of time into the MCAT... If you can break 30 and get near a 32 or 33 you will be golden at a LOT of places in the country. At UCLA or Stanford? Maybe not, but a LOT of other schools. Right now focus on killing the MCAT (You'll need a good score eventually even with an SMP, and a good score to get into the SMP so this isn' wasted time.) Take the MCAT and then come back and we can give better advice. Congrats on the 3.5 though, keep up the good work!

Aside: SMP's are really designed for people with low undergrad GPA's, now "lower than average" but just plain low...

 

[Perrotfish]

Your grades are above the average for lots of medical schools, and only slightly below the national average. Focus on getting into medical school, no SMP necessary.

 

[hopefool]

If you GPA is near a 3.5 do NOT plan on doing an SMP at this point, that is 60 thousand dollars of your life you won't see again. Instead invest 2,000 and a lot of time into the MCAT... If you can break 30 and get near a 32 or 33 you will be golden at a LOT of places in the country. At UCLA or Stanford? Maybe not, but a LOT of other schools. Right now focus on killing the MCAT (You'll need a good score eventually even with an SMP, and a good score to get into the SMP so this isn' wasted time.) Take the MCAT and then come back and we can give better advice. Congrats on the 3.5 though, keep up the good work!

Aside: SMP's are really designed for people with low undergrad GPA's, now "lower than average" but just plain low...

Dr JD-Do you mean SMPs are designed for just absolutely low low gpas, not necessarily just low for med school(ie 3.1) but low low(ie 2.4)? Mine being two points higher than the later, amidst a post-bac program however where I will be emerging with a 3.5-3.6 of 60 science credits...wow thats a convoluted post 🙂

 

[DrJD]

Dr JD-Do you mean SMPs are designed for just absolutely low low gpas, not necessarily just low for med school(ie 3.1) but low low(ie 2.4)? Mine being two points higher than the later, amidst a post-bac program however where I will be emerging with a 3.5-3.6 of 60 science credits...wow thats a convoluted post 🙂

I meant low low and low for med school 🙂 Some SMP's will be hard to get into with below a 3.0 GPA, ie G-town... However, if the rest of your application is strong you can get accepted to an SMP with below a 3.0... Now a 3.6 over the last 60 science credits is huge and will help you A LOT!!! Now it is a little tricky, because you will be hard pressed to get accepted to a US medical school with below a 3.0 cumulative, you just won't make a lot of cut offs... But if you were to get into an SMP combined with the strong upward trend I think you'd have a good chance to get in somewhere!

Of course this all depends on your MCAT score and the advice could change depending on if you did very well, average or poorly! Best of luck!

 

[Perrotfish]

Dr JD-Do you mean SMPs are designed for just absolutely low low gpas, not necessarily just low for med school(ie 3.1) but low low(ie 2.4)? Mine being two points higher than the later, amidst a post-bac program however where I will be emerging with a 3.5-3.6 of 60 science credits...wow thats a convoluted post

Most people use SMPs for the 2.8- 3.3 GPA range. Maybe a few Cali people apply with 3.4s. Basically, SMPs are for when your GPA is too low to recover in a reasonable amount of time. So the more credits you have, and the lower your GPA, the better these programs are in relation to just taking more classes. For me, it would have taken me 5 years of taking full time classes and getting a 4.0 to get to a 3.4, so the choice was easy. For you, well honestly with a good MCAT I'm not sure your app needs much of anything. Just apply to a lot of out of state private schools, and apply early.

Not to say you CAN'T do an SMP. And it will get you in if you do well. But it seems like your risking a lot more if you have a bad performance than you'd be gaining from a good one.

Good luck, whatever you choose to do.

 

[DrJD]

Hey Perrot,

Did you see that his GPA is right around a 2.6? The first time I read it I thought he had around a 3.1 in which case I would totally agree with your advice, but with a 2.6, even with a strong upward trend and strong recent performance I think he needs something don't you?

BTW- I was in the same place as Perrot, it would have taken a LONG time to raise my GPA thus the reason I chose an SMP, but perrot is also right about the potential risk. I know people in my SMP who came in with good stats and are now getting B's, you REALLY can't afford to do this... So if you go, work your butt off because it is a last chance option...

Most people use SMPs for the 2.8- 3.3 GPA range. Maybe a few Cali people apply with 3.4s. Basically, SMPs are for when your GPA is too low to recover in a reasonable amount of time. So the more credits you have, and the lower your GPA, the better these programs are in relation to just taking more classes. For me, it would have taken me 5 years of taking full time classes and getting a 4.0 to get to a 3.4, so the choice was easy. For you, well honestly with a good MCAT I'm not sure your app needs much of anything. Just apply to a lot of out of state private schools, and apply early.

Not to say you CAN'T do an SMP. And it will get you in if you do well. But it seems like your risking a lot more if you have a bad performance than you'd be gaining from a good one.

Good luck, whatever you choose to do.

 

[Perrotfish]

Did you see that his GPA is right around a 2.6? The first time I read it I thought he had around a 3.1 in which case I would totally agree with your advice, but with a 2.6, even with a strong upward trend and strong recent performance I think he needs something don't you?

Yeah, sorry, I guess I misread. I was thinking this was the OP (with a 3.6). With a 2.6 you would want to take classes until you get to a 2.8 (probably a 3.0 if you're great with the MCAT) and then go to an SMP.