Does an SMP = Post-Bac

[Anthony Hartsoc]

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Well Does it? I know exactly what a Post-bac is but still in the dark about what the explitive a Special Masters Program is...someone throw me a bone...

 

[236116]

The typo on that shirt is super annoying.

SMP= A formal master's degree program aimed at pre-med.
Post-Bacc= Either a formal program that does not lead to a degree; or any courses taken after graduating from ugrad aimed at improving the appearance of your science ability.

 

[Anthony Hartsoc]

The typo on that shirt is super annoying.

I believe that is half the point. 😀

 

[235009]

i think the main difference is that post-bacc typically entails undergrad courses and SMP is grad level courses (typically med school classes)

 

[witness23]

is that a guy or girl in the picture

 

[swamprat]

what would your masters be in ?

 

[Anthony Hartsoc]

witness23is that a guy or girl in the picture

good question..

 

[harrothere]

I was actually going to ask if that was a man with klinefelter's syndrome...

 

[Anthony Hartsoc]

pt awaiting pending karyotype results. f/u appt scheduled 2 weeks. tx tbd at appt. pt reqs psych consult for fear of inconclusive sexuality.

 

[Perrotfish]

Back to the origional point...

An SMP is a type of masters degree offered by medical schools which allow pre-medical students, who have finished undergrad and the medical school prereqs, to take (generally) a year's worth of classes with the medical students at that school. The students then recieve grades relative to to the medical students in the class, which they can then report on their next AMCAS application. The theory here is by giving the students an audition at medical school, they will have the chance to prove whether or not they really belong there. These programs are espeically aimed at people with GPAs and MCATs that just don't match: a 35 and a 3.2, or a 21 and a 4.0.

SMP students who do well report an extremely high success rate getting into medical school (this is how I weaseled my way in). SMP students who do badly report that it is a black mark that is almost impossible to overcome. Finally most programs have a way of making sure that the top SMP students continue on at the institution hosting the program. The percentage of students who get this opportunity can vary from 5% to 95%.

A post-bac is just more undergrad. There are formal post-bac program designed to get you through the undergraduate pre-med requirements in a hurry (a few of which have a reputation for being well respected by medical schools), or there are 'informal post-back programs' which is really a fancy way of saying you're taking more ugrad classes, after graduating, to either finish the prereqs or to pull up your crappy GPA.

 

[Anthony Hartsoc]

Perrotfish: Thanks, that was a great explanation. I appreciate the info and if I ever find myself in that position (oddball GPA vs. MCAT) I'll know what to do.

 

[rocketbooster]

Back to the origional point...

A post-bac is just more undergrad. There are formal post-bac program designed to get you through the undergraduate pre-med requirements in a hurry (a few of which have a reputation for being well respected by medical schools), or there are 'informal post-back programs' which is really a fancy way of saying you're taking more ugrad classes, after graduating, to either finish the prereqs or to pull up your crappy GPA.

hmm, I don't know if this is completely accurate. my state school offers a formal post-bac, and yes it's definitely a post-bac, not a SMP, and I don't think it's only for ppl with incomplete premed requirements or crappy GPAs. you have to be elligible based on certain federal guidelines, most specifically a low-income background. you take undergrad science classes at the state school for that 5th year.

I was not invited to this program since I didn't meet the income guidelines. two of my friends were invited, though, and they don't have crappy GPAs AND have finished all their premed prereqs. their gpas are like 3.7 and 3.5-3.6 and MCATs are 32 and 29. those are hardly abnormal circumstances. the state school's average #s are 3.7 and 29. so, they both really already match the med school's averages. why were they invited then? because it's just a program schools have for ppl who did not get into med school during the first time they applied.

 

[235009]

These programs are espeically aimed at people with GPAs and MCATs that just don't match: a 35 and a 3.2, or a 21 and a 4.0.

i dont think doing well in an SMP is going to make up for a 21 MCAT....only retaking the MCAT and doing well will make up for a horrible MCAT score!

 

[Siverhideo1985]

i think the difference between SMP and post-bac has been explained pretty well. I would just like to add that my SMP program had unforseen beneficial consequences since you do get an official degree. Because of the M.A. in Medical Sciences I get paid more at my job.

With an SMP, even though not intended for such, you have something to show for your extra year of study outside of the medical school world.