Georgetown SMP

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Did you find the answer to this question on my blog?

yes I did! thank you.

 

[GoBlue12]

Hi...I am interested in Georgetown's SMP...my stats are a 3.7 gpa, 3.6 sci gpa, and a 33Q on the MCAT

I wanted to apply to med school but its too late in the application cycle. So i am taking a year off.

I want to go to Georgetown's Med School eventually, and this program seems like a good bridge. But SMP also helps with getting into Medschool in general. However, my stats are high enough to apply straight away next June.

Should I apply to SMP for my year off? I got some advice about maybe just working instead, but I'm not sure yet.

I'll take any advice!! 🙂

 

[wannabesrgn]

Hi...I am interested in Georgetown's SMP...my stats are a 3.7 gpa, 3.6 sci gpa, and a 33Q on the MCAT

I wanted to apply to med school but its too late in the application cycle. So i am taking a year off.

I want to go to Georgetown's Med School eventually, and this program seems like a good bridge. But SMP also helps with getting into Medschool in general. However, my stats are high enough to apply straight away next June.

Should I apply to SMP for my year off? I got some advice about maybe just working instead, but I'm not sure yet.

I'll take any advice!! 🙂

Absolutely not.

You should not risk what you have right now to do this program. It is very difficult. There is no way how to understand how difficult the program is without actually being in it.

You are taking classes with Georgetown med students who are smart kids and on top of that you have to be in the top 10-15% of the class to get an A. This is not an easy task.

Your gpa and MCAT are strong. Leave them be. You should do something extracurricular, like research or be an EMT. Those types of things will strengthen your app even more.

Again, obviously it's your choice, but as a current SMP student, I can tell you that if I was in your shoes I would most definitely not do this program. If you don't perform well in this program, you may blow your chances of getting into med school.

 

[AnthroMD]

Hey gujuDoc, I was born and raised in Tampa!

I am in the process of researching possible SMPs: especially Georgetown and EVMS. I am also looking at Drexel, Tulane, VCU, and others; missed the September MCAT deadline (lame) for USF.

 

[AnthroMD]

Here are some of my stats:
cGPA right now ~3.3 sGPA ~3.1 will take the January MCAT

Research: Neurology Parkinson's Disease volunteer for 1 semester doing data entry and analysis from patients. Studying videos from the clinic.

Volunteer: Interventional Radiology 2 years. Shadowing right now
Hope to volunteer in diagnostic, since it is more pt. oriented (IR pts. are sedated)

Hope to shadow a gastro D.O. and get a LOR, because I know D.O. schools like to see you've interacted with a practicing Osteopathic physician and his practice.

AMSA memeber 2+ years doing Health Outreach Committee. Community projects inlcuing my favorite at the Gainesville Art Festival where we have a stand for free blood pressure and glucose tests. I've become a pro at taking blood pressure

Thanks for the advice!

 

[AnthroMD]

Thanks for info, sounds exactly what I've been reading online, as soon as I saw that Drexel uses telecast for the course format I became a little skeptical. I don't know if that is the case for all of their classes but I'm glad to hear that there are more well known options such as the other schools I have been considering.

I misspoke about Tulane as an SMP, I was referring to their Pharmacology MS program. I do not believe the program as the prior requirement of having been waitlisted.

I have looked at UCincy and BU: in fact as I look at BU, I see a multitude of areas to center your studies while in the Medical Sciences program.

 

[IntelInside]

what do u think of my stats for GTOWN SMP:

3.53 CGPA (AMCAS)
3.58 SGPA (AMCAS)

32 O MCAT

 

[wannabesrgn]

what do u think of my stats for GTOWN SMP:

3.53 CGPA (AMCAS)
3.58 SGPA (AMCAS)

32 O MCAT

You have a great shot assuming you have a strong application otherwise. You may even be able to get in without an SMP if the rest of your app is strong. Have you applied yet? You may want to try and see if you get any responses, especially at lower tier schools.

 

[IntelInside]

I have not gotten into anywhere and no interviews as of yet 🙁. So as of now I am going to finish this year of school and add more EC's to my application apply early next cycle but I dont want to take a glide year and I want a head start in med school.

 

[wannabesrgn]

An SMP is a risky situation. It's not an easy thing to do. If you don't perform at the top 10% of the med class you won't get an A. So yes, it is definitely great preparation for medical school, but the risk involved is something that students are willing to accept because they usually can't get in otherwise. If you don't perform well in an SMP you could totally destroy your chances to get into an allopathic school in the US. I would really recommend that you focus on strengthening the rest of your app. If you really want to take more classes, I would recommend continuing to take classes at your school for next year. Demonstrate a strong trend of grades the last year and that should help.

Can you say more about the rest of your app? What are you ECs like? Research, community service, etc? You could use this "glide year" to gain some really great experiences to talk about in secondaries and interviews. Travel abroad, research, etc.

If you're totally bent on doing an SMP, then go for it. Just be prepared to work like you never have before. Also, if you're lacking in ECs that could hurt your chances for getting into an SMP, they weigh the other aspects of your app heavily because the program is designed to make up for your gpa, but not the rest of your app.

 

[IntelInside]

Here are my EC's as on AMCAS:

Working two jobs (listed separately) totally 30 hours a week roughly (2.5 years)
Biology Workshop Leader/tutor (1 year)
Two Awards
1 year volunteer CCU/ICU @ hospital
1 month volunteer abroad in DR

You can see this on my mdapps page

Since then I have been doing research, became an MCAT instructor for examkrackers, volunteering at an infant and child learning center and have become a big brother mentor...oh and im still a Biology workshop leader/tutor and I plan on adding physician shadowing

 

[GoBlue12]

thanks for the advice gujudoc and wannabesrgn!!!!

I wanted to apply but my advisor said it would be best to try next year when the application first opens
I guess I'll do something other than SMP...maybe volunteer or something..do you know of any programs?
Teach for America/ Peace Core are 2 years ...which is too long

 

[wannabesrgn]

EMT would look great. Also look into Americorps, they haev lots of different programs in addition to Teach for America that are all service-oriented and are great to do as well as put on your app. I did Students in Service, but you have to be in school when you do that. They have programs that are similar for graduates, non-students, etc.