Georgetown SMP ???

[Carlsbad1919]

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For no apparent reason I was accepted into the Georgetown SMP. I have a undergrad GPA of 2.4, grad GPA of 3.7, and a MCAT of 32. Should I go?


THANKS!!😀

 

[ilovescience]

That's great that you got accepted to the program at Georgetown. However, your undergrad GPA is still 2.4, and no matter how well you do in the SMP, it will still be 2.4. You already have a good graduate GPA. Your performance at Georgetown will only contribute to this GPA calculation. What type of graduate program did you do to get that 3.7? Even though the majority of classes in the SMP are medical school courses and doing well in the program shows you can handle the work, I think your low undergrad GPA will still play a big role in your application especially since some medical schools have GPA cut-offs. Is this your overall GPA or your BCPM? Georgetown is pretty expensive too. I'd take more upper division undergraduate science courses at a local university to get that GPA up instead.

 

[Carlsbad1919]

2.4 is my BCPM, my overall GPA is a bit higher but the exact number depends on how it is calculated.

 

[Perrotfish]

Georgetown is, by far, the best known SMP, and has the best record of any program of it's kind (with the exception of a few very high linkage programs) in terms of getting its graduates into medical school. They know what they're doing. Do well with them and I don't anticipate any problems for your application...

for 2010. With a 2.4 I'd be shocked if any medical school other than maybe Georgetown itself was willing to consider you for admission based on your performance in the first half of the program. I'd expect a gap year, but I'd go.

Worst case is that you finish, bring your grades up to a 2.7 or a 3.0, and then get admitted for the 2011 cycle. You'll need to do this kind of program at some point, might as well be now. I think you might get in with just your GTown performance, though.

Finally, was the grad program a PhD?

 

[Carlsbad1919]

My graduate degree is an MPH, biostat/epi with a few hard science electives

 

[dragonfly99]

I am going to agree with the person who said go to Georgetown...IF you are dead set on medical school. Your undergrad GPA is like a heavy stone weighing you down. You need to do something to prove that you can do the work of medical school...also to have connections is a big thing in the process of admission to med school and residency. Still, you are taking a risk that you still might not get in, and then you will have spent more money and time trying. What is the acceptance rate to med school of folks who have successfully gone through this program and done well?

The Georgetown people are not dumb. They saw your MCAT score and graduate GPA and thought "This is a person who can do med school level work". I would worry that without some proven track record like this program can provide you, and without some folks to pull strings for you (i.e. faculty in that program) your application might go in the trash due to schools having GPA cutoffs. What you are going to need is someone (preferably a doc known to the admissions committee) to say, "Ignore his/her undergraduate GPA...it was a long time ago and look what he/she has done since". I don't see how you are going to get that by taking random graduate courses at your local university.

I am not on an admissions committee but I am a medicine fellow, and that is my 2 cents.

 

[determinedone]

Congrats on the G'Town SMP acceptance...from what I've read it's not exactly easy to get into, but then it is G'Town...so "easy" ain't even a reality!!!! Anyway, I think your in a good position...there are some people who wish they were in your shoes right now!!! It's true that the G'Town reputation will open the door for you, but it will ultimately be your drive and performance that will either close the door right back OR leave it open!!! In the words of Shakesphere, "To thine ownself be true." It's good to ask for guidance, but in the end you have to live with your decision. Are you willing to pay or take out the loans to pay for the SMP program, and your living expenses, if you HAVE to work will you be able to handle the course load and the job...and still do well enough to cause a med school admission committee to give you the benefit of the doubt (inspite of the ugrad gpa)? Weigh ALL your options and the pros and cons of attending G'Town SMP vs. taking more ugrad upper-level science courses to boost the gpa! You could do the latter, apply to med school the summer, and reapply to G'Town SMP for the gap year (to cover all your bases)...if you're really worried! Or you could contact your top 5-10 med school choices directly stating your situation and your options and see what they say...they may say well, just attend the SMP now and blow it out of the water!!! However, as other posters have stated G'Town chooses students they believe will succeed in their programs so, think of it this way you have one of the top schools in the nations believing that you have what it takes to successfully complete their graduate program, SMP, in Physiology (of course, how successfully you complete is totally up to you!) I wish you the very best!!! Sorry so long, but one more thing sometimes what we've always wanted doesn't come the way we expect...sometimes we've got to take the scenic route instead of the shortest route...this may be your way to med school...just don't be like the man that asked God for help from atop a roof of a house being flooded...God sent him help 3 times in the form of men on boats...each man asked if he needed help and all he said was "No, God's going to send me help!"...well, the story ends that the man ends up dieing (of course, he drowns) and gets to Heaven and asks God where his help was...God replies I sent 3 people!!!! Point of the story...know your help when it comes and TAKE IT (in wisdom knowing full well the ardous task in front of you...proving that YOU will contribute positively to their med school and ultimately become an exceptional physician!)....who knows when you'll get the opportunity again!!!!

 

[sarahl86]

I think that the SMP is a good alternative for people, as was previously said, DEAD SET on entering medicine. Some ad-coms do see it as "buying a ticket" into school, and the SMP is most beneficial if you plan on going to Georgetown...but its still a great opportunity. It will help your GPA calculations and give you the chance to prove you can handle the work.

Good luck!

 

[Vihsadas]

Just wanted to let others know that the SMP (for whatever reason) just let in an extra 40 or so people this year. The exam averages are REALLLY high too.

 

[Carlsbad1919]

Georgetown SOM a few years ago was close to bankruptcy, hence things like adding more people to a program that makes you lots of money. Also, just to give an idea, the first exam average was a 91%, to get an A you had to get a 94.5% (and they stick to the curve). Still an awesome program though.

 

[nick_carraway]

Georgetown SOM a few years ago was close to bankruptcy, hence things like adding more people to a program that makes you lots of money. Also, just to give an idea, the first exam average was a 91%, to get an A you had to get a 94.5% (and they stick to the curve). Still an awesome program though.

Yikes. I'm going into the program next year so that's a frightening average. Vihsadas, how're the SMPers doing so far?

 

[Carlsbad1919]

Physios (SMP students) are averaging about 1 point under the medical students - so right on track (of course Physios need those As while med students just need to pass).

 

[DrJD]

Yea, in the first class of the year 60% of the physios got B's... Not saying that is a bad grade but these are people who are here working their butts off, definitely a difficult program! So far in my opinion it is amazing though...

 

[Vihsadas]

Yea, in the first class of the year 60% of the physios got B's... Not saying that is a bad grade but these are people who are here working their butts off, definitely a difficult program! So far in my opinion it is amazing though...

Great to hear that you made the A on that first exam! Congrats! I have a friend whose an M1 there right now, but because that person was part of the SMP in the past, their grade is also not counted in the curve. Keep it up!

 

[RazT]

Hello everyone

I was wondering if you guys can give me some advice based on your personal experiences. I graduated undergrad as a BIOSCI major with a 3.1 gpa overall, 2.9 science. I studied for my MCAT and scored a 29 (10 verbal 10 bio and 9 ps)I took an extra year, retook all the classes that i received under a B+ in and scored A's in all of them. My current calculations puts my overall gpa at a 3.24 and my science at a 3.14. I've interned at a cancer center, ER, and currently work in a diagnostic lab. I also have a lot of leadership experience. What do you guys think are my chances with the Georgetown SMP? I REEEEALLLLY WANT THIS PROGRAM! 😀 I appreciate your advice!

 

[DrJD]

Apply early! If you apply early and with everything that you've told us I'd think you have a pretty good chance of getting in!

Hello everyone

I was wondering if you guys can give me some advice based on your personal experiences. I graduated undergrad as a BIOSCI major with a 3.1 gpa overall, 2.9 science. I studied for my MCAT and scored a 29 (10 verbal 10 bio and 9 ps)I took an extra year, retook all the classes that i received under a B+ in and scored A's in all of them. My current calculations puts my overall gpa at a 3.24 and my science at a 3.14. I've interned at a cancer center, ER, and currently work in a diagnostic lab. I also have a lot of leadership experience. What do you guys think are my chances with the Georgetown SMP? I REEEEALLLLY WANT THIS PROGRAM! 😀 I appreciate your advice!