georgetown's SMP

[72531]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I only recently learned about the Special Master's Program at Georgetown and am really considering it. I am a junior right now and my grades aren't stellar (~3.0 science, ~3.2 overall) Has anyone done this or know much about it? It sounds better than doing a post bacc program where your undergrad GPA is just raised because you actually get to take med school classes. I also think it looks good on applications. Opinions?
Also..if i do raise my GPA and still apply next year to med schools, it would make sense to apply to the SMP too as a backup plan, right?

 

[evade]

I only recently learned about the Special Master's Program at Georgetown and am really considering it. I am a junior right now and my grades aren't stellar (~3.0 science, ~3.2 overall) Has anyone done this or know much about it? It sounds better than doing a post bacc program where your undergrad GPA is just raised because you actually get to take med school classes. I also think it looks good on applications. Opinions?
Also..if i do raise my GPA and still apply next year to med schools, it would make sense to apply to the SMP too as a backup plan, right?

I myself was not in SMP, but I know several people who were and I sat in on a few classes. On the one hand, yes, you do get to take med school classes, and that does show schools you're applying to that you can handle classes of that caliber. You also get a master's degree to show for it, which is nice. On the other hand, SMP is by NO means a guarantee that you'll be accepted to medical school, and most SMP students will NOT be accepted to Georgetown. Your grades have to be pretty stellar (and yes, you do get straight-up letter grades), and therefore it is pretty competetive. It's also quite expensive ($18k a couple years ago, and I'm not sure what it is now).

If all you want is to get into med school, there are similar programs at other medical schools that have a much higher acceptance rate at that school. I believe Rosalind Franklin has a program like this, and I've heard there are others, though I don't know much about 'em. Yes, it's a wise idea to have a backup plan, but definitely research your options before making your choice.

 

[DrHuang]

The Georgetown SMP is probably the best known SMP but there are others like it at Boston University, Drexel, etc. For the GT SMP, about 50% get accepted to medical school during the year they are in program, about 85% of the total class eventually gets in, and about 20% of the class usually gets accepted into Georgetown. Personally, I thought the GT SMP was a great program and felt that it really helped me get in...you can find alot more information about the program in the post bacc forums and feel free to PM me any specific questions you may have.

 

[Vizsla]

Hey Kristy,
I did SMP also and I think it definitely helped seeing that I didn't get any interviews at all last yr and I have already had 4 this year. The best thing I got out of the program was it really helped me understand how much a successful med student needs to study as opposed to the 2hrs/wk I studied in undergrad. 😀 You don't need to be a genius to do well in these courses, you just have to be a workhorse and put in the several hours of reading/studying (just like med school). My interviewers so far have all liked the fact that I have a proven record of success in medical courses but frankly I believe they just wanted to see that I could do well in science courses, whether it was in college or a post-bac. They are more impressed with the fact that I am able to integrate concepts acquired from the gtown program in my current clinical activities. As for my learning experience there, I really didn't like the traditional curriculum's lack of integration...very frequently a topic was introduced briefly without much explanation and then mentioned again months laters when we began a new course (all the more reason Univ MD should be near the top of your list). Also the facilities are deplorable and the class diversity was severely lacking but then again you are only gonna be there for a year. If you have a good MCAT and need to improve your gpa, do the SMP, work your a** off and you will do great when you apply. Good luck with everything.

 

[medstylee]

i also just finished georgetown's smp and i agree that what vizsla had to say was very accurate. i, on the other hand, liked georgetown med very much, but of course it's a matter of personal preference. i've already been invited to 5 interviews this year, including georgetown med, which is definitely more than i had been invited to previously. i've had similar experiences where my interviewers have been impressed not only that i did well in medical school courses, but that i actually put what i learned to use in my job at a hospital (i work in a clinical lab).

if you get into gu's smp, you'll be encouraged to apply to medical school during that year. i'm actually an advocate of taking the year off and applying the year after. i applied last year and had a few interviews, but i really wish i hadn't. i'm really glad i have this year off to earn some money and not care about school. of course, if you do take the year off, you need to get involved in some clinical work (either a job or volunteering) as vizsla and i have been doing. i've found though, that this only helps your application and gives you more material to use to convince your interviewers. i haven't yet been accepted to med school this year (still waiting to hear back), but i feel good about my chances with 5 interviews. and, i'll credit the combination of smp and working full-time at a hospital with my application outcomes this year. if you have any questions, feel free to pm me. best of luck.

 

[ichimaru]

If you don't mind my asking, how did y'all finance your education at GT SMP? If you used loans, were they easy to get? What loans are best? How much total did it cost for tuition/living over the span of the program? I will probably be enrolling in a postbacc program of some sort this fall, and for the first time I won't be getting any financial support from my parents. I feel they've done enough for me, and they need to start saving for retirement. That's why I'm worried about where my money's gonna be coming from.

 

[Neptune07]

Bump.

How did you guys pay for this?

 

[imrep1972]

You raise two different issues.

For the SMP, you are eligible for Federal financial aid as well as private loans. As far as how easy they are to get, that really depends on you. Any company will be pretty excited to loan you money, but how easy (and how high your interest rate will be) will depend on your credit. Make sure, before you go for a loan, that you have checked your credit report and done all you can to clean it up. A little work now could save you thousands of dollars in the future. The financial aid office at G-town projects that it will cost $55K each year (tuition and living expenses) to attend here. Obviously, that number can be slightly higher or lower depending on how you live. How much of that you borrow (versus, say, getting it from mom and pop) is entirely up to you. Regarding which loan is best - that is really a personal question. It depends on what is important to you (interest rate v. loan repayment, etc). The financial aid office can hold your hand through that process when the time comes.

The other issue is that you are discussing doing a post-bac. A post-bac can be different from a program such as the SMP. The SMP (and programs like it) are formal Masters degree granting programs. As such, they qualify for federal aid and low-interest loans. A *true* post-bac is not a degree-granting program. Because of that, you will not qualify for any financial aid.

Just something to consider when deciding where you want to go...

If you don't mind my asking, how did y'all finance your education at GT SMP? If you used loans, were they easy to get? What loans are best? How much total did it cost for tuition/living over the span of the program? I will probably be enrolling in a postbacc program of some sort this fall, and for the first time I won't be getting any financial support from my parents. I feel they've done enough for me, and they need to start saving for retirement. That's why I'm worried about where my money's gonna be coming from.

 

[femmedoc]

Hey Kristy,
I did SMP also and I think it definitely helped seeing that I didn't get any interviews at all last yr and I have already had 4 this year. The best thing I got out of the program was it really helped me understand how much a successful med student needs to study as opposed to the 2hrs/wk I studied in undergrad. 😀 You don't need to be a genius to do well in these courses, you just have to be a workhorse and put in the several hours of reading/studying (just like med school). My interviewers so far have all liked the fact that I have a proven record of success in medical courses but frankly I believe they just wanted to see that I could do well in science courses, whether it was in college or a post-bac. They are more impressed with the fact that I am able to integrate concepts acquired from the gtown program in my current clinical activities. As for my learning experience there, I really didn't like the traditional curriculum's lack of integration...very frequently a topic was introduced briefly without much explanation and then mentioned again months laters when we began a new course (all the more reason Univ MD should be near the top of your list). Also the facilities are deplorable and the class diversity was severely lacking but then again you are only gonna be there for a year. If you have a good MCAT and need to improve your gpa, do the SMP, work your a** off and you will do great when you apply. Good luck with everything.

Great to hear inside info on this program. Could you please explain a bit more about the "deplorable facilities"? Where are your classes located on the campus? Did you take any of the med school courses there, and if so, were they in the same room with the MS1s or were they televised like at Drexel? Thanks so much for the feedback!

 

[Beth_W737]

That's not entirely true - a formal postbac, you can still get financial aid (not from the school itself, but government loans, etc.) At my interview at Bryn Mawr, the financial aid person told us we should fill out the FAFSA, it's considered 5th year undergrad, so you still qualify for loans.

Beth

You raise two different issues.

For the SMP, you are eligible for Federal financial aid as well as private loans. As far as how easy they are to get, that really depends on you. Any company will be pretty excited to loan you money, but how easy (and how high your interest rate will be) will depend on your credit. Make sure, before you go for a loan, that you have checked your credit report and done all you can to clean it up. A little work now could save you thousands of dollars in the future. The financial aid office at G-town projects that it will cost $55K each year (tuition and living expenses) to attend here. Obviously, that number can be slightly higher or lower depending on how you live. How much of that you borrow (versus, say, getting it from mom and pop) is entirely up to you. Regarding which loan is best - that is really a personal question. It depends on what is important to you (interest rate v. loan repayment, etc). The financial aid office can hold your hand through that process when the time comes.

The other issue is that you are discussing doing a post-bac. A post-bac can be different from a program such as the SMP. The SMP (and programs like it) are formal Masters degree granting programs. As such, they qualify for federal aid and low-interest loans. A *true* post-bac is not a degree-granting program. Because of that, you will not qualify for any financial aid.

Just something to consider when deciding where you want to go...

 

[calbear15]

No, we take classes right alongside med students in the same rooms. We definitely don't get treated like 2nd class citizens around here if that's what you're asking. In fact, all the medical students know that we're just as smart as them and they also know that we're willing to work harder than them. Most of the time, the SMP students beat the med students in exams.

As far as the facilities, Georgetown Med is just old. Here at the library, the roof leaks, the walls look crappy, the elevators break down all the time...and...well, pretty much everything's just old and crappy. Personally I couldn't care less; I still love this place. But a lot of people don't like that. For a world-renowned school, the hardware at Georgetown med is pretty bad. The law center and the business school don't have the same problems with money.

Great to hear inside info on this program. Could you please explain a bit more about the "deplorable facilities"? Where are your classes located on the campus? Did you take any of the med school courses there, and if so, were they in the same room with the MS1s or were they televised like at Drexel? Thanks so much for the feedback!

 

[Hoya11]

No, we take classes right alongside med students in the same rooms. We definitely don't get treated like 2nd class citizens around here if that's what you're asking. In fact, all the medical students know that we're just as smart as them and they also know that we're willing to work harder than them. Most of the time, the SMP students beat the med students in exams.

As far as the facilities, Georgetown Med is just old. Here at the library, the roof leaks, the walls look crappy, the elevators break down all the time...and...well, pretty much everything's just old and crappy. Personally I couldn't care less; I still love this place. But a lot of people don't like that. For a world-renowned school, the hardware at Georgetown med is pretty bad. The law center and the business school don't have the same problems with money.

MS2.

Not to turn this into a pissing contest, but your statement about SMPS beating the med students is simply not true. Maybe in Biostatistics or Nutrition, where the med students could care less, but anatomy/phys/neuro its no contest spreadsheets dont lie.

That said, you SMPS work HARD. VERY HARD. its a very very tough program in my opinion, and although the averages are in our favor, its not by a HUGE margin.

Id agree the facilities could be better, but like you said who seriously cares? You just show up to take exams. The reason they are like this is because the med school is like a parasite of the hospital, everything is in the hospital, just an extension, so you have to deal with hospital construction workers, etc..

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

MS2.

Not to turn this into a pissing contest, but your statement about SMPS beating the med students is simply not true. Maybe in Biostatistics or Nutrition, where the med students could care less, but anatomy/phys/neuro its no contest spreadsheets dont lie.

Where are these spreadsheats? I would like to see one, just out of curiosity

 

[jebus]

I assume they are the spreadsheets posted on bulletin boards with student's test scores (by SSN, I'd wager). I suspect that if this is the case, the SMP and MD students are separated and a direct comparison is pretty straightforward - and someone clearly cared enough to share that with us.
The important thing, I think, is that the SMPers are successful in gaining med school admissions at a very high clip - regardless of how they compare with the GT med students. Meh, either way, it's a competitive program to get into but it seems just as successful as BU's or UPenn's; I wish I had numbers on Mt. Sinai's.

 

[tacrum43]

I assume they are the spreadsheets posted on bulletin boards with student's test scores (by SSN, I'd wager). I suspect that if this is the case, the SMP and MD students are separated and a direct comparison is pretty straightforward - and someone clearly cared enough to share that with us.
The important thing, I think, is that the SMPers are successful in gaining med school admissions at a very high clip - regardless of how they compare with the GT med students. Meh, either way, it's a competitive program to get into but it seems just as successful as BU's or UPenn's; I wish I had numbers on Mt. Sinai's.

You're correct about the spreadsheets. They're on blackboard for current students to check their grades. They use randomly assigned numbers, but it is divided into med and grad students.

The averages are usually very close, although I think we did beat the med students in Embryology by 1 or 2%. 🙂

 

[jebus]

The averages are usually very close, although I think we did beat the med students in Embryology by 1 or 2%. 🙂

That's surprising (impressive) because although ~85% of the students get into a med school there are those 15% who, um, well, you know...

 

[tacrum43]

That's surprising (impressive) because although ~85% of the students get into a med school there are those 15% who, um, well, you know...

The other 15% includes those who graduated and didn't get in after trying multiple times, those who chose to do something else and those who failed out. FYI, the now infamous spreadsheets also showed that some of the med students failed as well.

 

[DrHuang]

That's surprising (impressive) because although ~85% of the students get into a med school there are those 15% who, um, well, you know...

Of those 15% who didnt 'get in', many of them chose not to enter medicine...I knew a few people who decided that after the SMP they wanted to do research instead of getting a MD or who attended the SMP so it would give them a leg up in the consulting world. And why is it suprising? The average GPA is 3.3 and mcat is about 30 for the SMP which higher than some US allopathic med schools

edit: beaten by tacrum 😛...and like tacrum said, the SMP and Med student averages are usually off by 1-2%, with the med students usually beating on SMP students...but I do remember we beating them in neuro or endo last year...i dont remember

 

[calbear15]

Sorry, I wasn't trying to lie. I'm just talking about this year. I don't know what it was like last year. The top scores in microscopic anatomy came from physios this year. (I wasn't one of them) I've been told that this year's physios are much smarter and more competitive relative to years past.

You're right. Spreadsheets don't lie.

MS2.

Not to turn this into a pissing contest, but your statement about SMPS beating the med students is simply not true. Maybe in Biostatistics or Nutrition, where the med students could care less, but anatomy/phys/neuro its no contest spreadsheets dont lie.

That said, you SMPS work HARD. VERY HARD. its a very very tough program in my opinion, and although the averages are in our favor, its not by a HUGE margin.

Id agree the facilities could be better, but like you said who seriously cares? You just show up to take exams. The reason they are like this is because the med school is like a parasite of the hospital, everything is in the hospital, just an extension, so you have to deal with hospital construction workers, etc..

 

[tacrum43]

I've been told that this year's physios are much smarter and more competitive relative to years past.

Much smarter. 😉

 

[Bill Lumbergh]

Of those 15% who didnt 'get in', many of them chose not to enter medicine...I knew a few people who decided that after the SMP they wanted to do research instead of getting a MD or who attended the SMP so it would give them a leg up in the consulting world. And why is it suprising? The average GPA is 3.3 and mcat is about 30 for the SMP which higher than some US allopathic med schools

i kind of wonder if the 85% of people who eventually get in includes people who had to take an alternate pathway to a career in medicine. i finished the program in 2003 and still had to go the caribbean route. i know 4 other people from my SMP class at my school, one at another caribbean school, and 6 who went D.O. including myself, that's 12 students out of a class of about 120 in alternate routes, which is 10% of the class right there. now, i never actually reported back that i went caribbean, so they probably put me in the 15% who never got in, but if i did end up reporting, i wonder where they would categorize me.

and yes, i know that D.O. schools and certain caribbean schools are perfectly acceptable pathways to medicine and would count as being "accepted" to a medical school, but i'm guessing that if someone's considering the SMP program, they are targeting and would want to know the rate of acceptance into U.S. allopathic schools.

 

[DrHuang]

im not sure if they include caribbean but i do know they include DO in that 85%.

i kind of wonder if the 85% of people who eventually get in includes people who had to take an alternate pathway to a career in medicine. i finished the program in 2003 and still had to go the caribbean route. i know 4 other people from my SMP class at my school, one at another caribbean school, and 6 who went D.O. including myself, that's 12 students out of a class of about 120 in alternate routes, which is 10% of the class right there. now, i never actually reported back that i went caribbean, so they probably put me in the 15% who never got in, but if i did end up reporting, i wonder where they would categorize me.

and yes, i know that D.O. schools and certain caribbean schools are perfectly acceptable pathways to medicine and would count as being "accepted" to a medical school, but i'm guessing that if someone's considering the SMP program, they are targeting and would want to know the rate of acceptance into U.S. allopathic schools.

 

[BOBODR]

i kind of wonder if the 85% of people who eventually get in includes people who had to take an alternate pathway to a career in medicine. i finished the program in 2003 and still had to go the caribbean route. i know 4 other people from my SMP class at my school, one at another caribbean school, and 6 who went D.O. including myself, that's 12 students out of a class of about 120 in alternate routes, which is 10% of the class right there. now, i never actually reported back that i went caribbean, so they probably put me in the 15% who never got in, but if i did end up reporting, i wonder where they would categorize me.

and yes, i know that D.O. schools and certain caribbean schools are perfectly acceptable pathways to medicine and would count as being "accepted" to a medical school, but i'm guessing that if someone's considering the SMP program, they are targeting and would want to know the rate of acceptance into U.S. allopathic schools.

Hey, do you mind saying how you did in the SMP, this scares me. To do well and then still not get into allopathic school...

 

[Bill Lumbergh]

Hey, do you mind saying how you did in the SMP, this scares me. To do well and then still not get into allopathic school...

well, i wouldn't say i did poorly, but i wouldn't say i did well either. i remember that i actually scored above the med school average on every exam, but ended up with a 3.31 gpa.

and just for reference, the rest of my application was a 3.0 undergrad gpa from hopkins (both science and overall), 33 mcat, volunteer and shadowing experience, and research experience with published abstracts (papers in the works).

all in all, the program doesn't get you into med school, but gives you a great opportunity to get yourself into med school. if you do exceptionally well, then the sky's the limit for where you can get into. however, if you don't stand out, it doesn't hurt you, but then the rest of your application becomes more relevant. for me, the 3.31 didn't impress, so the schools paid more attention to my undergrad gpa and that was the end of it.

 

[Tommyk7]

Wow, you did well there; a B+ average in medical school classes! That's a high pass for med. students isn't it? If med. schools don't give credit for that, then what do they give credit for? Do the people who get into GT, GW, NYMC and all those schools from the SMP program all get close to 4.0's in the program or something??

 

[DrHuang]

Wow, you did well there; a B+ average in medical school classes! That's a high pass for med. students isn't it? If med. schools don't give credit for that, then what do they give credit for? Do the people who get into GT, GW, NYMC and all those schools from the SMP program all get close to 4.0's in the program or something??

B+ = top 30% of the med scholl class
I think the only school that gives credit for the med classes you take is georgetown itself; GT interviews about the top 50% of the SMP class and acceptances vary (but usually the ppl with higher GPAs get in)...after the 1st semester, those with 3.5+ usually get interviews from NYMC, SLU and Drexel but im not sure about other med schools.

 

[medstylee]

Wow, you did well there; a B+ average in medical school classes! That's a high pass for med. students isn't it? If med. schools don't give credit for that, then what do they give credit for? Do the people who get into GT, GW, NYMC and all those schools from the SMP program all get close to 4.0's in the program or something??

actually, at gw med, former physios are allowed to opt out of taking histology (i don't know the grade requirements, but i assume it's if you get at least a B in the course at georgetown).

my student interviewer at drexel had been a georgetown physio the year before me. he said that you are allowed to pass out of histology, physiology, and neuroscience at drexel as long as you received a grade of B or higher in the course at georgetown.

i think that's pretty much it, though. i know you aren't able to pass out of any courses at nymc, even though nymc has a reputation of accepting a lot of physios each year.

 

[femmedoc]

Hi CalBear,
Thanks for the info. The fact that you take classes with MS1s definitely adds value to the program. It is also good to hear that the SMP students and MS1s have a sort of community at Georgetown instead of being more separated.
New Q: What about housing in Georgetown? How easy/hard was it to find an apartment/dorm?

No, we take classes right alongside med students in the same rooms. We definitely don't get treated like 2nd class citizens around here if that's what you're asking. In fact, all the medical students know that we're just as smart as them and they also know that we're willing to work harder than them. Most of the time, the SMP students beat the med students in exams.

As far as the facilities, Georgetown Med is just old. Here at the library, the roof leaks, the walls look crappy, the elevators break down all the time...and...well, pretty much everything's just old and crappy. Personally I couldn't care less; I still love this place. But a lot of people don't like that. For a world-renowned school, the hardware at Georgetown med is pretty bad. The law center and the business school don't have the same problems with money.

 

[Touchdown]

It helps, trust me. As of right now Ive doubled my interviews this year and am still waiting to hear back from a school I waitlisted in last year.

 

[rob14599]

My application to the SMP program has been complete for a little over a week now. I also applied to the CAM program as a possible backup. Does anyone know anybody who went through the CAM program or are familiar with it? Anyone else apply to it? I'm a little worried about my SMP chances now that Rosalind Franklin has discontinued their AP program, which probably means more qualified applicants applying to Georgetown SMP.

 

[Neptune07]

I've checked and they have all my supplemental documents, letters. However, none of it shows up as "received" on the application website...and its been several weeks now. Also, i sent out the MCAT scores mid-January and it's also listed as "not received". Do they send you an email and let you know that you're application is complete? Thanks in advance.

 

[Mr. Three-Wiggle]

Nope, they didn't send me an email. I knew I was complete based on the application website.

 

[BOBODR]

Nope, they didn't send me an email. I knew I was complete based on the application website.

My app site never said anything was received. I got an email from Cabiness saying I was complete. My turn around time from complete to acceptance was about 2 weeks. GL.

 

[Vizsla]

actually, at gw med, former physios are allowed to opt out of taking histology (i don't know the grade requirements, but i assume it's if you get at least a B in the course at georgetown).

my student interviewer at drexel had been a georgetown physio the year before me. he said that you are allowed to pass out of histology, physiology, and neuroscience at drexel as long as you received a grade of B or higher in the course at georgetown.

i think that's pretty much it, though. i know you aren't able to pass out of any courses at nymc, even though nymc has a reputation of accepting a lot of physios each year.

We can opt out of neuro, histo AND physio at Drexel!??! wow...Im liking them a lot more

 

[Vizsla]

You do NOT need a 3.8 to be competitive...I think if you end the program right around 3.4 or 3.5 (and have mcat around 30), then you will be fine for most schools. I ended with 3.5 and 32 and have gotten 6 interviews so far. Make sure to back all of this up with strong clinical experience tho bc nowadays everyone has the gpa and mcat....good luck you guys

 

[DrHuang]

You do NOT need a 3.8 to be competitive...I think if you end the program right around 3.4 or 3.5 (and have mcat around 30), then you will be fine for most schools. I ended with 3.5 and 32 and have gotten 6 interviews so far. Make sure to back all of this up with strong clinical experience tho bc nowadays everyone has the gpa and mcat....good luck you guys

viz, you know where youre gonna end up next year?

 

[Vizsla]

viz, you know where youre gonna end up next year?

Hopefully GW...we will see what influence my letter of intent has...if not, mabye VCU or Rush. How bout u?

 

[DrHuang]

Hopefully GW...we will see what influence my letter of intent has...if not, mabye VCU or Rush. How bout u?

SLU for now...if i get taken off tulane's waitlist ill probably head there

 

[DrHuang]

and since edit aint working, just wanna say its great to see ex-SMPers getting so many interviews this year

 

[Vizsla]

and since edit aint working, just wanna say its great to see ex-SMPers getting so many interviews this year

hahah..and none @ gtown (well medstylee did but those a$$holes rejected him)...im thinkin once ure done with SMP, gtown committee doesnt look too favorably at you...

 

[BOBODR]

hahah..and none @ gtown (well medstylee did but those a$$holes rejected him)...im thinkin once ure done with SMP, gtown committee doesnt look too favorably at you...

I have a question. So I was recently accepted into the SMP and kind of hesistant about it. I have applied twice with a 3.5 from a top school and a 31 MCAT but havent gotten in anywhere. I was wondering for the people who did the SMP last year, why do you think you did not get in during the SMP? What were your stats before the SMP and did you get any interviews while in it. There is no way I would do the SMP and then apply again after I think because that means I would have to retake the MCAT as it would expire and by then it would be my fourth time applying - no thanks to that. So I was wondering how you did in the SMP and why you didnt get in during it. What can you do to up your chances of getting in somewhere while in the program?

Thanks.

 

[Vizsla]

I have a question. So I was recently accepted into the SMP and kind of hesistant about it. I have applied twice with a 3.5 from a top school and a 31 MCAT but havent gotten in anywhere. I was wondering for the people who did the SMP last year, why do you think you did not get in during the SMP? What were your stats before the SMP and did you get any interviews while in it. There is no way I would do the SMP and then apply again after I think because that means I would have to retake the MCAT as it would expire and by then it would be my fourth time applying - no thanks to that. So I was wondering how you did in the SMP and why you didnt get in during it. What can you do to up your chances of getting in somewhere while in the program?

Thanks.

I think the biggest detriment to SMPers is that even tho your advisor will send a progress report to ur schools a couple months into ur fall semester detailing the avg grade you have in ur fall courses, this really isnt enough in most cases to get u an actual interview at these schools. Your actual complete fall grades are only sent out I believe during mid-late january so by this time, it is rather late in the interview cycle already and schools have filled a good amount of seats. This is why you really have to try to do great ur first semester so that you can impress the committees, enough so that they extend you an invite. After this point, it will be up to you to keep schools abreast of you are doing in your spring classes...you have to email them and let them know what grades u got in physio, endo bc I dont think the advisors will send another progress report (u could always ask). So I think your game plan should be: kick major a$$ (B+ or above in med classes, A- or above in grad classes) during fall semester, and try to pull at least a B+ in physio...if u can do this, I think you will be in good standing with ur applications. Also whats very tough is the fact that the SMP is like a concentrated pool of applicants who are ALL advised to apply to the same schools (NYMC, SLU, RFU, GW, Gtown....) so what ends up happening is that these schools are flooded with SMPers and thus in the end (even after advisors try to repeatedly tell u that SMPers arent competing against each other) you end up pitted against each other, so usually the applicant with the higher SMP gpa wins. I really really wished that the advisors at SMP looked at each individual application and counseled the student whether or not to apply during SMP year....I have to say that I think it is quite difficult to get interviews when your first set of grades are only going out in january.....Of course some students get interviews in the middle of fall semester (these are usually students who were relatively well off to begin with). I think the advisors really need to work on the counseling aspect a lot more and also since each student is paying 28K, it would be nice if they actually did some work as advocates for the students (i.e. making calls to schools about students, writing multiple update letters...) I know its difficult to do this with 140 or so SMP students, but we are all paying ****loads of money to be there...On a side note, I also think it would be nice if the first yr med students @ gtown just accepted the fact that their school desperately needs the money from the SMP program, instead of asking the constant question of "why do they have to be in our classes"...and "they dont affect our curve right??..." I think most of you will find that the nicest first yrs u guys will meet will be the SMPers who were accepted from the previous yr.

Bobodr, I find it a little alarming that u didnt get any interviews with a 3.5 and 31...or did u get interviews and u never came off waitlist? thats a diff story...

 

[BOBODR]

I think the biggest detriment to SMPers is that even tho your advisor will send a progress report to ur schools a couple months into ur fall semester detailing the avg grade you have in ur fall courses, this really isnt enough in most cases to get u an actual interview at these schools. Your actual complete fall grades are only sent out I believe during mid-late january so by this time, it is rather late in the interview cycle already and schools have filled a good amount of seats. This is why you really have to try to do great ur first semester so that you can impress the committees, enough so that they extend you an invite. After this point, it will be up to you to keep schools abreast of you are doing in your spring classes...you have to email them and let them know what grades u got in physio, endo bc I dont think the advisors will send another progress report (u could always ask). So I think your game plan should be: kick major a$$ (B+ or above in med classes, A- or above in grad classes) during fall semester, and try to pull at least a B+ in physio...if u can do this, I think you will be in good standing with ur applications. Also whats very tough is the fact that the SMP is like a concentrated pool of applicants who are ALL advised to apply to the same schools (NYMC, SLU, RFU, GW, Gtown....) so what ends up happening is that these schools are flooded with SMPers and thus in the end (even after advisors try to repeatedly tell u that SMPers arent competing against each other) you end up pitted against each other, so usually the applicant with the higher SMP gpa wins. I really really wished that the advisors at SMP looked at each individual application and counseled the student whether or not to apply during SMP year....I have to say that I think it is quite difficult to get interviews when your first set of grades are only going out in january.....Of course some students get interviews in the middle of fall semester (these are usually students who were relatively well off to begin with). I think the advisors really need to work on the counseling aspect a lot more and also since each student is paying 28K, it would be nice if they actually did some work as advocates for the students (i.e. making calls to schools about students, writing multiple update letters...) I know its difficult to do this with 140 or so SMP students, but we are all paying ****loads of money to be there...On a side note, I also think it would be nice if the first yr med students @ gtown just accepted the fact that their school desperately needs the money from the SMP program, instead of asking the constant question of "why do they have to be in our classes"...and "they dont affect our curve right??..." I think most of you will find that the nicest first yrs u guys will meet will be the SMPers who were accepted from the previous yr.

Bobodr, I find it a little alarming that u didnt get any interviews with a 3.5 and 31...or did u get interviews and u never came off waitlist? thats a diff story...

Interviewed at Cinci as OOS and got Waitlisted, interviewed at Buffalo got WL, NYMC = waitlist, interviewed at UNC and havent heard back yet. What % of people get interviews during the SMP year? I thought the website says like 60 % get in during that year, or does most of that come from G-town accepting people in april after physio? The new tuition is 32,000 for next yr I think... I would hope the counselors would do everything they can to get u into medical school. why are grades from the Fall not out until Janaury, I would think they would be available in December after classes are done?

 

[Vizsla]

Interviewed at Cinci as OOS and got Waitlisted, interviewed at Buffalo got WL, NYMC = waitlist, interviewed at UNC and havent heard back yet. What % of people get interviews during the SMP year? I thought the website says like 60 % get in during that year, or does most of that come from G-town accepting people in april after physio? The new tuition is 32,000 for next yr I think... I would hope the counselors would do everything they can to get u into medical school. why are grades from the Fall not out until Janaury, I would think they would be available in December after classes are done?

I think the profs for fall classes take some time with the approaching christmas holidays to get them out...maybe they do go out late decemb..i dont remember so well, im getting old...still even if they go out last wk mid decmeber, it will be early-mid january before schools even process the transcripts they receive and stick them in ur folders to be reviewed since they too take off for the holidays

 

[tacrum43]

Interviewed at Cinci as OOS and got Waitlisted, interviewed at Buffalo got WL, NYMC = waitlist, interviewed at UNC and havent heard back yet. What % of people get interviews during the SMP year? I thought the website says like 60 % get in during that year, or does most of that come from G-town accepting people in april after physio? The new tuition is 32,000 for next yr I think... I would hope the counselors would do everything they can to get u into medical school. why are grades from the Fall not out until Janaury, I would think they would be available in December after classes are done?

Well you've gotten interviews at some good schools; you have a pretty good chance of getting in this year. The SMP is mostly for people with GPA issues, especially if they need to show they can handle heavy science coursework. So if your science GPA is near a 3.5 also, maybe it's something else that's holding you back (LORs, experience, etc.) Still, people get off of waitlists all the time so don't lose hope yet. I'm certainly hoping to get in off of a waitlist.

$32,000, huh? It was "only" $29,000 this year. A 10% increase is quite a bit for one year. Apparently the SMP provides quite a bit of extra cash for Georgetown. I think it's still a pretty good value for what you get though.

This year, our grades didn't go out until January 15th or so. The reason for this is because the final grades for Microscopic Anatomy weren't ready until after we came back in January. There is a test review day where you can look over your tests to make sure there weren't any mistakes in grading before they assign the final grades, and since the final exam was the last day before break, the grades weren't ready until January. Then it takes time to get the transcript requests processed (which is a lot when like 100 people are requesting transcripts be sent to several schools each).

 

[BOBODR]

Well you've gotten interviews at some good schools; you have a pretty good chance of getting in this year. The SMP is mostly for people with GPA issues, especially if they need to show they can handle heavy science coursework. So if your science GPA is near a 3.5 also, maybe it's something else that's holding you back (LORs, experience, etc.) Still, people get off of waitlists all the time so don't lose hope yet. I'm certainly hoping to get in off of a waitlist.

$32,000, huh? It was "only" $29,000 this year. A 10% increase is quite a bit for one year. Apparently the SMP provides quite a bit of extra cash for Georgetown. I think it's still a pretty good value for what you get though.

This year, our grades didn't go out until January 15th or so. The reason for this is because the final grades for Microscopic Anatomy weren't ready until after we came back in January. There is a test review day where you can look over your tests to make sure there weren't any mistakes in grading before they assign the final grades, and since the final exam was the last day before break, the grades weren't ready until January. Then it takes time to get the transcript requests processed (which is a lot when like 100 people are requesting transcripts be sent to several schools each).

My experiences are def not the problem, they are probably the best part of my app. I have volunteered a year in neuro research, two years worth of research credit, Wake Forest Research Fellowship Recipient, 2 years as Rheumatology Research Tech with several publications (abstracts and submitted papers). Clinical is strong too with 80 hrs in the OR, 40 in the ER, 40 in childrens oncology, and a full year seeing patients in the Rheumatology clinic....

I had a bad first semster I guess and thats holding me back i assume. I did poorly in bio first semester but still graduated with a 3.76 in it. Who knows, SMP is probably my only chance to go to medical school if I really want to....

 

[chaeymaey]

So do you have to make straight A's in the SMP to be competitive for med school? If a B+ is the top 30% of the med school class, it seems really impressive. Would that be recognized as a good SMP grade by an adcom?

 

[tacrum43]

My experiences are def not the problem, they are probably the best part of my app. I have volunteered a year in neuro research, two years worth of research credit, Wake Forest Research Fellowship Recipient, 2 years as Rheumatology Research Tech with several publications (abstracts and submitted papers). Clinical is strong too with 80 hrs in the OR, 40 in the ER, 40 in childrens oncology, and a full year seeing patients in the Rheumatology clinic....

I had a bad first semster I guess and thats holding me back i assume. I did poorly in bio first semester but still graduated with a 3.76 in it. Who knows, SMP is probably my only chance to go to medical school if I really want to....

Yeah, it does sound like you've got the experience part covered, which is good. How about LORs? Apparently even one slightly negative thing in a letter can he really hurtful.

I found that talking to a medical school dean for advice on my app was very helpful. She said it was my GPA that was the problem, and so the SMP was a good thing to do to improve it.

I think you have a good shot this year. Don't give up hope yet. Applying to the SMP as a backup might be good, but don't forget to actively promote yourself at those other schools too.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

and since edit aint working, just wanna say its great to see ex-SMPers getting so many interviews this year

Do you fellas know any SMP-ers who have had any luck at California schools? It seems like most of you guys end up at NYMC, GT, Drexel, etc.

 

[BOBODR]

Yeah, it does sound like you've got the experience part covered, which is good. How about LORs? Apparently even one slightly negative thing in a letter can he really hurtful.

I found that talking to a medical school dean for advice on my app was very helpful. She said it was my GPA that was the problem, and so the SMP was a good thing to do to improve it.

I think you have a good shot this year. Don't give up hope yet. Applying to the SMP as a backup might be good, but don't forget to actively promote yourself at those other schools too.

Hey Tacrum I have already talked to you before by PM about the SMP, you were very helpful a few months ago. I dont need to apply to the SMP, I was already accepted. I actually got accepted two weeks after I applied to it felt kind of good I guess.
As for LOR's, I asked my pre-med aadviser and he said there was nothing bad in them. I know my letter from my PI and an attending I see patients with are very good. I can't be sure but I dont think its my LOR's. I do have a drinking violation from freshman year, 6 years ago which may be playing a small role. As for getting in this year its highly unlikely. The cinci waitlist hasnt moved in three years, NYMC waitlists like 500000 people so who knows where i will be on that list, my interviewer at UNC was a miserable person who never really showed up and I messed up Buffalo and i am sure i am not very high on their WL.

Since I graduated from school in august 2004 I have been taking non-degree seeking graduate level classes, research in rheum, volunteering, etc. This summer I am going to take 4 "post-bacc" classes to raise my gpa even higher so I wont be too bad going into the SMP.

Does anyone know if I take biological psychology in the pscy department, will it count into my BCPM?