Going to interviews while doing SMP's?

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O731 said:
So I just got accepted into an SMP. I was wondering if anyone has done an SMP, and if they had trouble going to interviews out of state.
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If you are going to be doing an SMP, why would you apply before your grades are back? There's a reason you are doing the SMP. You don't want to become a reapplicant if you can avoid it.
 
ThoracicGuy said:
If you are going to be doing an SMP, why would you apply before your grades are back? There's a reason you are doing the SMP. You don't want to become a reapplicant if you can avoid it.
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I thought I can submit my grades once the first semester is over, and they will be considered for the cycle.
 
ThoracicGuy said:
So you submit grades in December? So you'd be complete in December for a cycle that is open now? For an application in need of help, I can't recommend this method.
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I completed all of my pre-requisites and took the MCAT, so I technically have a complete app already. I don't see how just submitting extra grades in December would be an issue. Unless i'm missing something here.

I hope i'm not coming off as ignorant here. This is my first cycle so i'm just trying to make ends meet, so your input is really appreciated. Plus, doing the SMP will give me a chance to get into the medical school i'm doing the SMP at.
 
I assume your GPA is the problem, hence why you are taking an SMP. If you apply now without the GPA that could get you in, you have a high chance of waitlist/rejection. Then when you finish your SMP, you would reapply and then be considered a reapplicant. That will make it harder for you to get in to schools that you have already applied to in the past. You want to make your first application your best application. Even if that means taking an extra year to get in. This is a marathon, not a sprint, and the schools aren't going anywhere.
 
O731 said:
So even if I don't get an interview invite, i'm considered a re-applicant?
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You would be a re-applicant at all the schools that have received a verified complete primary, even if you don't complete a secondary.
Many schools do not accept updates.
 
Darn. I sent out all of my primaries, even completed a lot of secondaries. My Post-bacc GPA is good and it was my first stab at a pre-med curriculum, solid MCAT, decent EC's, applying as hispanic.

But I feel like I should do an SMP because my GPA is crap. I'm just concerned that IF I do get some interview invites, I would want to be able to attend them. I applied to diversity-oriented schools that reward reinvention.

I'm thinking that if I don't get accepted into any schools this year, at least I'll have an SMP GPA to fall back on for next cycle. The thought of doing nothing for a year scares me :O
 
O731 said:
Darn. I sent out all of my primaries, even completed a lot of secondaries. My Post-bacc GPA is good and it was my first stab at a pre-med curriculum, solid MCAT, decent EC's, applying as hispanic.

But I feel like I should do an SMP because my GPA is crap. I'm just concerned that IF I do get some interview invites, I would want to be able to attend them. I applied to diversity-oriented schools that reward reinvention.

I'm thinking that if I don't get accepted into any schools this year, at least I'll have an SMP GPA to fall back on for next cycle. The thought of doing nothing for a year scares me :O
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Sounds like you need a WAMC thread.
 
This is something I would go on the post-bacc forum for to get more specific responses tailored to what you need.
I guarantee you can find people who have been through what you are considering and who you can reach out to for specific input/insight.
As for whether you should apply during an SMP, that is dependent on your stats, state, the program you attend amongst many other things.
Some SMP programs with certain stats this is a viable strategy . For others not so much. Your SMP advisors can give good input for that.
 
Well then every place you sent a primary, you will be considered a reapp next year(cycle) if you have to through it again. And as @gyngyn said many schools don't accept updates of any kind unless they specifically ask for them. And AMCAS does not update your GPA. What you sent in when completing the primary is the GPA you are stuck with for this cycle. So you will have to submit individually new transcripts to each school you applied to and that's only if the schools will accept updates at all. What are your GPAs that AMCAS calculated?


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candbgirl said:
Well then every place you sent a primary, you will be considered a reapp next year(cycle) if you have to through it again. And as @gyngyn said many schools don't accept updates of any kind unless they specifically ask for them. And AMCAS does not update your GPA. What you sent in when completing the primary is the GPA you are stuck with for this cycle. So you will have to submit individually new transcripts to each school you applied to and that's only if the schools will accept updates at all. What are your GPAs that AMCAS calculated?


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2.75 cGPA
3.0 BCPM GPA
3.90 Post bacc, 71 credit hours. First try at Pre-med curriculum
511 MCAT (129 123 132 127)

I just get a feeling in my gut that I will get little or no interview invites, so I would be safe doing an SMP. Guess I should have done my research and will have to be a re applicant.
 
Did you apply to DO schools? Your GPAs are really low for MD. Heck they are really low for DO but at least DO has the grade replacement program. How could your sGPA be so low when you have a 3.9 in your post bac and that seems to be when you took the premed courses? You shouldn't have applied at all until you finished the SMP. Is the 123 in CARS? Nice overall MCAT.


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candbgirl said:
Did you apply to DO schools? Your GPAs are really low for MD. Heck they are really low for DO but at least DO has the grade replacement program. How could your sGPA be so low when you have a 3.9 in your post bac and that seems to be when you took the premed courses? You shouldn't have applied at all until you finished the SMP. Is the 123 in CARS? Nice overall MCAT.
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Yeah, 123 CARS. My GPA for DO is actually higher because of grade replacement. I retook some of the courses already, so it's higher. I took A LOT of credit hours before.

I'm not sure what the AACOMAS GPA's mean. I have: cumulative undergraduate 3.01, Cumulative undergraduate science 3.26
 
Your GPA for DO should be higher with grade replacement. That's why I asked if you had applied DO. What are your GPAs with grade replacement? The DO is cycle is much longer. I have no idea if they accept updates but there a few very knowledgeable DO gurus on here who will help you out if you are interested in DO.


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candbgirl said:
Your GPA for DO should be higher with grade replacement. That's why I asked if you had applied DO. What are your GPAs with grade replacement? The DO is cycle is much longer. I have no idea if they accept updates but there a few very knowledgeable DO gurus on here who will help you out if you are interested in DO.


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I think those numbers are correct because on the GPA sheet in AACOMAS I see a 0.0 credit hours on my first attempt on the courses, so i'm assuming those classes weren't factored into my GPA.
 
Well your uGPA is still low for DO but your sGPA is some better. I don't know much about DO but if you are interested in DO maybe @Goro or @Faha can advise you. Have you checked out the post bac forum? Yours is a unique situation since you have already applied with non competitive GPAs. I have no idea how any of this will shake out, but I wouldn't send in any additional secondaries to MD schools.


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O731 said:
I thought I can submit my grades once the first semester is over, and they will be considered for the cycle.
Click to expand...

O731 said:
Darn. I sent out all of my primaries, even completed a lot of secondaries. My Post-bacc GPA is good and it was my first stab at a pre-med curriculum, solid MCAT, decent EC's, applying as hispanic.

But I feel like I should do an SMP because my GPA is crap. I'm just concerned that IF I do get some interview invites, I would want to be able to attend them. I applied to diversity-oriented schools that reward reinvention.

I'm thinking that if I don't get accepted into any schools this year, at least I'll have an SMP GPA to fall back on for next cycle. The thought of doing nothing for a year scares me :O
Click to expand...

You should have done more research before you applied because you most likely have made a grave mistake. SMP are for grade correction. Why would you think that one semester of an SMP would make up for your low GPA? A full years worth of SMP grades are already quite a gamble for med schools. One semester is not enough to prove to them you can handle med school, so it probably won't be enough for interview invites. You spent all the money and time applying and may be a reapplicant when you should have waited.

Depending on your linkage your best chance is to ace first semester and see what happens. T then ace second semester if/when you reapply. With a 511, you are going to need a near 4.0 GPA. Best SMP applicants have a 3.7+ and a 514+
 
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