Help deciding between EVMS, Case Western, and UPenn post bac programs

[Piper the Doctor]

I was recently accepted to the UPenn specialized studies, Case Western masters in physiology, and EVMS medical masters programs. A four-year varsity athlete, I graduated from an ivy three years ago with a BA in Biology and 2.85 cGPA. Recently I completed my final two prerequisites from extension programs in my area and received A's in both courses. This brings my sGPA to a 3.01, and cGPA to 2.9. Prior to completing these final prerequisites I took the MCAT and received a 509. It was brought to my attention that medical schools often filter applications by metrics such as MCAT and undergraduate GPA leading me to consider post-baccalaureate and SMP programs. I have two years of research experience, both domestic and abroad, and LORs from MD PIs from notable universities.

My first question is how important is the undergraduate GPA three years out of school? Is a post-bac or SMP really my best option or should I remain working full time in research, work to publish multiple papers, and apply this cycle to medical schools?

Second, if I do an SMP I would like to apply this cycle and keep medical schools updated with my progress. Is this possible? It appears EVMS recommends submitting and completing secondaries prior to matriculating. However, both Case Western and UPenn recommend applying after the first year.

These programs are all very different.

UPenn has name recognition, but may be more hands off advising and professors are not necessarily from Penn. However, there are Biological Basis of Behavior courses that really interest me.

EVMS offers courses taken with medical students that allow you to show that you are ready for medical school level academics and exposes you to life as a medical student.

and Case Western offers a master’s degree and the program is praised for building a strong foundation for medical school. There are also clinical experience opportunities through clinical rotation based area of specialty courses.

Can anyone with experience with these programs speak to this decision?

If you are a current or recent student in any of these programs I'd love to talk to you.

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[heybubbaa]

My first question is how important is the undergraduate GPA three years out of school? Is a post-bac or SMP really my best option or should I remain working full time in research, work to publish multiple papers, and apply this cycle to medical schools?

Second, if I do an SMP I would like to apply this cycle and keep medical schools updated with my progress. Is this possible? It appears EVMS recommends submitting and completing secondaries prior to matriculating. However, both Case Western and UPenn recommend applying after the first year.

These programs are all very different.

UPenn has name recognition, but may be more hands off advising and professors are not necessarily from Penn. However, there are Biological Basis of Behavior courses that really interest me.

EVMS offers courses taken with medical students that allow you to show that you are ready for medical school level academics and exposes you to life as a medical student.

and Case Western offers a master’s degree and the program is praised for building a strong foundation for medical school. There are also clinical experience opportunities through clinical rotation based area of specialty courses.

Can anyone with experience with these programs speak to this decision?

If you are a current or recent student in any of these programs I'd love to talk to you.

1. Very important - GPA will always be important, even after you finish your post-bac or SMP. If you want to go to MD schools, then I think you need a post-bac. Being a varsity athlete will help, but a 2.9 gpa is like, fourth in line.

2. Yes - people in SMPs do this all of the time. The program at Case is two years, so you can't apply during the first year (at least, it is two years to my knowledge). If you are accepted while enrolled in an SMP or formal post-bac, medical schools will require that you finish the program before you matriculate to the medical school, which is why you can't apply to medical school during your first year of a two year program. I'm not sure about UPenn - I think it is one year, but honestly, without some compelling story I would think you need a at least a full year of grade remediation before you will be competitive at US MD schools.

 

[Piper the Doctor]

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[Piper the Doctor]

1. Very important - GPA will always be important, even after you finish your post-bac or SMP. If you want to go to MD schools, then I think you need a post-bac. Being a varsity athlete will help, but a 2.9 gpa is like, fourth in line.

2. Yes - people in SMPs do this all of the time. The program at Case is two years, so you can't apply during the first year (at least, it is two years to my knowledge). If you are accepted while enrolled in an SMP or formal post-bac, medical schools will require that you finish the program before you matriculate to the medical school, which is why you can't apply to medical school during your first year of a two year program. I'm not sure about UPenn - I think it is one year, but honestly, without some compelling story I would think you need a at least a full year of grade remediation before you will be competitive at US MD schools.
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Thank you for your prompt response. I appreciate your candor. I realize with an SMP that the graduate grades are listed as separate from the undergraduate grades. Does performing well in an SMP or masters override the undergraduate GPA at all? Do you know anything about the EVMS SMP?

 

[heybubbaa]

Thank you for your prompt response. I appreciate your candor. I realize with an SMP that the graduate grades are listed as separate from the undergraduate grades. Does performing well in an SMP or masters override the undergraduate GPA at all? Do you know anything about the EVMS SMP?.

Doing well in an SMP very well may be enough for an adcom to overlook a poor undergrad performance. I got into med school after my first semester of an SMP with a 3.0 gpa, and I'm sure that the SMP helped immensely. Nothing will "override" your undergrad. gpa - your undergrad. gpa will always be there and it will always be a factor. What you need to demonstrate is that you can handle medical school, and if you do well in the SMP, then it will give adcoms good reason to believe that you can handle medical school, and they may concede that your undergrad. performance doesn't accurately reflect how you will perform in medical school. It won't hurt you at all to try to get in during your post-bac, but my mindset was to act like I would have to take a glide year after the program.

I know that the EVMS program used to be a top-of-the-line SMP with nearly all of its students getting in same year. That was about 5 years ago, when the program only had about 20 students. Last year, I believe their enrollment was 50 (I applied to EVMS, and that is what I believe I was told), and this year I believe the enrollment will be 75ish. The kicker is that EVMS will still only accept about 20 EVMS SMPers. The EVMS SMP is not particularly well known outside of its region, so you won't get much help with in that respect. But it is the only option that you have that is an actual SMP - the other programs don't actually take classes with medical students. I can only speak from anecdotal experience, but I've spoken with people at Case that love it, and I have spoken with people at UPenn that either love it or detest the program. People at EVMS seem generally happy with the program, even now - they do have great counseling from what I hear. My best advice would be to choose a program based on US MD matriculation statistics - though, those stats. are often skewed.