here are my credentials now what to do?

[Manbearpig11]

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Undergraduate GPA 2.9 with several Ws on the record and 5 year degree biochemistry (Strong upward trend in science courses but not electives), 31 on mcat 12P, 9V, 10B. Currently enrolled in Tufts SMP with 3.83 first semester and doing research as well as 40 hour night job as hotel night audit and volunteering during the day at the hospital and a local gymnasium with inner city children.

My first question is what does it mean to be published to a medical school? Does it mean published as first author or just listed for doing some mindless task?

With my credentials assuming I complete the SMP with a 4.0, will I have a chance of a U.S. MD? I have not applied and will be applying for fall 2013 so I will have a year off. Any Ideas for what should be done during the year off to maximize chances of acceptance. Thanks everyone for the help here!

 

[Manbearpig11]

Also one other question, has anyone here taken two different SMPs for medical school instead of going for a PhD?

 

[NJD519]

Your workload seems pretty legit. I thought I had it tough taking post-bac courses half-time while working full-time, volunteering, and shadowing. However, doing that while in a SMP is a whole new story; and adcoms should recognize that. As for publications, you certainly do not need to be first author for it to have credibility. Of course certain positions have more merit, but nonetheless you are published, which means you were a part of that "something."

With that 2.9 you were so close to a 3.0 cGPA. Did you ever think about taking post-bac courses to hit that point and then do SMP? Just curious. Nonetheless, you had a great undergraduate major (not basket-weaving), and despite popular belief, I believe that makes some difference in the eyes of adcoms.

In light of your current progress in your SMP--doing so well and all--and your good MCAT, I personally think you have a decent shot at US medical schools. Although I wouldn't count on a Tufts acceptance, despite the interview they give you. Tufts SMP will no doubt juice up your application for other medical school acceptances, but I feel they accept individuals who are more boarder-line med-school-acceptance-worthy prior to the program.

As for what you should do in the gap year, that remains open. I would say anything that will add to your resume in case you do not get accepted this cycle. I'm sure a lot of people on SDN have their own suggestions. Pertaining to two different SMPs, are you asking if anyone has taken two SMPs in lieu of a PhD program? If so, I think you will find a unanimous no. One SMP, which is a last-ditch resort for medical school, is in itself enough to prove yourself worthy for medical school. Furthermore, PhD programs are far different than what SMPs consist of.

Personally, I think you are on the right track right now. You are doing exactly how you should be doing in your SMP, and then some. With your gap year try and get some clinical experience; this is very important in the eyes of many. Also, keep running full-throttle like you are now because people in our positions need to be hardcore to drag ourselves out of our holes! haha.

Goodluck

 

[Manbearpig11]

Thank you for the help, A lot of valuable information is in that passage! I really feel a lot of support from you. What I was thinking is that maybe one year of a high score in an SMP might not be enough for medical school adcoms to disregard my poor performance in undergrad and that I may need to go ahead and shoot for a PhD or some additional SMP in the off year while waiting for an acceptance to medical school. I think I will just do my best next semester and continue to work in the lab next year and hopefully I will have an acceptance in the Fall. Thank you for the help and the clarity on the publication issue as well.

 

[thecgrblue]

Undergraduate GPA 2.9 with several Ws on the record and 5 year degree biochemistry (Strong upward trend in science courses but not electives), 31 on mcat 12P, 9V, 10B. Currently enrolled in Tufts SMP with 3.83 first semester and doing research as well as 40 hour night job as hotel night audit and volunteering during the day at the hospital and a local gymnasium with inner city children.

My first question is what does it mean to be published to a medical school? Does it mean published as first author or just listed for doing some mindless task?

With my credentials assuming I complete the SMP with a 4.0, will I have a chance of a U.S. MD? I have not applied and will be applying for fall 2013 so I will have a year off. Any Ideas for what should be done during the year off to maximize chances of acceptance. Thanks everyone for the help here!

My first question is, "Holy hell?!?!?! When do you sleep?". 😱