here are my stats...smp or post-bacc?

[brownbear]

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i just graduated in may with 3.01 overall and 3.00 science .... took the mcat (got a 20) and i plan on retaking it in january 2008, and i've been getting mid 20s on practice tests so far. At this point would a special master's program be a better option or doing post-bacc?

and what are the best schools to apply to for these programs considering my stats. thanks guys , advice is always appreciated !

 

[postbacker]

i just graduated in may with 3.01 overall and 3.00 science .... took the mcat (got a 20) and i plan on retaking it in january 2008, and i've been getting mid 20s on practice tests so far. At this point would a special master's program be a better option or doing post-bacc?

and what are the best schools to apply to for these programs considering my stats. thanks guys , advice is always appreciated !

May as well do a post bac, because your MCAT will keep you out of SMPs for now...SMP is not an option for you until you get a competitive MCAT...take upper level sci classes and boost your GPA, and buckle down on the MCAT and shoot for a 30+...you may be able to skip the SMP anyway with a 3.3/30...

 

[Instatewaiter]

i just graduated in may with 3.01 overall and 3.00 science .... took the mcat (got a 20) and i plan on retaking it in january 2008, and i've been getting mid 20s on practice tests so far. At this point would a special master's program be a better option or doing post-bacc?

and what are the best schools to apply to for these programs considering my stats. thanks guys , advice is always appreciated !

If you want to get into an allopathic (MD) school you are going to need to improve the MCAT by 10+ points, a mid 20 is not going to cut it especially w/a sub3.5 GPA. Even for a DO school you will have to improve it substantially (by at least 5) up to around a 25. Right now, you are not a good candidate for an SMP for 2 reasons. First as postbacker has said, you will have a very hard time getting in w/o an MCAT above 27. Second SMPs are generally for people w/ lower GPAs but w/ high MCAT (above a 30). It is hard to overcome a low GPA AND a very low MCAT. So even if you were to get into an SMP you would have a hard time getting into an MD school. if you end up getting around a 30 in january then an SMP may be a good option.

It really depends on your aspirations. If you only want to go to an MD school then your options are very limited. You must improve your MCAT substantially and then perform almost perfectly in the SMP

If you would be OK w/ a DO school then you need to improve the MCAT but not as much and you have more leeway in the SMP.


TO summarize
If your MCAT doesnt go up by at least 7 pts: postbac and DO schools (perhaps also applying to your state MD School)

If the MCAT goes up 9+ pts: SMP and MD and DO schools.

 

[gdawg102]

You should ask someone about Drexel's program. They have a program you can do that allows you to study for MCAT's if you are weak there (as in low 20's), and at the same time take masters classes for one year. Then they have a second year where I believe you can do there SMP program (take classes with the medical students). But you should definitely inquire Drexel or some students here who are there who know the specifics....

 

[Perrotfish]

It all depends on how that retake turns out. If you get over 30 you have a decent shot at medical school and otherwise could definitely do an SMP, if you get 25-29 you could probably do an SMP and maybe have a shot at DO, 20-25 and you have a slight shot at a DO SMP like GAPCOM, VCU's certificate program, or Drexel's MSP program but otherwise all you can really do is take more classes and study more for yet another MCAT, and finally if you're 12-16 w/ no touchdowns you might drop out of the rankings entirely.

 

[Instatewaiter]

I feel that w/ a low MCAT, the issue is less about whether you will get into the SMP and more about whether you have a shot, from the SMP, of getting into med school. Below a 27 I just dont see that happening.

W/ a few more points on the MCAT, I am sure you could get into VCU's program (that's the program I did) but unless you had above a 27 MCAT you wouldnt get into med school. So just keep that in mind when making your decision.

 

[brownbear]

instatewaiter...how is the vcu program, and have you started med school ? also, does anyone know what drexel's is like?

 

[Perrotfish]

There are threads on both programs in this forum. I know that people who did Drexel's MSP generally report double digit gains on their MCAT scores.