How do I choose an SMP?

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Hi all! I've applied to several SMPs and have a few acceptances. I'd love some advice from students who have previously gone through these programs or anyone else for that matter, as I'm in a bit of a bind since I have a few weeks to decide before I drop my $$$ into the grad school vortex.

Acceptances: EVMS (1 year), Tufts, USF, and Drexel
Pending: Toledo, Boston, RFU, and VCU
Haven't applied but planning on applying: Cincinnati

My top concerns:
  1. Strong linkages to medical school (I'm aware only the Tulane waitlisted program has the only true linkage). Do any of these programs allow me to go straight into medical school and skip the AMCAS application? I am thoroughly confused about the timeline....
  2. The difficulty of the curriculum (my mom is telling me to choose an easy program so I can get a high GPA....but doesn't the reputability of the program factor into this decision?)

Thank you so much for any advice!!!!

There are no such things as an "easy" SMP. You're taking classes along side the M1s. U of Cinn has a great program because of smaller than average class sizes compared to the others. What are your stats?
 
Thank you so much for the quick reply! Oh okay, that's good to know! So all programs have comparable standards of "rigor" it might just depend on other program factors like class size, advising/mentor support, and other clinical/research opportunities?

Science GPA is embarrassing.... 2.9 sGPA, 3.3 cGPA, 512 MCAT.

If you get accepted to UofCinn, I would go there. They also have guaranteed interviews now for their SMP class. Boston is a great program but has a weak linkage into their medical school. Tufts requires you to take a mandatory glide year, meaning you can't apply to medical schools the year you are enrolled in the SMP. Drexel and EVMS are both reputable programs that have been around for many years, but I think Drexel has guaranteed interviews for people who meet certain requirements. USF is a newer program, but I think they prefer instate applicants. VCU is also another great program from what I've heard, recently @ppushpak got accepted from the SMP into the host medical school with similar stats as you and an exceptional performance in the SMP. All the programs on your list are reputable, what it comes down to is cost and location. If you are a Florida resident than I would recommend USF.
 
If you get accepted to UofCinn, I would go there. They also have guaranteed interviews now for their SMP class. Boston is a great program but has a weak linkage into their medical school. Tufts requires you to take a mandatory glide year, meaning you can't apply to medical schools the year you are enrolled in the SMP. Drexel and EVMS are both reputable programs that have been around for many years, but I think Drexel has guaranteed interviews for people who meet certain requirements. USF is a newer program, but I think they prefer instate applicants. VCU is also another great program from what I've heard, recently @ppushpak got accepted from the SMP into the host medical school with similar stats as you and an exceptional performance in the SMP. All the programs on your list are reputable, what it comes down to is cost and location. If you are a Florida resident than I would recommend USF.
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Oh my gosh!!!! Thank YOU!!!! This is amazing, I appreciate your feedback sooo much! Thank you for taking the time to break down each school!!

If you have the time, would it be possible for you to also explain what that mandatory glide year is at Tufts in more detail? I'm between Tufts and Drexel as the two top choices from my acceptances as of now. EVMS I heard had upped their class sizes considerably in the last few years which is why I'm less partial.

I live in California, otherwise I would agree that USF would be a great choice because of its considerably lower cost. And thank you!! I was skeptical about VCU because it was only a certificate program, but I'm hopeful now!

From the previous students at Tufts who have posted here, they stated that the dean would throw your application out if you applied in the same year you were enrolled in the SMP in, they wanted to see a full 1 year of SMP grades before making a decision. In consequence, you would be required to take a mandatory glide year. Which simply means that after you complete the SMP program you apply, so basically you have to wait a whole year post-SMP before matriculating. Ideally if you are able to apply while enrolled in the SMP that is beneficial because if you get accepted, you can matriculate the following year without having to "waste" another year.
(2019) Apply to medical schools while in SMP -> Interview (2019-2020) -> Accepted to medical school and matriculate right after the SMP (Fall 2020).
vs.
2019-2020 Complete SMP -> Apply Summer of 2020 -> Interview (2020-2021) -> Accepted and matriculate Fall 2021.
 
From the previous students at Tufts who have posted here, they stated that the dean would throw your application out if you applied in the same year you were enrolled in the SMP in, they wanted to see a full 1 year of SMP grades before making a decision. In consequence, you would be required to take a mandatory glide year. Which simply means that after you complete the SMP program you apply, so basically you have to wait a whole year post-SMP before matriculating. Ideally if you are able to apply while enrolled in the SMP that is beneficial because if you get accepted, you can matriculate the following year without having to "waste" another year.
(2019) Apply to medical schools while in SMP -> Interview (2019-2020) -> Accepted to medical school and matriculate right after the SMP (Fall 2020).
vs.
2019-2020 Complete SMP -> Apply Summer of 2020 -> Interview (2020-2021) -> Accepted and matriculate Fall 2021.

...
 
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Cincy > RFU=Toledo > EVMS=Boston=Tufts > VCU, USF, Drexel. In terms of likelihood of gaining accepted to a USMD school.

Based on reputation, % of host school acceptance/probability, and transparency of reporting graduated outcomes, vague wording, and reading in between the lines.

-Biased cincy smp grad, who was also in your shoes debating which program to choose.
 
Oh my gosh, thank you for all your advice!!!!! I'm having such a hard time deciding between the schools... could I ask you for more detailed analysis for your rankings?

Based on reputation alone, is it correct to think the list is: Cincy > Boston > Tufts > Toledo > Drexel > EVMS > VCU > RFU> USF?

I've been out of the SMP game for 4-5 years but back then I knew most of the programs on your list pretty well. Cincy will give you the best shot at attending a USMD school. The proof is in the pudding, and they the only program to post where each and every graduate ends up (while avoiding claims like 80% of our graduates up end in med school--okay, but how many are going DO or carib/ireland/australia?), and >80-90% of graduates end up at USMD schools. The only SMP with guaranteed acceptance is Temple ACMS.

If nothing has changed since I knew the other programs, RFU and Toledo will give you greater than 60% chance at getting accepted into the host school. Toledo is an unknown secret on sdn, not talked about much, but back then they posted very high admittance into toledo med school from the smp. RFU aint no secret.

I would have ranked EVMS second tier SMP program back then but in the past 5 years if I'm not mistaken their class sizes have blown up. Back then when the class was small(er) you had a decent shot at getting into EVMS. BU always had a poor reputation at accepting people from the SMP and I'm sure things haven't changed. Too many reports of people killing the SMP but because their ugpa wasn't >3.4 they got the shaft; poor reputation of not overlooking your ugpa&mcat. Tufts is a good program they just have never been transparent in reporting outcomes; all you had to go on was people posting on SDN. Too much of a gamble.

In terms of reputation, it depends which region you are applying to. BU, Tufts, Georgetown probably carry most national name recognition.

But Cincy is a top 50 med school, and the way the program director reports your grades directly side by side in a table with the MS1 class that routinely averages >235+ on step 1; when you take the same exact exams, you have the opportunity to show adcoms that you can run with the best of them. I'm biased, but cincy is one of the only true SMPs where you attend the same lectures as the ms1s sitting side by side with them, taking the same exact exams them. SMP is a term thrown around loosely on SDN referring to any masters program in biological/medical science (sometimes at schools without a host med school), but cincy is one of the few true smps.

But again, like applying to med school and residency, it varies based on region. If you went to USF, graduating from their program will likely help you get accepted somewhere in the south.
 
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