How to Proceed after SMP

[deleted1033769]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I’m currently at an MD SMP w/ linkage, and I recently received a rejection email to the medical school. I have been doing really well in the SMP (all A’s) and I felt really good about my interview as I practiced with others and received good feedback. Obviously, it’s hard to judge your own interview performance so that could have been a major factor in a sense that I didn’t do as well as I thought. They really emphasized SMP grades, interview, service hours in the program so I’m a bit shocked right now. I completed all those service hours FYI. They also said not to worry about your precious uGPA/MCAT but I feel like my low MCAT played a part in my rejection. I also should have put more time in perfecting my AMCAS application as I assume they look at the entire picture rather than just interview and grades. With that being said, I have really low stats so I’m not sure how to proceed. Should I bother finishing up the year to get my Master’s? Or should I drop out and focus on the MCAT? I took the MCAT in a time crunch to apply to this program so that’s why it’s pretty low... Do I still have a decent shot at DO if I bring it up for next app cycle and would having the Master’s even help? I’m just demotivated to finish it and study after my rejection. 🙁 Also, I am considering the VCOM/MABs program or LECOM Bradenton MMS as they give automatic acceptances based on benchmark GPAs in the program. I’m a much better student now than I was in undergrad so I do not think I have a problem getting good grades in those programs. Or it a waste to do another program? Sorry for the rambling but the thought of the crippling debt I’m currently in is awful haha

If you are considering SMPs and want to PM me about the specific SMP I’m in then feel free, but I don’t hate the school or program at all despite my rejection. I realize that this was a risk on my part and that there really is no guarantee with programs like this even if you get the grades :/

Stats:
3.0sGPA/3.3sGPA
MCAT: 499

 

[Shotapp]

It would be stupid and a waste of money to do another smp. Just study very hard for the MCAT and retake it after hitting your target score multiple times.

 

[Goro]

I’m currently at an MD SMP w/ linkage, and I recently received a rejection email to the medical school. I have been doing really well in the SMP (all A’s) and I felt really good about my interview as I practiced with others and received good feedback. Obviously, it’s hard to judge your own interview performance so that could have been a major factor in a sense that I didn’t do as well as I thought. They really emphasized SMP grades, interview, service hours in the program so I’m a bit shocked right now. I completed all those service hours FYI. They also said not to worry about your precious uGPA/MCAT but I feel like my low MCAT played a part in my rejection. I also should have put more time in perfecting my AMCAS application as I assume they look at the entire picture rather than just interview and grades. With that being said, I have really low stats so I’m not sure how to proceed. Should I bother finishing up the year to get my Master’s? Or should I drop out and focus on the MCAT? I took the MCAT in a time crunch to apply to this program so that’s why it’s pretty low... Do I still have a decent shot at DO if I bring it up for next app cycle and would having the Master’s even help? I’m just demotivated to finish it and study after my rejection. 🙁 Also, I am considering the VCOM/MABs program or LECOM Bradenton MMS as they give automatic acceptances based on benchmark GPAs in the program. I’m a much better student now than I was in undergrad so I do not think I have a problem getting good grades in those programs. Or it a waste to do another program? Sorry for the rambling but the thought of the crippling debt I’m currently in is awful haha

If you are considering SMPs and want to PM me about the specific SMP I’m in then feel free, but I don’t hate the school or program at all despite my rejection. I realize that this was a risk on my part and that there really is no guarantee with programs like this even if you get the grades :/

Stats:
3.0sGPA/3.3sGPA
MCAT: 499

Most people are poor judges of their interview performance, so I suspect that might have been more of an issue than your MCAT score. You have shown that you can handle med school material!

So retake the MCAT and work on interview skills.

You may have a bad LOR. In my years of teaching at our SMP, I've had to write one bad LOR and maybe 2-3 weak ones. Were you able to get a LOR from one or more of the SMP faculty?

 

[Andrew Baines Bernard]

Definitely retake the MCAT like everyone has said, but also I don't know if quitting the SMP is a great idea. If you reapply, you'll have to disclose the classes you took there and you'll definitely have to explain why you left without finishing. I don't know your financial situation, but I'd imagine it would be a pretty big red flag.

As for the linkage portion, I did an SMP as well that heavily emphasized their linkage to the med school. I ended up hearing from other students pretty early on that the number of applicants that actually matriculate is very low so I never got my hopes up that much, but it still kind of sucked that they advertised that linkage so heavily. So, anyway, I feel you on that.

I'd say kill it on the rest of the SMP, buckle down for the MCAT, maybe get a low-stress gap year job, and go into the app cycle strong. Good luck and go crush it!

 

[deleted859689]

If this is the CERT program, it was naive to think you would be accepted with a 499 MCAT. You also should’ve retaken it before even applying. For reference, I know someone with around a 2.5 uGPA that did the program, got all A’s, 518 MCAT - was accepted off the waitlist.

 

[OKBoomer]

I think that you just have to really hunker down and study for your MCATs after finishing the SMP. The linkage is not there anymore so you have to have a strong app that can stand on its own. Good luck and finish strong