I did an SMP and feel I've made a mistake. Help?

[Throwaway1990]

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So, last year I applied to DO schools after working in research for a couple years after graduation and was waitlisted. My uGPA was a 3.4 and I made the equivalent of a 25 on the new MCAT. Since I had another year to apply, I decided to do an SMP in hopes that I would do well and be able to be competitive for both MD and DO.

Well, my first semester at the SMP didn't go well. Around half the class dropped anatomy because of it's difficulty, but I decided to stick it out...which was a huge mistake; I finished with a C-. My other classes were not much better: B, B- and a C. Now I'm on academic probation since I'm under a 3.0 and freaking out.

I underestimated the intensity of the SMP. After the first test I bumped up my studying and trended upward, but with only 3 tests per semester and 50 questions per test, it was extremely difficult to recover. Now, I'm in my 2nd semester and doing much better, but my first semester grades remain. On top of that, I don't know if I can bounce back my GPA as I need a 3.65 this semester to continue in good standing...

Not sure what to do now; I feel like I've ruined everything I've worked for with one semester. Should I reapply to DO now instead of waiting for the next cycle? Do I have to include my graduate grades? I've read that if you don't include your graduate grades they WILL see them and the punishment could be severe. Does anyone have first-hand advice on this? Should I stick it out (the SMP) and possibly have to re-do the whole thing? I'm so conflicted.

Any help is appreciated, but please don't try and lecture me... I've since fixed my study habits and am doing much better. I moved states for this and am living an hour away from school; it took time for me to adapt to the point where I felt comfortable in a new state with the distance from school. Regardless, I know this situation is my fault...I just want to know what my options are.

I was in a good position and all I needed to do was retake the MCAT, but now I feel hopeless.

Thanks.

 

[GypsyHummus]

That sucks man. As someone who was accepted into and SMP with linkage, it makes me weary of actually going.

If this was me, I would deff stick out the SMP. If they accepted you into the program, they deff saw you being successful in it. I would also look closely at the agreement that they gave you. Was it a 3.0 that was required to matriculate in? If so, then the C- might not break you completely. If its a 3.6 that is required, I would say its too late and time to look at other options. Either way, I would be looking at plan B.

You have to include every grade in the academic record. I know the feeling, it stinks.

Look at Optometry, Pharmacy, and Podiatry as options. Podiatry is probably going to be the closest to medicine you are ever going to get at this point.

 

[Throwaway1990]

That sucks man. As someone who was accepted into and SMP with linkage, it makes me weary of actually going.

If this was me, I would deff stick out the SMP. If they accepted you into the program, they deff saw you being successful in it. I would also look closely at the agreement that they gave you. Was it a 3.0 that was required to matriculate in? If so, then the C- might not break you completely. If its a 3.6 that is required, I would say its too late and time to look at other options. Either way, I would be looking at plan B.

You have to include every grade in the academic record. I know the feeling, it stinks.

Look at Optometry, Pharmacy, and Podiatry as options. Podiatry is probably going to be the closest to medicine you are ever going to get at this point.

A 3.0 is required to remain in good academic standing, which is essential for financial aid and graduating. So I have a chance, it's just very slim. Studying all day every day in hopes that I can get it back there. I've always loved psychology, so if I don't succeed I'll probably go for my PhD. Hopefully my poor semester doesn't affect that plan...

If your GPA isn't that bad, I would recommend not doing the SMP. They're going to put you through a super competitive mini-med school and if you're not ready for it, then tough luck. If you go forward with it, just be prepared.

 

[kidsuave]

A 3.0 is required to remain in good academic standing, which is essential for financial aid and graduating. So I have a chance, it's just very slim. Studying all day every day in hopes that I can get it back there. I've always loved psychology, so if I don't succeed I'll probably go for my PhD. Hopefully my poor semester doesn't affect that plan...

If your GPA isn't that bad, I would recommend not doing the SMP. They're going to put you through a super competitive mini-med school and if you're not ready for it, then tough luck. If you go forward with it, just be prepared.

I am not in your shoes however i believe that you can get a 3.65 gpa if you put your mind to it. Improve your study habits and act like you dont have a life. Treat studying as a 9-5 job. You can achieve anything you put your mind to.

 

[bigindian4891]

I am not in your shoes however i believe that you can get a 3.65 gpa if you put your mind to it. Improve your study habits and act like you dont have a life. Treat studying as a 9-5 job. You can achieve anything you put your mind to.

This is fortune cookie advice.

OP (and anyone else debating whether to take an SMP), Im sure you know a 3.4 with a decent MCAT wouldve made you fine for osteopathic schools. Is it a one year or two year program? Dont apply this cycle, because it is too late, you dont want to be a reapplicant, and youre required to send your semester grades if you magically got accepted anyways. If you stick it out and show improvement here, thats great. Give yourself a chance to get above the 3.65 with your study skills under your belt. I just finished an SMP, and have a few accepted friends who struggled initially but then turned it around very quickly.

 

[Goro]

I suggest that you start working on Plan B. You have been given a window of what medical school is like...except that it will be harder.

My Adcom, in seeing your difficulty in the SMP, would reject you.

It's way too late in the cycle to apply now, anyway. But again, if accepted, based upon your performance, I predict that you would have great difficulty in medical school, commuting distance or no.

So, last year I applied to DO schools after working in research for a couple years after graduation and was waitlisted. My uGPA was a 3.4 and I made the equivalent of a 25 on the new MCAT. Since I had another year to apply, I decided to do an SMP in hopes that I would do well and be able to be competitive for both MD and DO.

Well, my first semester at the SMP didn't go well. Around half the class dropped anatomy because of it's difficulty, but I decided to stick it out...which was a huge mistake; I finished with a C-. My other classes were not much better: B, B- and a C. Now I'm on academic probation since I'm under a 3.0 and freaking out.

I underestimated the intensity of the SMP. After the first test I bumped up my studying and trended upward, but with only 3 tests per semester and 50 questions per test, it was extremely difficult to recover. Now, I'm in my 2nd semester and doing much better, but my first semester grades remain. On top of that, I don't know if I can bounce back my GPA as I need a 3.65 this semester to continue in good standing...

Not sure what to do now; I feel like I've ruined everything I've worked for with one semester. Should I reapply to DO now instead of waiting for the next cycle? Do I have to include my graduate grades? I've read that if you don't include your graduate grades they WILL see them and the punishment could be severe. Does anyone have first-hand advice on this? Should I stick it out (the SMP) and possibly have to re-do the whole thing? I'm so conflicted.

Any help is appreciated, but please don't try and lecture me... I've since fixed my study habits and am doing much better. I moved states for this and am living an hour away from school; it took time for me to adapt to the point where I felt comfortable in a new state with the distance from school. Regardless, I know this situation is my fault...I just want to know what my options are.

I was in a good position and all I needed to do was retake the MCAT, but now I feel hopeless.

Thanks.

 

[Peach Newport]

Ugh.

This is EXACTLY why I always tell people on SDN, and everywhere else, NOT TO DO SMPs. I don't know why common SDN wisdom is "do an SMP," but it is crappy advice.

See, SMPs are far more difficult than typical MS or MBS programs, and they only help you get into med school if you do well. There's really only three "pros" to doing an SMP: You finish in a year, you get a head start for med school, and you may have guaranteed admission.

Meanwhile, yeah, an MS/MBS might take 1.5-2 years, but the thing is, they give you more of an opportunity to do well and hone your study skills. If you did poorly in undergrad (why else would you need graduate work?) then let's face it, you probably NEED to work on your study skills a bit. Why would you suddenly get A's in medical schools when you were a B/C student in undergrad? Too bad you need to get As in an SMP to get accepted anywhere. In an MBS/MS, you can pace yourself more, learn what study skills work for you, and you have a much better chance of your work paying off.

If I had gone straight to medical school from undergrad, or started an SMP, I would have done terribly. But because I did an MS/MBS, I got to prepare for medical school. I got to learn good study habits. I got to learn what worked for me. I got straight As and got into medical school, and now I'm doing well.

Let this thread be a cautionary tale for those of you who are considering Masters programs.

As for OP, you really, really need to crush this semester.

 

[Mad Jack]

You really screwed up- SMPs aren't for people with 3.4 GPAs, generally, particularly if you were willing to entertain osteopathic from the start.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

You really screwed up- SMPs aren't for people with 3.4 GPAs, generally, particularly if you were willing to entertain osteopathic from the start.

Especially when the MCAT was most likely the issue.

 

[Shotapp]

OP, you had stats that could have gotten you into some new DO schools. Your decision to do an SMP makes very little sense but I am sure you are aware of that now.