If I want to specialize, is it worth it to do an SMP to get into an MD school?

[motz]

I noticed match lists for DO and MD schools are drastically different. Comparing match lists of Drexel to UNECOM (not adjusting for Drexel's larger class size) shows 21 vs. 6 for surgery, 6 vs. 0 for dermatology, 19 vs. 1 for radiology, 18 vs. 3 for anesthesiology.

Are the disparities more than just student preference? Elective rotation sites, school's emphasis on primary care, the school's mission can all influence not just where a student might match, but what a student prefers. Students who do a lot of rotations at X place will probably end up enjoying it, but if they did it at Y place, they might have liked Y more.

Given the salary disparities between primary care physicians and specialists, and the high cost of medical education (which would be increased if I took a 50k SMP) would it make sense for me to do the SMP to get a better chance at going to a school that is more open for students who want to specialize? The cost of the SMP would mean less if I made more money. I hear you get a better chance at matching at a site if you did a rotation there before.

I'd be happy making $100k (and from shadowing, I like HIV/ID and psychiatry, but mostly outpatient work), but I don't think I'd be happy if I felt I missed my chance to get into a specialty I ended up liking once I actually started medical school. And I am not sure if I believe if you try hard enough, you'll get whatever you want. I found it very hard to do good research and get good research mentors since I went to a liberal arts school with not a very strong research focus.

TL,DR: Should I avoid applying to schools that emphasize primary care, if I am open to the idea of specializing? Should I do an SMP to increase my odds of getting into a school that will make it easier for me to specialize (MD over DO) if my stats are borderline (3.55, 31)?

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[Serous Demilune]

You're stats are fine for MD even without an SMP if you apply broadly. If you're comparing UNECOM vs. Drexel, location doesn't matter too much for you. Just apply EARLY to about 30 or 35 low-mid tier MD schools and you'll get into one.

 

[Planes2Doc]

You should never do an SMP unless you absolutely have to. If you end up doing poorly in any of the classes, then say goodbye to medical school! Your stats are fine now. If you end up taking a year off, just beef up your ECs and maybe take a couple extra courses.

Plus what you match into is entirely dependent on your board scores primarily. It makes no difference what school you go to. You can go to the Caribbean and match into surgery, or you can go to Harvard and match into family medicine.

 

[motz]

OK. Thanks for replying. I looked into the AAMC data and for people with my stats, it's 55% chance of matriculating, so it was scary and I wanted to increase my odds, but I will just work and volunteer.

 

[Planes2Doc]

OK. Thanks for replying. I looked into the AAMC data and for people with my stats, it's 55% chance of matriculating, so it was scary and I wanted to increase my odds, but I will just work and volunteer.

Good choice. If you have a lot of disposable income (which you would have put toward an SMP anyhow), I would suggest starting a non-profit organization. I think that this will still come off as unique, ADCOMs will love it, and it will boost your chances at service-oriented schools.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

i agree your gpa isn't smp low

 

[mrh125]

I noticed match lists for DO and MD schools are drastically different. Comparing match lists of Drexel to UNECOM (not adjusting for Drexel's larger class size) shows 21 vs. 6 for surgery, 6 vs. 0 for dermatology, 19 vs. 1 for radiology, 18 vs. 3 for anesthesiology.

Are the disparities more than just student preference? Elective rotation sites, school's emphasis on primary care, the school's mission can all influence not just where a student might match, but what a student prefers. Students who do a lot of rotations at X place will probably end up enjoying it, but if they did it at Y place, they might have liked Y more.

Given the salary disparities between primary care physicians and specialists, and the high cost of medical education (which would be increased if I took a 50k SMP) would it make sense for me to do the SMP to get a better chance at going to a school that is more open for students who want to specialize? The cost of the SMP would mean less if I made more money. I hear you get a better chance at matching at a site if you did a rotation there before.

I'd be happy making $100k (and from shadowing, I like HIV/ID and psychiatry, but mostly outpatient work), but I don't think I'd be happy if I felt I missed my chance to get into a specialty I ended up liking once I actually started medical school. And I am not sure if I believe if you try hard enough, you'll get whatever you want. I found it very hard to do good research and get good research mentors since I went to a liberal arts school with not a very strong research focus.

TL,DR: Should I avoid applying to schools that emphasize primary care, if I am open to the idea of specializing? Should I do an SMP to increase my odds of getting into a school that will make it easier for me to specialize (MD over DO) if my stats are borderline (3.55, 31)?

your stats are fine for a MD school honestly if you apply broadly. Your thoughts are very similar to mine about MD vs DO and I have a strong preference for MD.

i agree your gpa isn't smp low

define "smp low" and could a SMP ever makeup for a low mcat score?

 

[RogueUnicorn]

define "smp low" and could a SMP ever makeup for a low mcat score?

low enough where a post-bac won't raise it to the low end of acceptable, which is a moving target every year as you know. probably 3.1-3.2 is about as low as you can reasonably go nowadays coupled with a high mcat

re: making up for a low mcat score, i think not, except as it pertains to special smps that give you conditional acceptance to the host school

 

[mrh125]

low enough where a post-bac won't raise it to the low end of acceptable, which is a moving target every year as you know. probably 3.1-3.2 is about as low as you can reasonably go nowadays coupled with a high mcat

re: making up for a low mcat score, i think not, except as it pertains to special smps that give you conditional acceptance to the host school

Thanks for your response. Would a SMP that gives you conditional acceptance still be available and work if you had nearly all As in premed coursework previously in college?

 

[RogueUnicorn]

I'm not familiar with the process at every SMP but I don't see why it wouldn't. Generally speaking though if you have a near 4.0 gpa you should be able to get into school just fine on your own merits...

 

[mrh125]

I'm not familiar with the process at every SMP but I don't see why it wouldn't. Generally speaking though if you have a near 4.0 gpa you should be able to get into school just fine on your own merits...

3.64cgpa/3.73 scigpa is my stats and my mcats are 29/28, so I don't have that 4.0. I'm basically balancing precariously on an edge.

 

[Serous Demilune]

3.64cgpa/3.73 scigpa is my stats and my mcats are 29/28, so I don't have that 4.0. I'm basically balancing precariously on an edge.

I see a future fraught with wait lists.

 

[mrh125]

I see a future fraught with wait lists.

Waitlists are better than nothing. Well with your future insight, do you see any solutions to my problem aside from taking the mcat again when I've already taken it multiple times and used every resource multiple times? I asked the post bacc forum here because I was looking at feeders and all that got me was getting yelled at by a bunch of smug dudes because I have a higher gpa than the average SMP.

It sucks that you can remedy a low gpa easily but there are very few ways to make up for an mcat. retaking a lot looks hella bad too.

 

[Serous Demilune]

Waitlists are better than nothing. Well with your future insight, do you see any solutions to my problem aside from taking the mcat again when I've already taken it multiple times and used every resource multiple times? I asked the post bacc forum here because I was looking at feeders and all that got me was getting yelled at by a bunch of smug dudes because I have a higher gpa than the average SMP.

It sucks that you can remedy a low gpa easily but there are very few ways to make up for an mcat. retaking a lot looks hella bad too.

The only thing I can think of is applying to a ****-ton of schools right at the beginning of the cycle. It'll be long and stressful and full of interviews you don't really want to go to but feel like you have to, but at the end of it you'll likely end up with an acceptance to the most jaw-droppingly expensive school on your list. Sucks, but that's the reality. Or you can somehow find a way to establish residency in South Dakota or something and then get into that state school.

 

[mrh125]

The only thing I can think of is applying to a ****-ton of schools right at the beginning of the cycle. It'll be long and stressful and full of interviews you don't really want to go to but feel like you have to, but at the end of it you'll likely end up with an acceptance to the most jaw-droppingly expensive school on your list. Sucks, but that's the reality. Or you can somehow find a way to establish residency in South Dakota or something and then get into that state school.

I already submitted my primary application on day 1 and got it verified. I am applying extremely broadly, and have finished my secondaries including those at the obscenely expensive University of Illinois. I'm hoping that isn't the one I get into because that place is 100k tuition a year with no chance of financial aid. Also, my secondaries, PS, ECs, and LORs are all pretty stellar. Think that'll make a difference?

 

[Serous Demilune]

I already submitted my primary application on day 1 and got it verified. I am applying extremely broadly, and have finished my secondaries including those at the obscenely expensive University of Illinois. I'm hoping that isn't the one I get into because that place is 100k tuition a year with no chance of financial aid. Also, my secondaries, PS, ECs, and LORs are all pretty stellar. Think that'll make a difference?

Yea you've put yourself in the best possible position for an acceptance. Best of luck my friend.

 

[mrh125]

Yea you've put yourself in the best possible position for an acceptance. Best of luck my friend.

Thanks.

 

[motz]

Good choice. If you have a lot of disposable income (which you would have put toward an SMP anyhow), I would suggest starting a non-profit organization. I think that this will still come off as unique, ADCOMs will love it, and it will boost your chances at service-oriented schools.

I have no idea how to start a non-profit! I guess I could figure out how... =P