IRTA vs Georgetown SMP

[ilovehedgehogs]

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So consider the intramural research training award (IRTA) at NIH, say in a "prestigious lab" and some publications come out of it vs Georgetown SMP...I go back and forth almost daily about which I want to do...what would you do? what "looks" better??

 

[Nooro]

at that point it DEFINITELY depends on your stats. And if you are contemplating the gtown program, then it Defintely depends on your GPA, assuming your mcat is above a 28. Assuming your trying to go anywhere, and your GPA is above a 3.3 science and cum, I would say the research thing is better, otherwise if your gpa is lower id say gtown is better and if your mcat is lower, id say the research thing and think about raising your mcat.

 

[ilovehedgehogs]

Thanks for your reply nooro, so my gpa is good actually ( i think) a 3.63 after this semester, but MCAT is 26R (ouch). So im trying to raise to at least a 30, at which point i guess common sense would say IRTA, as Gtown is especially for people with low gpa's...im just trying to cover all the bases and only have to apply 1 more time!!

 

[madonna]

Thanks for your reply nooro, so my gpa is good actually ( i think) a 3.63 after this semester, but MCAT is 26R (ouch). So im trying to raise to at least a 30, at which point i guess common sense would say IRTA, as Gtown is especially for people with low gpa's...im just trying to cover all the bases and only have to apply 1 more time!!

do you have any research experience? which schools are you aiming for? do you have ECs and clinical exposure? how is your BCMP? did you get interviews?

 

[ilovehedgehogs]

do you have any research experience? which schools are you aiming for? do you have ECs and clinical exposure? how is your BCMP? did you get interviews?

Lab tech at USUHS on breaks from school (so 5 months total probably)-the things is tho that IRTA, from my understanding, is a bit more academic-like you get your own project-so this research experience would definately be superior to USUHS, where i sort of pipetted all day...anyways, i did still learn alot and it was good research experience none the less

I applied to 4 schools last time, probably a HUGE reason why i didnt even get an interview, so foolish, anyhow I know better now...This time I am applying to 25ish schools over a broad range, some more research oriented some more clinical, and over a broad range of competitivness. I wanted to stay in the area, but now i dont care

My clinical experience is ~400 hours total of shadowing: Neurology at walter reed-EMGs and exams mostly, helped use an experimental ultrasound machine at peripheral nerve clinics, when patients were waiting for their EMGs, I got to hang out with them in the exam room;neurology/neurosurgery at washington hospital center, i got to go to a seminar for neurosurgeons (obviously not do anything but watch) but that was cool, volunteer at the Cancer Institute at WHC with ambassadors of hope-basically hang out with patients in the waiting room. Hepled out for just a few months at community of hope, clinic in DC for un/underinsured patients. I was a research admin assistant in highschool and part of college, but no real patient contact there, volunteer at a temporary housing place in DC playing with the little kids,

I feel like my clinical experiences are good, and I do have adequate research, but obviously the mcat is a bummer and im hopping to do much better, but the fear is IF I DONT then would Gtown or IRTA be better?? I should go study for the mcat and make this a moot point...

 

[madonna]

Lab tech at USUHS on breaks from school (so 5 months total probably)-the things is tho that IRTA, from my understanding, is a bit more academic-like you get your own project-so this research experience would definately be superior to USUHS, where i sort of pipetted all day...anyways, i did still learn alot and it was good research experience none the less

I applied to 4 schools last time, probably a HUGE reason why i didnt even get an interview, so foolish, anyhow I know better now...This time I am applying to 25ish schools over a broad range, some more research oriented some more clinical, and over a broad range of competitivness. I wanted to stay in the area, but now i dont care

My clinical experience is ~400 hours total of shadowing: Neurology at walter reed-EMGs and exams mostly, helped use an experimental ultrasound machine at peripheral nerve clinics, when patients were waiting for their EMGs, I got to hang out with them in the exam room;neurology/neurosurgery at washington hospital center, i got to go to a seminar for neurosurgeons (obviously not do anything but watch) but that was cool, volunteer at the Cancer Institute at WHC with ambassadors of hope-basically hang out with patients in the waiting room. Hepled out for just a few months at community of hope, clinic in DC for un/underinsured patients. I was a research admin assistant in highschool and part of college, but no real patient contact there, volunteer at a temporary housing place in DC playing with the little kids,

I feel like my clinical experiences are good, and I do have adequate research, but obviously the mcat is a bummer and im hopping to do much better, but the fear is IF I DONT then would Gtown or IRTA be better?? I should go study for the mcat and make this a moot point...

sounds very solid
raise your mcat, all you need is few points, and i really dont think you need to do much else. just apply widely, early, and spend the year doing something that you like, no need to pay all that $$$ to GT. good luck

 

[ilovehedgehogs]

sounds very solid
raise your mcat, all you need is few points, and i really dont think you need to do much else. just apply widely, early, and spend the year doing something that you like, no need to pay all that $$$ to GT. good luck

Thank you, I appreciate the advice!