Lookin' for a good DO-SMP program

[deleted807068]

I don't know if it's just me, but it is difficult to find information on good DO-SMP programs. Could anyone recommend any to me? I prefer a 1 year, guaranteed matriculation to medical school type of SMP program. One near Michigan would be awesome (but beggers cant be choosers). My stats are 3.5/3.33 with a 499 MCAT. Thanks in advance!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[zNoodlez]

I don't know if it's just me, but it is difficult to find information on good DO-SMP programs. Could anyone recommend any to me? I prefer a 1 year, guaranteed matriculation to medical school type of SMP program. One near Michigan would be awesome (but beggers cant be choosers). My stats are 3.5/3.33 with a 499 MCAT. Thanks in advance!

I think the majority of them just guarantee an interview for their in-house program.

Here is the very comprehensive list of all the SMPs
Link

 

[DPTinthemaking15]

Biomedical Sciences Degree | Master of Arts | Christian Colleges VA

Bluefield College is a Christian Liberal Arts institution in southwest Virginia that offers a Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences graduate degree. Learn more now.

www.bluefield.edu

I recommend this. We have multiple students in our class that graduated from this program, received a guaranteed acceptance once they graduated from the Masters program and all of them are doing well in our class. I think there are requirements you must meet within the program to guarantee you receive an acceptance, but I know it is doable. Goodluck, OP.

 

[deleted807068]

Biomedical Sciences Degree | Master of Arts | Christian Colleges VA

Bluefield College is a Christian Liberal Arts institution in southwest Virginia that offers a Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences graduate degree. Learn more now.

www.bluefield.edu

I recommend this. We have multiple students in our class that graduated from this program, received a guaranteed acceptance once they graduated from the Masters program and all of them are doing well in our class. I think there are requirements you must meet within the program to guarantee you receive an acceptance, but I know it is doable. Goodluck, OP.

I looked it up. It sounds like a great program. If you have a 3.6 by the end of the Fall semester, you are guaranteed a seat in the DO program? Also, what are the % of students who end up getting a 3.6? What about tuition cost? Thanks in advance!

 

[Goro]

I don't know if it's just me, but it is difficult to find information on good DO-SMP programs. Could anyone recommend any to me? I prefer a 1 year, guaranteed matriculation to medical school type of SMP program. One near Michigan would be awesome (but beggers cant be choosers). My stats are 3.5/3.33 with a 499 MCAT. Thanks in advance!

Based upon students who have matriculated at my own school:
TUNCOM, LECOM, KCU, UNECOM (I think) Western. Touro-CA, Touro-NY (I think)

Why not just retake the MCAT? Your GPAs are fine for DO

 

[deleted807068]

Based upon students who have matriculated at my own school:
TUNCOM, LECOM, KCU, UNECOM (I think) Western. Touro-CA, Touro-NY (I think)

Why not just retake the MCAT? Your GPAs are fine for DO

I was planning on retaking the MCAT but with Corona, my date was pushed back and at this point, I'm skeptical of the timeline. I'd rather apply to newer schools with a 499 and have an SMP linked DO school as my back up. Just the worst timing for all this 🙁

 

[Goro]

I was planning on retaking the MCAT but with Corona, my date was pushed back and at this point, I'm skeptical of the timeline. I'd rather apply to newer schools with a 499 and have an SMP linked DO school as my back up. Just the worst timing for all this 🙁

Sounds like a good plan

 

[Osminog]

Awful idea. There’s zero reason for you to do an SMP. Your GPA is fine for DO, so you’d be taking a huge unnecessary gamble. Study harder/smarter for the MCAT and retake.

 

[hungrydoc710]

I would apply super broadly - I think could net an acceptance or two with good EC's/PS.

VCOM has a promised seat if you hit thier benchmark (I believe it's 3.6 GPA in the pgroam with a MCAT north of 496).
It's done through a local college in Blacksburg, VA.

Also a MI resident.

 

[dial1010usa]

No need for SMP. Just re-take MCAT. I would prepare for MCAT. Just add a throw away school for verification.
My school TUNCOM minimum requirement is Mcat 500 even you go to SMP, you must have MCAT 500 for linkage.

 

[sw99]

Try Touro-CA

 

[dial1010usa]

Touro-CA requires very high MCAT where as op has 499 unless he re-take MCAT and hit 510+
Once you start SMP you don't have time to study for MCAT because its very fast paced program.

 

[StudentDoctorNeuro]

Awful idea. There’s zero reason for you to do an SMP. Your GPA is fine for DO, so you’d be taking a huge unnecessary gamble. Study harder/smarter for the MCAT and retake.

I actually genuinely disagree with you. His GPA is not fine for DO school if we look at his GPA/MCAT as a whole, even not as a whole, it is still low. Avg GPA/sGPA for my DO school and most is 3.6/3.5.

I had a 3.5 and 3.2 sGPA and did a masters program and was told by numerous admissions committee how good the masters program looked when I applied the 2nd time. Finished a 1 year biomedical degree with a 3.9.

Regardless, this person needs to retake their MCAT. If you're ORM like me, aim for at least a 505.

Let me preface this and say I agree his cGPA is fine but his sGPA is on the lower end, taking a 1 year MBS degree will tell schools you can handle science classes/med school --> this will also help you on your MCAT since many of the courses overlay (Physio, cell bio, biochem)

 

[Osminog]

I actually genuinely disagree with you. His GPA is not fine for DO school if we look at his GPA/MCAT as a whole, even not as a whole, it is still low. Avg GPA/sGPA for my DO school and most is 3.6/3.5.

I had a 3.5 and 3.2 sGPA and did a masters program and was told by numerous admissions committee how good the masters program looked when I applied the 2nd time. Finished a 1 year biomedical degree with a 3.9.

Regardless, this person needs to retake their MCAT. If you're ORM like me, aim for at least a 505.

Let me preface this and say I agree his cGPA is fine but his sGPA is on the lower end, taking a 1 year MBS degree will tell schools you can handle science classes/med school --> this will also help you on your MCAT since many of the courses overlay (Physio, cell bio, biochem)

Let me explain where I’m coming from: I am a mediocre medical student. Despite putting in a fairly considerable amount of effort, I perform at the class average—mostly B’s, occasionally A’s and C’s. Despite my not-so-amazing performance, when I complete my degree, I will be a physician.

My medical school has an SMP program, and students in that program take many of the same classes as the medical students. Do you know what happens to SMP students who perform at the level of the average med student (mostly B’s)? When they complete their degrees, they will spend many years working as lab techs, CNAs, and medical assistants. In the best case scenario, they will gain admission to podiatry school.

SMPs are a risky last resort, and should only be considered when someone’s GPA is irrecoverably low. The average sGPA of DO matriculants was 3.43 in the 2018 cycle. OP’s sGPA is a 3.33, only 0.3 SDs below the matriculant mean. All OP needs to do is study for and retake the MCAT to get a 504+. Again, no SMP is needed here.

 

[deleted807068]

Let me explain where I’m coming from: I am a mediocre medical student. Despite putting in a fairly considerable amount of effort, I perform at the class average—mostly B’s, occasionally A’s and C’s. Despite my not-so-amazing performance, when I complete my degree, I will be a physician.

My medical school has an SMP program, and students in that program take many of the same classes as the medical students. Do you know what happens to SMP students who perform at the level of the average med student (mostly B’s)? When they complete their degrees, they will spend many years working as lab techs, CNAs, and medical assistants. In the best case scenario, they will gain admission to podiatry school.

SMPs are a risky last resort, and should only be considered when someone’s GPA is irrecoverably low. The average sGPA of DO matriculants was 3.43 in the 2018 cycle. OP’s sGPA is a 3.33, only 0.3 SDs below the matriculant mean. All OP needs to do is study for and retake the MCAT to get a 504+. Again, no SMP is needed here.

Would you consider this a good plan: don't consider SMP programs at all then apply to newer DO schools with 500 median MCAT. Study for the MCAT during summer and get ready for a retake. Hopefully, score around 505 then apply to better DO schools

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

See my sig.

 

[ATCtoDO]

Touro-NY is linked. I believe if you get above 3.5 gpa and pass the standardized tests you et auto-admitted. At times they have pulled people from the SMP if someone drops out in like the first few weeks of school (this is super rare though). I would retake the MCAT. Hae someone in my MSBS class who had ok stats, but has gotten a few B-. Could've just retook his 497, scored above 500 and matriculated, but now it is gonna be way harder for them.