Lower Tier second time?

[MSwinthrop]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am reapplying through AMCAS right now, and I'm not sure which schools to pick, I used the simple formula found in the pdf guide I found on the site, and was about to apply to 4 tier ones 8 tier twos 2 tier threes and one each of tier 4 and 5, when my parents both called me encouraging me to apply to move down one tier a piece. I'm starting an SMP this fall and figured that this was a significant boost to my app, but my parents disagree. What do you all think?

 

[Indioman]

If you post your GPA and MCAT it may be more helpful....

I don't think an SMP will boost your application so much that you go from not getting into medical school to being accepted into a top tier medical school. An SMP will show that you can handle a medical school course load especially if you have a low GPA but won't help too much with a low MCAT, assuming you do well in the SMP. With that said, at some schools it will help a little bit and other schools it will help much more. So an SMP may be enough to get you into medical school but it won't significantly improve your application.

I agree with your parents. You should apply broadly and apply to more "low-tier" schools but you should keep a few reach schools.

 

[MSwinthrop]

37 MCAT
3.1 GPA.

Last year I applied really late and only returned secondaries to 4 schools.

 

[TheGalvaniFrog]

Not sure where you get so many defined tiers.

But I would definitely apply to a few more lower tier schools. Speaking from personal experience (and my numbers are similar to yours), it's the mid-tier and lower-tier schools that respond best to SMPs. I am not saying you have no chance at top tier, but they can afford to be extremely picky.

 

[Indioman]

I think if you do well in the SMP, you have a good shot at some of the mid-tier and low-tier schools. Some schools will want to wait to see how you do in the SMP before they decide to interview you.

Apply earlier this time around and to a good number of mid-tier and low-tier schools.

Nice MCAT score btw

 

[Orthodoc40]

This tier concept is generally an attitude that doesn't work.

You'll notice a trend that successful reapplicants have. They dropped the assumption that they were too good for any schools at all, decided they'd be happy going to any school that would take them, figured out which schools they were a good fit for, and applied to those - probably early.

 

[MSwinthrop]

I don't think I'm "too good" but I don't have the money to apply everywhere, I'm just trying to use my 15 applications as wisely as I can.

 

[Vizsla]

the smp is a great idea. u have a great mcat and if u can get a 3.5+ from the smp, u will be golden. the only problem is, the grades from smp will trickle in as the yr goes by so programs will only really have a good idea of how you are doing closer to the end of spring semester (when seats at most schools are almost filled and waitlists are started). that being said, i know of some schools that have granted interviews to applicants who are only midway thru their smp (around the december, january period) and ur strong mcat will def help. some of the schools i would include are: Drexel, NYMC, Rosalind Franklin, SLU, Temple, VCU, EVMS, GW.

as for the "tier system" i dont think that will really work in ur case seeing that ur gpa is pretty low. of course i could be wrong, but if u really want to get the highest yield from ur 15 applications, i would invest them in schools u consider to be "tier 3,4 and 5". and even if u dont get in this coming yr, if u kick ass in the smp, u will have a very easy time of it for the next round. good luck

 

[tacrum43]

I am reapplying through AMCAS right now, and I'm not sure which schools to pick, I used the simple formula found in the pdf guide I found on the site, and was about to apply to 4 tier ones 8 tier twos 2 tier threes and one each of tier 4 and 5, when my parents both called me encouraging me to apply to move down one tier a piece. I'm starting an SMP this fall and figured that this was a significant boost to my app, but my parents disagree. What do you all think?

The formula you mentioned does not apply very well when you have an unbalanced MCAT/GPA. A 37 is an excellent MCAT score, but a 3.1 is a pretty low GPA. One can only compensate for the other to a certain extent. Applying broadly would be a good idea if you want to maximize your chances.

 

[Law2Doc]

This tier concept is generally an attitude that doesn't work.

Agree with this. This is not a formulaic objective process. Schools are going to want to see if you are a "good fit" for their school. Also since you are a reapplicant, and most schools look at that status a bit differently (requiring substantial improvement, etc), whatever formulaic approach you have found is kind of out the window anyhow. You want to improve your credentials (SMP is a good idea but only if you will have grades in the bank by the time you apply -- not sure it pays to start and apply at the same time-- you really want to sit out a cycle and get a good set of grades, before you apply), As a reapplicant I also don't think you can afford to apply to only 8 schools.

With a 3.1 you cannot count on the fact that you applied late and to too few schools as the only reason you would not have been successful. You really need to sit out a cycle so you can improve things. Honestly if you apply to 8 schools as a reapplicant without yet having actually improved your credentials with new SMP grades, you are setting yourself up for being a third time reapplicant.

 

[silas2642]

I am reapplying through AMCAS right now, and I'm not sure which schools to pick, I used the simple formula found in the pdf guide I found on the site, and was about to apply to 4 tier ones 8 tier twos 2 tier threes and one each of tier 4 and 5, when my parents both called me encouraging me to apply to move down one tier a piece. I'm starting an SMP this fall and figured that this was a significant boost to my app, but my parents disagree. What do you all think?

Generally speaking, a good gpa can make up for a poor mcat but good mcat cannot make up for a poor gpa. The low gpa is really going to hinder you in the application cycle and so the so-called ''upper-tiered" schools are probably out of your reach. At this point, it might be wisest to apply what you consider to be lower tiered schools-- Drexel, Temple, Wayne State, RFU, Albany, NYMC, VCU, etc. along with your state school and hope that you get lucky. I don't see how starting an smp THIS FALL is going to help you during this application cycle-- adcoms are going to want to see how you fared during the smp program, and that won't happen until the next application season. Out of curiosity, why don't you just sit out this application season? Why are you applying this year?

 

[MSwinthrop]

"Lucky" for me I'm from California so my state schools are just ACHING for applicants like me. <sigh> thanks for the advice, I guess patience is a virtue I'll have to hone these next two years.

 

[MSmentor018]

apply very broadly! I know it costs money to apply and secondaries....but a few more school selections now is cheaper than having to reapply next year and starting from scratch. it may not be exactly where you want to go but the more you apply, the better your chances.
I don't use the formulas they give for application b/c there are too many variables. here's what I did....pay the couple of bucks for the US news world report, print the medical school list based on mcat/gpa. find where you fit in. that's the benchmark, now start going down the list. filter out the "we don't take out of state", "must have whatever class"....etc. then go from there. good luck! 👍