Masters then SMP or upper level science courses then SMP?

[DrFLAGATORS]

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Hey what do you guys think is better?

I have a 3.38 cGPA, 3.32 sGPA, recently took MCAT. I majored in Microbiology, so I have already taken many science courses.

Should I go for a one-year Master's Program, and then apply to an SMP?

Or

Take upper level undergrad science courses, and then apply to an SMP?

Let me know what you think! Thanks!

 

[jslo85]

Or Option III: Apply for the SMP straight

 

[deleted248403]

why not calculate how much your GPA could change by a whole year of upper levels? That will tell you if its worth it.

 

[DbDan]

Hey what do you guys think is better?

I have a 3.38 cGPA, 3.32 sGPA, recently took MCAT. I majored in Microbiology, so I have already taken many science courses.

Should I go for a one-year Master's Program, and then apply to an SMP?

Or

Take upper level undergrad science courses, and then apply to an SMP?

Let me know what you think! Thanks!

To be honest, I'd say if you do well on the MCAT than either an SMP or a year of upper division science courses. If money/debt is not an issue and you can afford to do another year as a full-time student I'd guess you could probably get to a 3.5 with a year of full time 4.0 work. If you do well enough on the MCAT you could get in with a 3.5 and a good upward trend. Make sure your ECs are in order too

 

[DrFLAGATORS]

Thanks guys,

I think I will do one year of full-time classes and apply to SMP's this year. Also, I have 4 C+'s in science courses - Bio 1, Bio 2, Chem 1, Immunology...Do you think it is a good idea to retake these?

 

[klmnop]

Thanks guys,

I think I will do one year of full-time classes and apply to SMP's this year. Also, I have 4 C+'s in science courses - Bio 1, Bio 2, Chem 1, Immunology...Do you think it is a good idea to retake these?

What DbDan meant was take a year to improve to a 3.5, get a decent MCAT and you have a chance at Med schools, thus you maybe wouldn't need an SMP. But when you do apply to med, apply to SMPs as well just in case.

 

[klmnop]

Correct me if I'm wrong, I think I followed what you said. You did an extra year of upper-div ugrad sci courses, then did an SMP, then applied to med school, and you attribute your success solely to the ugrad gpa improvement of 3.4? What SMP did you do and how did you do?... because it is difficult to know if it helped more than the SMP with nothing to compare with..if you know what I mean. Obviously the 3.4 helped, but getting through to the secondaries is not much of an accomplishment and hardly improves acceptance chances when many schools interview several hundred kids for 120 spots. Not to argue your viewpoint, but I'm curious what kind of indication you've had that suggested you could have done fine without the SMP, because a 3.4 is still subpar for med admissions for most applicants?

 

[klmnop]

In my particular situation, I received my acceptance early into the SMP before the first grades were even reported. I also received all but three of my interviews within the first three months of the SMP. The SMP has never been brought up at interviews, except at one interview in the Spring. At the school at which I earned my acceptance, most of the interview was spent discussing coursework and ECs I did during my year taking extra science courses. In fact, several interviewers were enthusiastic about my year of 4.0 coursework and again, only one school has asked about the SMP.

I went to Georgetown SMP and received A's in all courses through the first semester and A-/B+ in second semester. The only schools that those grades were sent to were ones that I was on hold for or ones that I had been waitlisted at. I haven't gotten off of any of those waitlists.

This is all circumstantial, of course. I'll never know for sure whether my SMP made a substantive difference or not, and luck always plays a huge factor. I think my previous advice accounts for the fact that the OP might benefit more from the SMP.

Undergrad classes to boost GPA + apply for & defer SMP --> apply for med school & play the waiting game --> go to SMP or med school.

Thanks I was just curious.
I think I agree with your advice. In fact, if the OP wants more of a guarantee.... then 2 years or maybe 1.5 years of extra 4.0 ugrad work should most definitely do the trick. I kinda wish I, myself had done the research about this before I graduated too, though I'm not sure I would have had the desperation to perform well in an extra year of ugrad as I have now.

I suppose your SMP would have had a much larger influence had you applied after completion, because as it is, applying during the program is only so valuable without the results... similar to applying while you were in the middle of completing your extra ugrad year.

 

[DrFLAGATORS]

Great advice guys, thanks. I really believe now that a year of undergraduate coursework will defininitely improve my application.

 

[deleted248403]

Great advice guys, thanks. I really believe now that a year of undergraduate coursework will defininitely improve my application.

Did you do the math to figure out the impact?
Believing and actually doing the calculation are two different things.

Depending on the impact it will have, it may or may not be worth it. Till you do the math, you are basing this decision off pretty poor logic