Need advice...

[fsk]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm looking for advice about SMP programs and which ones might be right for me...This is my third time applying, and it's getting pretty late in the year so I'm trying to assess my options for the coming year. I never really considered SMPs because I've already taken all pre-reqs, but since I haven't had luck applying outright, I figured I'd look into these and ask your advice. An additional degree (eg. Masters) would be nice, but isn't absolutely necessary

My story:

Large public university (honors college) graduate, biology major
cGPA: 3.50
sGPA: 3.37
MCAT: 31
Mediocre ECs, strong clinical experience & strong research resume

Currently working as a research fellow at a mid-tier med school hospital, have several publications, posters, and podium presentations at large conferences.

I have been looking at Temple, Drexel, Georgetown, Penn, and BU, but am open to any!

Ideally, I'd like this to take one year (so that I complete my SMP in 2013-2014 and begin med school in fall '14), and I know some programs like temple have guaranteed admission...are there any others out there?

 

[deleted248403]

Step 1) Stop applying to medical school - 3 years in a row and no-acceptances means something is wrong, applying again next year is probably going to result in the exact same result (0 acceptances)

Step 2) Be cold and analyze why you aren't getting in; you must be your harshest critic. Are you apps late? (primaries should be finished and confirmed before August; secondaries by October) Is your personal statement polished? Does one of your LOR have bad things or red flags in it?

Step 3) You said mediocre ECs - you need to make those stellar. You are on the low side GPA (tho within 1 standard dev so its not a huge issue), with an average MCAT and "mediocre" ECs... doesn't spell a recipe for success, right? Improve those ECs

Hold off on an SMP or more undergrad work until you've done this assessment - its a lot of time and $$$; and you are within reach of a med school acceptance but something is holding you back. Figure out what that is before you apply for more schooling or apply to med school again (unless you love wasting like $2k on med school apps - and in that case, just send me the $2k).