need help deciding on SMP

[longhorn97]

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background: going to the SMP route b/c I need GPA repair (~3.36, flatline), MCAT is competitive, TX resident

I have 2 choices:
a SMP at a in-state DO school that TX adcoms have heard of and generally have a good opinion of
or
a SMP at one of the big 2 SMPs (GT, BU) out-of-state

the biggest factor for me is the price difference and the reputation
the in-state SMP is 13k (would be living at home with parents), while the out-of-state SMP's COA is ~70K

however, my impression (correct me if I'm wrong) is that the in-state SMP has recognition at TX schools only, while the out-of-state one has more recognition everywhere.

I'm not sure which one to pick? insight/advice appreciated!

 

[Melchizedek]

background: going to the SMP route b/c I need GPA repair (~3.36, flatline), MCAT is competitive, TX resident

I have 2 choices:
a SMP at a in-state DO school that TX adcoms have heard of and generally have a good opinion of
or
a SMP at one of the big 2 SMPs (GT, BU) out-of-state

the biggest factor for me is the price difference and the reputation
the in-state SMP is 13k (would be living at home with parents), while the out-of-state SMP's COA is ~70K

however, my impression (correct me if I'm wrong) is that the in-state SMP has recognition at TX schools only, while the out-of-state one has more recognition everywhere.

I'm not sure which one to pick? insight/advice appreciated!

Is staying in TX for the SMP and medical school a priority for you? As in, would you only apply to TX schools after you finish a SMP even if you went out of state for the SMP?

 

[longhorn97]

Is staying in TX for the SMP and medical school a priority for you? As in, would you only apply to TX schools after you finish a SMP even if you went out of state for the SMP?

I would apply to both TX schools and out-of-state schools; I prefer amount of opportunities a med school could provide over location

 

[longhorn97]

I would prefer a MD over DO just because I think I want to specialize and don't have any particular interest in fam med or peds

 

[Melchizedek]

I would apply to both TX schools and out-of-state schools; I prefer amount of opportunities a med school could provide over location

I would prefer a MD over DO just because I think I want to specialize and don't have any particular interest in fam med or peds

Cool, now I have a better idea of what to recommend.
If location ties are not important to you, then do the out of state route. BU MAMS and Georgetown GEMS are great programs, but like you said they are also expensive without any guarantee. There are a few programs (I'll list below) that offer a guaranteed interview/acceptance. The point you make about the TX SMP program being only known to adcoms in TX, I would think hold true only because its a DO SMP. MAMS, GEMS, Drexel PMPH, and EVMS are known pretty widely as well as in their own areas.
If TX DO, MAMS, and GEMS are your top priorities and the only programs you'll consider, then go for the MAMS or GEMS. If you're still open to other options, there are other programs out there with more defined outcomes in terms of matriculating to the associated medical school(s) and I think its worth it for you to do a little more exploring.

Here’s the list and the associated websites
MD Special Masters’ Programs:
Temple (Guaranteed interview/acceptance contingent on performance)-
Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program Curriculum | Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
EVMS - Guaranteed Interview (based on performance and MCAT)
Medical Master's, MS - Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), Norfolk, Hampton Roads
Drexel - Guaranteed Interview (based on performance and MCAT)
Master of Science in Interdepartmental Medical Science - College of Medicine
Boston U MAMS (No Guarantee) -
MS in Medical Sciences Admissions | Graduate Medical Sciences
Georgetown GEMS (no guarantee)-
Georgetown University School of Medicine
I think there might be a few more around the country but these are the ones I know of off the top of my head.

DO SMP’s:
Comprehensive list - Post Baccalaureate Premedical Programs
Touro (Guaranteed acceptance) -
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine | Touro College
PCOM Guaranteed Interview (based on performance)
Master of Science (MS) in Biomedical Sciences | PCOM
LECOM Guaranteed Interview (based on performance)
Master of Medical Science - LECOM Education System

Hope this gets you started or gives you some other factors to consider!


On a related note, are you an URM?

 

[longhorn97]

Wow, thanks so much for all this info!!!

I am an asian female, but I am a first-gen college student

 

[Melchizedek]

Wow, thanks so much for all this info!!!

I am an asian female, but I am a first-gen college student

Ahh okay I was going to set you up with a few programs that are direct admit if you were a URM, but alas.
Glad I could help! I myself was an SMP student at Drexel (PM me if you want to hear more about that program) so I've been in your shoes. Its a slog but going in with the right attitude and perseverance will pay off hugely. Good luck!


P.S. If you liked my advice leave me a couple "likes" its how I get paid around here (not really, it just feeds my huge ego haha)

 

[canquito]

Ahh okay I was going to set you up with a few programs that are direct admit if you were a URM, but alas.
Glad I could help! I myself was an SMP student at Drexel (PM me if you want to hear more about that program) so I've been in your shoes. Its a slog but going in with the right attitude and perseverance will pay off hugely. Good luck!


P.S. If you liked my advice leave me a couple "likes" its how I get paid around here (not really, it just feeds my huge ego haha)

Could you still post these programs, or send me a pm? I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[Louisebelcher22]

Ahh okay I was going to set you up with a few programs that are direct admit if you were a URM, but alas.
Glad I could help! I myself was an SMP student at Drexel (PM me if you want to hear more about that program) so I've been in your shoes. Its a slog but going in with the right attitude and perseverance will pay off hugely. Good luck!


P.S. If you liked my advice leave me a couple "likes" its how I get paid around here (not really, it just feeds my huge ego haha)

Ahh okay I was going to set you up with a few programs that are direct admit if you were a URM, but alas.
Glad I could help! I myself was an SMP student at Drexel (PM me if you want to hear more about that program) so I've been in your shoes. Its a slog but going in with the right attitude and perseverance will pay off hugely. Good luck!


P.S. If you liked my advice leave me a couple "likes" its how I get paid around here (not really, it just feeds my huge ego haha)

Hi, could you send me those programs too I’m an URM .

 

[Gropey_Monk123]

One school I see being omitted from the list is U of Cinci. It's late in the cycle but they have a solid program (think you take almost all MS1 classes) with a smaller class size than GT, BU, EVMS.