Need some advice on where to go

[PureLife12]

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I've been reading through the forum a lot over the last few days trying to get a better understanding of what to do in terms of an SMP or postbac program. I read through all of the stickies but i'm just unsure of where I should apply. I have a 2.84GPA (The 3.0 cut off at a lot of places is really cutting down on my options) and a 29 MCAT. I have decent EC's and have pretty good recommendation letters. Can someone offer some advice on where I should apply with the credentials I have? I wasn't sure I wanted to be a doctor while I was in undergrad and this really hurt my focus and effort and put a dent in my GPA. I am completely in now though and am willing to put in the effort to do well in any program that I would participate in. Thank you for your help and I hope i'm not breaking any rules by posting this!

 

[gasgirl22]

Look into the VCOM post-bacc I think it seems like a good option with your stats.

 

[PureLife12]

Look into the VCOM post-bacc I think it seems like a good option with your stats.

Appreciate your feedback! I looked into VCOM and it looks like it's a DO school. Would doing this postbac not hold as much weight with MD schools as DO schools?

 

[DrMidlife]

If you want to get into a US MD school, then do about 2 more years of full time undergrad before you look at SMPs. Why? Go to aamc.org, look at the data tables, and see how many standard deviations below the accepted MD average GPA you are.

You haven't yet produced the solid multi-year mostly-science undergrad performance that is the price of admission to US MD. About 55% of US MD applicants get rejected every year. That's way too much competition to jump in with an unredeemed 2.84, regardless of performance in an SMP at an MD school, should some SMP offer you a seat.

You would be wise to consider the following options, in priority order:
1. seriously reconsider your career goals so that you're not trying for the most difficult, most expensive path to a job, starting from way behind
2. or, if you must, then seriously consider DO, via programs like VCOM, and understand that the DO path is every bit as rigorous as MD. In other words, DO schools reject a lot of apps too.
3. or, if you must persist in going after MD, get a 3.7+ in a 2nd bachelors in a hard science and then you can look at SMPs. This might still result in you going DO.

DO NOT consider Carib.

And now, empirically speaking, you'll do one of two things:
1. pitch a fit at the above, argue, and get all ad hominem about it, which gets you no closer to med school
2. go read a whole lot more on SDN and see that the above is just how it works

Best of luck to you.

 

[PureLife12]

Thank you for putting things into perspective and not babying me, DrMidLife, I really appreciate your perspective.