Need some advice please, reapply or SMP

[billan]

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Hi everyone, I could really use some help on deciding my next move. I received my Bachelors this year and have currently a 3.4 Gpa and a 36R on the MCAT. I know the GPA is on the low side but the biggest problem is my sGPA which is really low at only 3.00. I had a terrible freshman year and this is the reason for the low sGPA. My ECs are very good and above average (shadowing/volunteering/pubs etc). I looked in to DO as well but it isn't an option because I'm from Canada.

So I am looking at doing some courses full time and at best can maybe manage to pull my sGPA upto a 3.2 (I did the math). My only problem is that after doing all the work I might still not be competitive enough for MD schools. So can anyone recommend that I do an SMP or should I maybe go to the Caribbean and stop wasting any more time? Will a 3.2 sGPA and upward trend be worth it to reapply for the next app cycle?

Thanks for your help!

 

[TriagePreMed]

Waiting one year and re-applying is not a poor choice. Going on an SMP would be a poor choice given the expenses involved and you already having a high enough GPA. It's only the sGPA that affects you which can be redeemed by post-bacc work. Don't go Caribbean if you have the chance to avoid it.

 

[billan]

Waiting one year and re-applying is not a poor choice. Going on an SMP would be a poor choice given the expenses involved and you already having a high enough GPA. It's only the sGPA that affects you which can be redeemed by post-bacc work. Don't go Caribbean if you have the chance to avoid it.

Thanks for the response. I don't know how much higher I could get my sGPA even with a full year. I mean even if I get it to a 3.2-3.3, it isn't very competitive I think. So would an SMP be better in my case or is that only for very low gpas?

 

[Catalystik]

Your 3.4 cGPA is low for an international applicant, but you do have a strong MCAT score. Your BCPM is the bigger problem. Even if more classes don't raise it much, establishing a steep upward grade trend with straight As in upper-level science will prove to adcomms you have what it takes to do well in med school. It also makes it more likely you'd be accepted to an SMP, if you decide to go that route. If all your bad grades were freshman year, and all subsequent grades are excellent, you have a good chance of getting into an SMP or a DO med school program. Acceptance to MD programs is possible, too, but you are so far from the mean stats for accepted Canadians, that I can't reassure you that you can get in without more work to redeem your record.

Some data:

Data from the AAMC: In 2009, of 1293 international applicants (without a US state of residence) only 12.6% matriculated to a US med school (whereas 44.5% of US state residents applying did matriculate).

Mean stats for those Canadians who matriculated at US schools in 2009:
MCAT 33.5+/- 3.8, cGPA 3.78 +/- .16, BCPM GPA 3.78 +/-.2

Mean stats for US state residents who matriculated:
MCAT 30.8 +/- 4.1, cGPA 3.66 +/- .26, BCPM GPA 3.6 +/- .32

Lots of Canadians are applying to DO med schools. I suggest you do more research before dismissing that option:

DO/Canadian province practice rights: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=8365157&highlight=Brunswick#post8365157
DO Canadian practice info: http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16718

DO for Canadians SDN thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=739482

DO MSAR http://www.aacom.org/resources/bookstore/cib/Documents/2011cib/2011cib-whole.pdf

DO International Practice Rights: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=107627