Non-Traditional And Clueless

[JustTrying2MAkeIt]

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I am wondering if I should complete an SMP before I apply to medical school. My undergrad I finished with a 3.5 but had academic forgiveness several semesters of withdrawing classes. Some schools particularly (DO) require pre-reqs others that I have seen specifically (MD) do not but most SMP require the pre-reqs. Some schools will accept pre-reqs from a junior college some will not. I do not know what to do. Can a high MCAT wash it all away i just don't know and Im extremely intimidated by this entire process. Im not willing to go $10,000 in the hole to take pre-reqs at the 4 year university i graduated from. I think im just going to chance it. take the pre-reqs I need at the junior college im taking the MCAT AGAIN this summer and I plan to shadow a physician or two and im just going to apply the end of 2019. im taking the MCAT early enough so if I need to retake again the last test date in september I can.

 

[gyngyn]

I am wondering if I should complete an SMP before I apply to medical school. My undergrad I finished with a 3.5 but had academic forgiveness several semesters of withdrawing classes. Some schools particularly (DO) require pre-reqs others that I have seen specifically (MD) do not but most SMP require the pre-reqs. Some schools will accept pre-reqs from a junior college some will not. I do not know what to do. Can a high MCAT wash it all away i just don't know and Im extremely intimidated by this entire process. Im not willing to go $10,000 in the hole to take pre-reqs at the 4 year university i graduated from. I think im just going to chance it. take the pre-reqs I need at the junior college im taking the MCAT AGAIN this summer and I plan to shadow a physician or two and im just going to apply the end of 2019. im taking the MCAT early enough so if I need to wait until the last test date in september I can.

1. Do not take the MCAT until you are confident of a score consistent with success (no matter how long it takes). A single strong score is key.
2. The MCAT is a separate metric from gpa. One does not cancel out the other, though gpa trend is also very important.
3. You can take required courses at any accredited brick and mortar school. Online courses are viewed askance at many schools.
4. Is there a credible (resolved) reason for all the W's?

 

[JustTrying2MAkeIt]

1. Agreed
2. True
3. Yes definitely brick and mortar not online
4. young and silly no real super special reason just was young and wishy washy and unfocused.

 

[curbsideconsult]

im just going to apply the end of 2019. im taking the MCAT early enough so if I need to retake again the last test date in september I can

This is way too late to apply to MD schools and even to the more well-established DO schools.

Do you have volunteer and clinical hours? High numbers will do you no good if you have no relevant experience. The shadowing is good, but you also need volunteering.

You should plan on applying June 2020 if you want to increase your chances of a successful cycle.

 

[JustTrying2MAkeIt]

how is it too late when the cycle has not even opened back up? Most of the DO program accept applications until January of the year you plan to start and the MD schools I plan to apply to accept apps until november aka the end of the year? Volunteering in what capacity?

 

[curbsideconsult]

how is it too late when the cycle has not even opened back up? Most of the DO program accept applications until January of the year you plan to start and the MD schools I plan to apply to accept apps until november aka the end of the year? Volunteering in what capacity?

I think you're severely underestimating the competition/neuroses of pre-meds as a whole. Most competitive applicants apply early. The later you apply, the worse your chances of getting into medical school. Even for some DO schools such as the well-established ones as I previously stated. You're correct that deadlines are roughly November and January, but unless you're some golden child who med schools absolutely cannot do without, you will likely not get any interview invites if you apply by the deadlines. By late fall/early winter, most medical schools have filled their interview dates and some med schools will be close to filling or have filled their incoming class and are only interviewing for waitlist spots.

As @Goro has stated ad nauseum and many others have stated, you need to do some volunteer activity that is in service to the needy. It can be just about anything as long as you're steady and consistent in your volunteer commitment.

 

[Goro]

I am wondering if I should complete an SMP before I apply to medical school. My undergrad I finished with a 3.5 but had academic forgiveness several semesters of withdrawing classes. Some schools particularly (DO) require pre-reqs others that I have seen specifically (MD) do not but most SMP require the pre-reqs. Some schools will accept pre-reqs from a junior college some will not. I do not know what to do. Can a high MCAT wash it all away i just don't know and Im extremely intimidated by this entire process. Im not willing to go $10,000 in the hole to take pre-reqs at the 4 year university i graduated from. I think im just going to chance it. take the pre-reqs I need at the junior college im taking the MCAT AGAIN this summer and I plan to shadow a physician or two and im just going to apply the end of 2019. im taking the MCAT early enough so if I need to retake again the last test date in september I can.

With a GPA of 3.5, you don't need an SMP.

If you need pre-reqs, just take that at the cheapest 4 year school you can find. SMPs are not for the pre-reqs, they're auditions for med schools and for reinventing poor GPAs.