post-bacc complete: pre-emptive SMP while applying?

[wiloghby]

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Hi everyone.

I'm finishing up a post-bacc and applying allopathic in June. I have a 3.1uGPA from MIT w/ a 38 MCAT. My undergraduate record is embarrassing and sort of all over the place. I've taken 92 credits as a post-bacc over the last 2 years (55 credits at various local CCs concurrently to make everything fit -- all science electives, followed by 37 credits at my 4-year state school's post-bacc premed program (all the premed requirements) and have a 4.0 in all that stuff -- all science courses, averaging 15.3 credits a semester for 2 years including summers!

I am told that the state schools here look more at undergraduate work than post-bacc, but here are my final stats: Total cGPA: ~3.53, total sGPA: 3.77 (almost all from post-bacc).

Here is my question: Do I apply for and attend an SMP in-state during my glide year, or do I wait to hear back (and seek healthcare-related employment instead), and do the SMP if I don't get in anywhere this cycle?

Basically, should I pre-emptively take out debt that my be unnecessary in order to (hopefully) save a year of my life if I have to reapply. I'm almost 28 now.

 

[Marika11]

I don't have a direct answer to your question but, as far as I know, your postbac classes are considered undergraduate (since they are undergrad classes after all). The adcoms will not see a 3.1 gpa for your undergrad. They will see 3.53 cgpa and 3.77 sgpa. Your postbac specific gpa will just appear as your 5th year, even though you took more than 1 year to take all those classes.

That's quite the upward trend, way to go!

 

[sinombre]

I wouldn't waste the time/money on an SMP... you aced the MCAT and have a legitimate upward trend. If you have a solid and interesting application I would be seriously surprised if you weren't successful.

 

[sinombre]

I don't have a direct answer to your question but, as far as I know, your postbac classes are considered undergraduate (since they are undergrad classes after all). The adcoms will not see a 3.1 gpa for your undergrad. They will see 3.53 cgpa and 3.77 sgpa. Your postbac specific gpa will just appear as your 5th year, even though you took more than 1 year to take all those classes.

That's quite the upward trend, way to go!

Also I agree with this, except (at least for me) all of my 5th year coursework was combined with my 4th year as my "senior GPA."

 

[Marika11]

Also I agree with this, except (at least for me) all of my 5th year coursework was combined with my 4th year as my "senior GPA."

If you've actually applied through AMCAS, I am sure you're right. I had written down that my postbac would be considered a "5th year" on my application awhile back, after reading it somewhere on SDN.

 

[sinombre]

If you've actually applied through AMCAS, I am sure you're right. I had written down that my postbac would be considered a "5th year" on my application awhile back, after reading it somewhere on SDN.

Yeah I applied this past cycle... I'm not sure if they do this for everyone or not (I took a 5th year at the same institution, so maybe it varies if you do a postbac at another institution) but they definitely grouped it this way for me. I know they separate graduate GPA from undergrad GPA though.

 

[Marika11]

Yeah I applied this past cycle... I'm not sure if they do this for everyone or not (I took a 5th year at the same institution, so maybe it varies if you do a postbac at another institution) but they definitely grouped it this way for me. I know they separate graduate GPA from undergrad GPA though.

Okay cool, thanks for that info.

 

[wiloghby]

I wouldn't waste the time/money on an SMP... you aced the MCAT and have a legitimate upward trend. If you have a solid and interesting application I would be seriously surprised if you weren't successful.

I'm hesitant to turn this into a what are my chances thread (I started one of those a while ago if you want to search and take a look at my ECs and other details), but I think the rest of my application is pretty much cookie cutter, except that I have a lot more research experience than the average applicant (no publications though)

Here's my old what are my chances post in case you are interested... http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=979895

 

[sinombre]

I'm hesitant to turn this into a what are my chances thread (I started one of those a while ago if you want to search and take a look at my ECs and other details), but I think the rest of my application is pretty much cookie cutter, except that I have a lot more research experience than the average applicant (no publications though)

Here's my old what are my chances post in case you are interested... http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=979895

I think you're in good shape... good luck! 👍