Post Bacc vs SMP Help Please!

[TJUofI]

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I am new to this and hope that some knowledgable SDNers will be able to help!

I currently switched to a premed major so I am really behind on what I need to graduate.

I am currently a jr

I will be staying an extra year (all of next year and the year after) and realize that even after that I may not (probably wont) be accepted into med school.

I was wondering if someone could tell me the difference between the extra year and post bacc?

Can I do a post bacc and an SMP??

Is there any financial aid offered for either program?

Thanks a ton

 

[TJUofI]

I have a 3.07 (dismal, I know) and plan to take the MCAT august of next year.

As of right now, I have no real ECs because I just made the switch-- i have some volunteering (which is one of the many reasons that I switched to premed), but nowhere near the 500+ hrs most have


Thanks a ton

 

[NutCracker2021]

I'd do a postbac and get a strong MCAT and do more clinical and non clinical volunteerism that is meaningful at the very least.

sorry to JACK a thread but I have the same question here. I have ECs, volunteer work and clinical experience and all that. I have just been going back and forth on whether I should do a post bac (like UPenn's Special Science program) or if I should do a SMP (like uh Drexel MSP)where I take graduate level courses...my GPA should be around a 3 when I graduate but with retakes and stuff, just wondering what would be the best option for me to do. Prove that I can do the work, or slowly begin to boost my GPA??

I am still applying to a lot of programs, but am limited because I did not take my MCAT..

 

[DrJD]

sorry to JACK a thread but I have the same question here. I have ECs, volunteer work and clinical experience and all that. I have just been going back and forth on whether I should do a post bac (like UPenn's Special Science program) or if I should do a SMP (like uh Drexel MSP)where I take graduate level courses...my GPA should be around a 3 when I graduate but with retakes and stuff, just wondering what would be the best option for me to do. Prove that I can do the work, or slowly begin to boost my GPA??

I am still applying to a lot of programs, but am limited because I did not take my MCAT..

You need to look at your current GPA in the context of how many units you have taken. It can be really difficult to raise a GPA if you have a lot of units. I personally believed and went for an SMP because I knew my undergrad GPA wasn't going to change much so I figured might as well show them I can handle medical school coursework. I'd vote SMP! (assuming a good MCAT score 🙂

 

[kieunhi0]

Hi,

I am extremely depressed and stressed out right now about med school and SMP and everything else....

I have just graduated w/a B.S. and end up with an extremely low 2.8 GPA.
Also, I have taken the MCAT twice, 1st one: 20, and 2nd time: ...........19! I did study, but insufficiently i guess, due to excessive workload.

I have set my heart on Med School and I don't know what to do.
I have been out of school for one semester already, just working to save up some money and at the same time actually studying for the MCAT.

I was planning on retaking the MCAT this coming March....but now that I have looked into this SMP program stuff, I don't know whether I should take the MCAT if I plan to apply to an SMP program....though it seems like most of these programs have higher MCAT min than what I have...

If i take the MCAT this March, I know It won't be more than 25, but it might help me get into an SMP program....

Or, can anyone tell me, with my GPA like that and my MCAT, is it possible to get into SMP....then I can take my MCAT later???

Or should i take the MCAT this march for the THIRD time, then do SMP, and then retake MCAT (FOURTH TIME) and do extremely well, and do well in SMP of course....and apply to med shool???

sorry for such a long post

in summary: is it bad to apply to med school w/ FOUR mCAT scores like that????????????????????????

sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

any ideas/helpful comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KiwiBruin]

Can you delay the MCAT for a bit longer and take it in April/ early May? I would study some more before you decide to take the MCAT and try to take it for the final, last time.

 

[Drexon]

There isn't usually any financial aid offered for SMP and post bacc but I do believe that many people do qualify for subsidized loans.

As for staying an extra year or do SMP/post bacc the decision is up to you. However SMP / Post bacc offers a strong structured program. They tell you to take courses X, Y , Z and then you graduate. Most SMP/post baccs programs make their students take classes with first year medical students. Students in these programs are graded based upon the medical student's curves. So they make the curve and your grades are based upon that. These programs are good because it shows how well you compare with first year medical students.

There are some other post bacc programs that are only for people that didn't major in science as an undergrad. These post bacc programs gives people an opportunity to take undergrad sciences courses to get these people ready for med school. Basically it helps take care of their basic requirements needed for medical school.

hope this helps

 

[DrJD]

Okay, I know the passion you speak of but I am going to offer a little bit of brutal truth, okay?

With a 2.8, and two MCAT scores of 19 and 20 you have a very hard road ahead of you. I don't know of any SMP programs that would accept you with these numbers, or even if you were to add a 25 on top of that. Now does this mean you can't become a doctor? Absolutely not!! But it is going to take you a lot more time than I think you want to spend.

Most SMP's and medical schools want to see above a 3.0 GPA, and if you have that low a GPA you really need a 30 or above on the MCAT and it isn't looking like you'll get quite that high. This doesn't mean you won't be an amazing doctor though. Your passion will cause you to work hard in medical school and then be a compassionate physician.

My advice would be to decide how many years you want to devote to attending a US medical school. If you are willing to spend a few years getting your academic record intact that I can offer some suggestions. However, if you want to do it quicker, don't discount Caribbean schools. You still get your MD. Now you will have to work hard to deal with the down sides of this option, but at least you'd be a doctor right?

Good luck with your decision!

 

[kieunhi0]

Thank you for your advices. I did thought about Caribbean school, but I was even doubtful at that due to my low MCAT, so I thought I should go for the March exam, and If i get around a 25 then my chance of getting into a Caribbean school would be higher.

When i saw these posts about post bac and SMP, I thought maybe this will be a better choice for me to increase my chance of getting into med school.

seeing that most of the deadlines for registration to most of these programs are around May and June, I guess it would be a better idea to delay my MCAT until April.

Does anyone have any insights about any Caribbean Schools that may take my low GPA and MCAT? ( I know, wrong discusion forum...just asking though). Thank you all very much!