Reapply during or after SMP

[advancedshine]

Planning to enroll at an SMP this upcoming term after my first failed cycle and three gap years. 3.3uGPA and 520 MCAT. I have 400hrs clinical research with multiple pubs, 3000hrs paid clinical experience, 200hrs clinical volunteering, 300hrs nonclinical volunteering with leadership. Leaning towards reapplying at the start of my SMP and updating schools with my fist semester grades. I am confident I can secure a 3.7+ as I am more mature and better equipped to handle coursework. Is this a good idea?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[gyngyn]

Many schools do not accept updates and pending grades may never make it to review.

 

[Faha]

You could apply to DO schools and you are competitive for all DO schools.

 

[advancedshine]

Many schools do not accept updates and pending grades may never make it to review.

So you would 100% recommend waiting until after I complete the SMP? Thanks!

 

[AsclepiusAdvisingLLC]

You should wait until you're finished with the program. Applying partway through is not the same as applying at the end. Schools will be more impressed by two years of strong academic work than a single semester, which can always be a fluke in positive or negative performance.

 

[gyngyn]

So you would 100% recommend waiting until after I complete the SMP? Thanks!

There are SMP's that encourage participants to apply to their affiliated medical school during the program. Although this may be a boost at that one school, the benefit of a sustained period of academic excellence that appears on the record will be more helpful elsewhere.

What advice they have given you from the SMP?

 

[advancedshine]

Thank you for your feedback, I have not gotten explicit advice from the program as it has not begun but I have read that students with strong candidacy typically apply during the program with decent success. I don’t have a strong application due to my uGPA but I think aside from that I’m in a good spot so I wanted to see what others think. Thank you!

 

[ecobio]

FWIW, i had nearly identical stats as you and was able to get accepted to multiple programs. The infamous GPA-MCAT grid has your chances at a solid 55% percent, and youre pretty much guaranteed for DO schools. It may be more useful to bolster your volunteering hours (kinda low for that many gap years) and figuring out how to show your mission fit instead of doing an SMP (would save a lot of money too). What schools did you apply to?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

How to Choose a Postbaccalaureate or Special Masters Program (SMP) - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

You will enter the cycle with your 3.3 GPA and your "projected" performance in your SMP. Sorry. We don't pay attention to projected hours or planned courses. That includes SMP.

 

[gyngyn]

Thank you for your feedback, I have not gotten explicit advice from the program as it has not begun but I have read that students with strong candidacy typically apply during the program with decent success.

Make sure you get a detailed definition of success.
Some programs include Caribbean schools as an MD matriculation.

 

[purpledoc1]

Planning to enroll at an SMP this upcoming term after my first failed cycle and three gap years. 3.3uGPA and 520 MCAT. I have 400hrs clinical research with multiple pubs, 3000hrs paid clinical experience, 200hrs clinical volunteering, 300hrs nonclinical volunteering with leadership. Leaning towards reapplying at the start of my SMP and updating schools with my fist semester grades. I am confident I can secure a 3.7+ as I am more mature and better equipped to handle coursework. Is this a good idea?

What is your reason for "why medicine?"
Do you think that something went wrong with any of your interviews?
Did you get any feedback from the schools that you applied to?

 

[RockClimberMed]

I applied before even starting my SMP, given my uGPA was 3.6 not 3.3 but my MCAT was definetely not as good as yours. Still received multiple interviews and acceptances before even finishing the first semester. I updated other schools after getting a 4.0 but still didnt receive anymore invites. I would probably just apply if I were u tbh.

 

[advancedshine]

What is your reason for "why medicine?"
Do you think that something went wrong with any of your interviews?
Did you get any feedback from the schools that you applied to?

Applied broadly to mid-low tier OOS friendly schools. Unfortunately no interviews I feel like aside from my poor GPA I submitted most secondaries mid-late August and they were pretty rushed since I put it off for so long. Definitely pre-writing next cycle. My why medicine is pretty generic but true to myself, familial history of neurological disease, love science and working/hopefully leading in a healthcare environment. Thanks!