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- May 12, 2015
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Hi! So I applied to 26 schools in the 2015 cycle. I got no interviews and am applying again this coming 2016 cycle. My dilemma is whether to enroll at Georgetown in their SMP, come August, or get a job as a scribe or an MA or something primary care/clinical.
A little bit about my situation: I went to McGill University in Montreal for undergrad but I'm from California and will be applying as a CA resident (even though I've been living in Virginia since Oct. 2013). I could try to apply as a Virginia resident but I tried to hold on to my CA residency and now I think it's too late so I'm stuck with that.
My stats from 2015 cycle were as follows:
GPA 3.45 sGPA 3.38
MCAT 36 (11B, 11V, 14P)
Was working as an operating room assistant for ~1 year when I applied (clinical but not patient interaction based)
Community service ~200 hours
Research ~1000 hours (2 publications, not first author)
Shadowing ~150 hours (of only 1 doctor (surgeon) though)
2016
GPA 3.49 sGPA 3.47 (took 3 bio classes to try to boost it a little)
MCAT is the same obviously
Additions to my application this time around:
So given all this, does anyone have any thoughts on whether the SMP is something I should do or whether I should hope I get in this time around? If I don't go to the SMP I'll get a medical assistant or scribe job so I'll be expanding my clinical experience (altho that won't be on the primary).
ALSO does anyone have an idea of how much the SMP could help me in getting into a CA med school?? I know they send out some letter or something when you enroll telling all the schools you applied to that you're in the program, I just don't know if any schools actually care that about that. Obviously if you get an interview you can talk about it but do you think it effects your chances of GETTING an interview?
Any thoughts would be great!
Thanks!
A little bit about my situation: I went to McGill University in Montreal for undergrad but I'm from California and will be applying as a CA resident (even though I've been living in Virginia since Oct. 2013). I could try to apply as a Virginia resident but I tried to hold on to my CA residency and now I think it's too late so I'm stuck with that.
My stats from 2015 cycle were as follows:
GPA 3.45 sGPA 3.38
MCAT 36 (11B, 11V, 14P)
Was working as an operating room assistant for ~1 year when I applied (clinical but not patient interaction based)
Community service ~200 hours
Research ~1000 hours (2 publications, not first author)
Shadowing ~150 hours (of only 1 doctor (surgeon) though)
2016
GPA 3.49 sGPA 3.47 (took 3 bio classes to try to boost it a little)
MCAT is the same obviously
Additions to my application this time around:
- volunteer weekly at a free clinic ~60 hours when I apply
- volunteer weekly at a counseling center for under served women ~40 hours when I apply
- shadowing with 2 other types of doctors ~60 hours total
- taking spanish
- working part-time as a certified personal trainer while I'm taking classes
- also add another 6 months to that operating room assistant job (just quit a couple weeks ago)
So given all this, does anyone have any thoughts on whether the SMP is something I should do or whether I should hope I get in this time around? If I don't go to the SMP I'll get a medical assistant or scribe job so I'll be expanding my clinical experience (altho that won't be on the primary).
ALSO does anyone have an idea of how much the SMP could help me in getting into a CA med school?? I know they send out some letter or something when you enroll telling all the schools you applied to that you're in the program, I just don't know if any schools actually care that about that. Obviously if you get an interview you can talk about it but do you think it effects your chances of GETTING an interview?
Any thoughts would be great!
Thanks!