Should I do an SMP, year of postbacc, or apply straight after graduation?

[astrostellar]

Nontrad here.

My projected graduation date is 2020, and with all my courses plotted out, thanks to horrific grades from 2009-2012, I've calculated that my GPA will be about a 3.2c/3.5s with a massive upward trend. (DO sGPA would be higher, about 3.8.)

The thing is, I have so many credits that an extra year of postbacc with upper-level math/science will only put me at about a 3.3c/3.6s. The cost isn't a huge issue, so I'm wondering if an SMP/MBS would be a better route.

Plan to apply MD/DO, but MD preference and location preference to the Northeast (where there are like four DO schools), so trying to up my chances as much as I reasonably could in a year.

I realize a lot of this will depend on MCAT/ECs, but I figured I'd try to make a plan now to save myself some grief.

Also, am military/will be a veteran.

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[zukunft195]

Nontrad here.

My projected graduation date is 2020, and with all my courses plotted out, thanks to horrific grades from 2009-2012, I've calculated that my GPA will be about a 3.2c/3.5s with a massive upward trend. (DO sGPA would be higher, about 3.8.)

The thing is, I have so many credits that an extra year of postbacc with upper-level math/science will only put me at about a 3.3c/3.6s. The cost isn't a huge issue, so I'm wondering if an SMP/MBS would be a better route.

Plan to apply MD/DO, but MD preference and location preference to the Northeast (where there are like four DO schools), so trying to up my chances as much as I reasonably could in a year.

I realize a lot of this will depend on MCAT/ECs, but I figured I'd try to make a plan now to save myself some grief.

Also, am military/will be a veteran.

Study hard for the MCAT. If you do well on the MCAT (505+), go ahead and apply broadly.

If you do poorly on the MCAT, do an SMP.

Post-bacc is out of the question, given your large number of credit hours.

 

[Goro]

With a massive upward trend, a post-bac or SMP isn't called for. Do that only if you're shut out in a cycle.
MD schools to target in the NE will be BU, NYMC, the Philly Triplets, Albany, and any DO school (but skip Touro-NY).

Nontrad here.

My projected graduation date is 2020, and with all my courses plotted out, thanks to horrific grades from 2009-2012, I've calculated that my GPA will be about a 3.2c/3.5s with a massive upward trend. (DO sGPA would be higher, about 3.8.)

The thing is, I have so many credits that an extra year of postbacc with upper-level math/science will only put me at about a 3.3c/3.6s. The cost isn't a huge issue, so I'm wondering if an SMP/MBS would be a better route.

Plan to apply MD/DO, but MD preference and location preference to the Northeast (where there are like four DO schools), so trying to up my chances as much as I reasonably could in a year.

I realize a lot of this will depend on MCAT/ECs, but I figured I'd try to make a plan now to save myself some grief.

Also, am military/will be a veteran.

 

[esob]

why would your DO GPA be different?

 

[zukunft195]

why would your DO GPA be different?

Because AMCAS and AACOMAS have different standards for which courses can go into sGPA.

 

[astrostellar]

Because AMCAS and AACOMAS have different standards for which courses can go into sGPA.

Yeah, just my sGPA. AACOMAS doesn't factor in my math, which is where most of my early bad grades were, and factors in random classes I have like phlebotomy, nutrition, geology, and other stuff.

 

[Necr0sis713]

Do good on the MCAT, and do an SMP during the cycle. SMP are a gamble though, especially while having to fly to interviews while in the program. It's draining but doable.