-
The 2026-2027 MD School Specific Threads are now live in the School Specific Discussions forum. The 2025-2026 cycle threads can be found here. -
Scholarship Access: Becoming a Student Doctor course
Free access to comprehensive medical school prep. Eligible students include AAMC FAP recipients and HS graduates from underserved areas. Apply today.
SMDEP 2015 THREAD
Started by mchvz
I also did SMDEP but it was 2013. I really really enjoyed it. It's a great experience, and although other sites are slightly different, you will still get a great experience out of it. I think it depends on where you apply... I wouldn't worry much about GPA much, again, depending on where you live and want to go. I submitted my app early, so all I can recommend and APPLY EARLY and really answer the essays meaningfully. My stats weren't great, but I took a chance and I was grateful I was able to attend. Good luck!
H
HCHopeful
I attended SMDEP at UNMC in 2013. I had a 3.53 GPA at the time of submitting (after my first semester of college). I actually submitted it the day before the deadline, so I probably was pretty lucky. However, in my diversity statement I harped on my rural upbringing and my desire to practice in such a setting. I am from Nebraska, so that helped me as well.
Stats don't have to be great. I know one 4.0 student who got in and one 4.0 student who didn't. I also know a 2.76 student who did. Focus more on the statements than your stats!
You apply to three schools upon completing the application, so pick at least one that you're pretty sure you will get in to. Keep in mind that they have to meet certain requirements, though. UNMC informed us that 50% of their selections had to be from Nebraska, 25% from the Midwest, and the rest could be from the rest of the United States. They also mentioned other universities were under similar standards. So, you have to be picky about where you apply.
Good luck!
Stats don't have to be great. I know one 4.0 student who got in and one 4.0 student who didn't. I also know a 2.76 student who did. Focus more on the statements than your stats!
You apply to three schools upon completing the application, so pick at least one that you're pretty sure you will get in to. Keep in mind that they have to meet certain requirements, though. UNMC informed us that 50% of their selections had to be from Nebraska, 25% from the Midwest, and the rest could be from the rest of the United States. They also mentioned other universities were under similar standards. So, you have to be picky about where you apply.
Good luck!
Great question, how many essays are there to type? Are the course hard to get a grasp of?
H
HCHopeful
I think I typed two essays, but I'm not sure.
The program isn't structured around courses. Sure, you sit through lectures, but it's not intensive or homework oriented. It doesn't matter how well you do. It's just a program to expose you.
The program isn't structured around courses. Sure, you sit through lectures, but it's not intensive or homework oriented. It doesn't matter how well you do. It's just a program to expose you.
Thx I am going for Yale Columbia and UCLA, more people will come when we will get closer to the date
I didn't get into this year ( 2014 ) but I will definitely apply next year...
Also do you guys know any OTHER PROGRAMS SMDEP ? I found a lot of summer research programs, but I am doing research in my school so I don't want to do it anywhere else.
Also do you guys know any OTHER PROGRAMS SMDEP ? I found a lot of summer research programs, but I am doing research in my school so I don't want to do it anywhere else.
I recently got done with SMDEP at Columbia (2014). Amazing program, i can speak about it all day and everyday!
You can send me an email at [email protected]
Just make sure you put a [SUBJECT] saying SMDEP or some sort of that.
Goodluck !
You can send me an email at [email protected]
Just make sure you put a [SUBJECT] saying SMDEP or some sort of that.
Goodluck !
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I heard of a similar program at MIT and harvard for sophomore and up
I am applying this cycle as well!
I did SMDEP this past summer. Any questions, I'll answer them. Feel free to PM as well. Best of luck everyone.
I have a few questions if you don't mind 🙂
I'm not a URM, but I am very economically disadvantaged and from a rural area. Is it still worth it to apply? Or is it pretty unlikely I won't be accepted because I'm white? Also I won't receive my first semester grades until the second week of January. Will it be too late to apply then or will I not stand a chance because of earlier appliers?
Sure, I'm white and come from a disadvantaged background and didn't have a problem. Granted, there were much more URM, but still a fair amount of white/ORM as well. FWIW, I got rejected from Columbia almost immediately so some schools may only want URM, can't speak for all of them.
I applied in mid-February. I would suggest applying as early as you can, but if you have no grades there's not much you can do. You can start your application and submit it before sending the transcript though, so that would probably be the best idea. The application's a bit long.
Do you know which schools are more likely to accept those that aren't URM? My application should definitely be complete by mid-February, so hopefully I'll be early enough. Was there any part of the application that gave you any troubles? And who would be good for asking for letters of recommendation? I read that if you are a freshman you can use one letter from a high school science teacher, but do you think that it is absolutely necessary that it comes from a science teacher? Sorry I'm bombarding you with so many questions haha. I'll probably call the schools I'm interested in tomorrow or this week and I just want to sound educated and not ask any stupid questions when I'm on the phone with them 😛
Those things are impossible to know. For example, there were a relatively high numbers of Ghanaians in my program and one of the directors is from Ghana, so perhaps there's some preference there. Those sort of intangibles and biases are unseen. It may sound stupid, but I poked around the page and looked at facebook pictures of past years to see how many whites were in the programs. So sure, you may have a lower shot, but if you're truly disadvantaged and have a good application, you have a good chance. FWIW, 20% were accepted in my pool of applicants.
Overall, the time it took to fill everything in was annoying I suppose. I filled in 9 experiences with descriptions and the two essays are a bit long. The hardest part was the second essay which was something vague like "write about diversity." I found it difficult to start that because it seemed aimed more at people who are URM or from other countries. So I just had to put my own spin on it, and since it was so open-ended, I just took artistic license.
The best people to ask for LoRs, not just for this but in general, are people who know you and your abilities well. Not simply someone you got an A from or a boss you barely interact with. They won't write anything bad (in most cases) but they won't write anything particularly good, either. Start building relationships with those above you beyond a superficial level so that way you definitely have good letter writes in the future. I asked a chemistry professor who engaged with me a bit and an English professor who I have been good friends with since I took his class in my freshman year. I applied in my sophomore year so that gave me more people to ask I guess.
I don't mind the questions so no worries. I wouldn't have offered to answer any if it would've bothered me.
Did SMDEP at Yale. One of the best experiences of my life. Feel free to ask any questions!
I'm puerto rican and my stats were ~3.8 cGPA and ~3.5 sGPA. The URM thing is a huge advantage. There is a lot of emphasis on the personal statement as well so make it as heartfelt as possible. 🙂
I'm puerto rican and my stats were ~3.8 cGPA and ~3.5 sGPA. The URM thing is a huge advantage. There is a lot of emphasis on the personal statement as well so make it as heartfelt as possible. 🙂
I'm applying to Yale. What was the topic for the essay. What was Yale like.
It was a while back, but it's always something about your disadvantaged community and how you'd like to help, why you want to be a doc. etc..
Yale was amazing! My dream school. The faculty and students were amazing as well. You create friendships that last a lifetime!
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
hi guys i need any feedback i will apply this cycle:
UCLA,
UoW
Case
Columbia
which one do you think i remove from my list ? CA resident, URM, disadvantage economically background
and how the LOR's can affect my admission as i'm still incoming freshman and i don't have a great relation with my science professor ?
UCLA,
UoW
Case
Columbia
which one do you think i remove from my list ? CA resident, URM, disadvantage economically background
and how the LOR's can affect my admission as i'm still incoming freshman and i don't have a great relation with my science professor ?
I am pretty sure you can only apply to 3 sites, so you might wanna narrow things down.
i;m thinking to remove UoW as i will not apply there anyway when i become a junior for dental school, but they will pay for you everything the plan ticket, and everything.
that's why i still haven't take a finial decision
Do I submit three transcripts because I'm applying to 3 sites or one transcripts for all the three. And does it apply to the letters of recommendation.
Everything once. It's just one application for all schools.
Okay thanks
Can our mailing address eventually be changed? I really don't want my things to go home while I'm at school and vice versa.
Should I put that I'm in Honors College? If so, is there a specific place to put it or just put it as an activity on the Post-secondary page?
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Have you guys all done your essays yet? I'm having trouble even knowing where to start on them 😳
same here i'm just doing some free writing
I've got mine all written up now, but I'm so nervous to ask any of my professors to read them over for feedback haha
same here i am kinda shy to give my essay to my English professor, as i don't know him very well, and it contains some personal stuff.
yes that's exactly my problem too! I'm just going to suck it up and ask my professor tomorrow though, and get it over with asap
I'm applying as well. Does anyone know if the recommendations have to be from someone in the sciences?
I sent 1 science 1 nonscience. I think it helps to send at least 1.
So one from science and one from french should be good then right?
Yes that should be fine. As long as they know you well enough to write a strong letter, it's good
I think it only has to be 2 from the sciences if one is coming from a high school teacher. I'll probably end up asking one science professor and one not.
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
which site did you go to and how was it?
UVa. I enjoyed it, definitely glad I went. It's a nice program. You go over Bio/Chem/Physics/Stats, visit a nursing home, do specialty rotations in the hospital, hear lots of guest lectures, and there's lots of events.
what sites are you guys applying to? I'm applying to Columbia and the other two I haven't decided yet.
I'm applying to Case and Nebraska for sure because they're closest to me, but I'm still up in the air for the third.
Will a college lab professor be acceptable for recommendation?
Anyone who knows you well enough to write a letter beyond superficial is good. It's nice if one of those people is in the sciences. I don't see why it'd be a problem for this
Hey, I'm also applying to Columbia. Anyone applying to Rutgers or Howard
Howard is one of the others I'm considering applying to.
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Similar threads
