SMP Advice?

[chrishousesomg]

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Hi Everyone,

I had a quick question regarding SMPs. I been looking into the programs and I really want to get into several programs (Boston being the top one) but I am not so sure on how they calculate the GPA. My uGPA from UCLA is really low (~2.5) so I decided to do UCLA extension pre health certificate to retake pre-reqs. My MCAT score is a 514. After this quarter my GPA from UCLA extension will be a 3.8. I did take 3 400 level courses just to show that I am capable of taking grad level courses as well. I just calculated my BCPM and its not even a 3.0 (about a 2.8). Neither is my AMCAS, which is lower, so its making me lose hope that all this work I've done wont even be enough to get myself into one of the SMPs. Would they take each institutions GPA separately or together, like MD schools do?

Aside from that, I've done a lot of research the past 5 years at my job and with 2 publications. Both clinical and lab experience so I am not too worried about my extracurriculars, just my academic factor as an applicant. I've come a long way so I am still remaining optimistic to this point so any advice is very helpful.

 

[heybubbaa]

Hi Everyone,

I had a quick question regarding SMPs. I been looking into the programs and I really want to get into several programs (Boston being the top one) but I am not so sure on how they calculate the GPA. My uGPA from UCLA is really low (~2.5) so I decided to do UCLA extension pre health certificate to retake pre-reqs. My MCAT score is a 514. After this quarter my GPA from UCLA extension will be a 3.8. I did take 3 400 level courses just to show that I am capable of taking grad level courses as well. I just calculated my BCPM and its not even a 3.0 (about a 2.8). Neither is my AMCAS, which is lower, so its making me lose hope that all this work I've done wont even be enough to get myself into one of the SMPs. Would they take each institutions GPA separately or together, like MD schools do?

Aside from that, I've done a lot of research the past 5 years at my job and with 2 publications. Both clinical and lab experience so I am not too worried about my extracurriculars, just my academic factor as an applicant. I've come a long way so I am still remaining optimistic to this point so any advice is very helpful.

Honestly, do not lose hope. Clearly you are capable of performing well. There were several people in my SMP (an MD SMP) that had both cGPAs and sGPAs below 3.0 - and this SMP has a "cutoff" recommended GPA of 3.0. SMPs are willing to look past a sub-3.0 GPA if you show that you are dedicated and capable of doing well in a rigorous academic program. Just keep doing well - it may take some time, but if you can get your GPA at or above a 2.9, then you will be competitive for SMPs. With that being said, conventional wisdom here is to get your GPA as high as reasonably possible before starting the SMP - while an SMP may overlook a sub 3.0 GPA, that doesn't mean that medical schools will even after you complete the SMP program. Keep it up!

 

[chrishousesomg]

So I assume they still do combine the GPAs together. Gah, well it's not like I haven't made a huge improvement but I'll keep at it for next quarter

Thank you 🙂

 

[heybubbaa]

So I assume they still do combine the GPAs together. Gah, well it's not like I haven't made a huge improvement but I'll keep at it for next quarter

Thank you 🙂

If they are undergraduate level courses, then they will be combined in your undergraduate GPA. If they are graduate level courses, then they will be in their own section of your graduate GPA.