SMP Application Advice

[kn0wTall]

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I am applying to SMPs right now. I have taken mcat before, but will be retaking the test in March.
Do you think it is a good idea to mention about my MCAT retake in March on my SMP apps (meaning my scores will not be in till 25th April)? Do programs usually hold on to the applications till the new scores come in? Or should I just turn in my application with what I have right now without mentioning anything about the MCAT retake and then update the application later once I have my score in April? I appreciate any suggestions.. Thanks 🙂
My detailed stats are here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=870291

 

[RealityDream]

I am applying to SMPs right now. I have taken mcat before, but will be retaking the test in March.
Do you think it is a good idea to mention about my MCAT retake in March on my SMP apps (meaning my scores will not be in till 25th April)? Do programs usually hold on to the applications till the new scores come in? Or should I just turn in my application with what I have right now without mentioning anything about the MCAT retake and then update the application later once I have my score in April? I appreciate any suggestions.. Thanks 🙂
My detailed stats are here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=870291

I think your 27 on the MCAT is sufficient already. Pretty much all the SMP only require a MCAT score of at least 27. Your GPA is decent (good). Now, the question is why are you planning to do an SMP? SMP pretty much serves the same purpose as a post bac program. Ask yourself do you feel like you're ready for medical school? Are you positive being a physician is what you truly want? Most people seems to misunderstand the purpose of the SMP. It's not a stepping stone to get into medical school. Keep in mind: Just because you are in an SMP doesn't mean you're guaranteed into medical school.

Call the SMP you're interested in and ask. Each one have a different preference. Your GPA and MCAT score will make you eligible to apply. Now, it just depends on your essays. IF you read the instructions, it says your application is not complete until all scores, documents are in. My guess is that if you note that you're retaking it then it'll delay your processing rate but call the school to make sure.

I hope this helps.

 

[DrMidlife]

I appreciate any suggestions.. Thanks 🙂

If I can't talk you out of doing an SMP, at least don't apply to SMPs that have low host school admissions. Focus on SMPs that put grads directly into the host med school.

AND: don't do an SMP until you've done every last possible thing to address your standardized test taking issues. An SMP can't help you with that problem. In other words, don't get into med school without knowing you have a decent chance to do well on boards. Read some of the threads in allo about Step 1 pain.

Since you're in California, and you have a decent GPA for a hard major at a good school, I suggest that you should consider a traditional masters in mol/cel bio or similar. This would take longer than an SMP, but it would give you time to seriously regroup on the MCAT. With serious grad work and an impressive uptick on your MCAT, I think you'd then have a shot at a UC. Which would definitely be worth it - your price tag for an EVMS or Cincinnati story would be easily a lifestyle-and-choice-limiting quarter million in student loans.

I think your 27 on the MCAT is sufficient already.

I disagree with this. As I commented in the other thread, a 27 can maybe get you into an SMP, but except for EVMS/Cincy/TulaneACP/Temple/Toledo you still need to get a med school acceptance, completely separately from doing well in the SMP. An SMP does nothing whatsoever to help your demonstration of standardized test taking for other med schools' consideration of your app, as would a competitive MCAT score.

SMP pretty much serves the same purpose as a post bac program.

I disagree with this as well, but others have disagreed with me on this. In general, people who can raise a low GPA by taking more undergrad should take more undergrad (a postbac) instead of an SMP, in my opinion. And SMP is no place to figure out what you need to do to get A's. When you can no longer raise a low GPA by taking more undergrad, then an SMP is one of the few options for getting into a US MD school. Doing an SMP is a mistake when there are other, cheaper, less risky options.

It's not a stepping stone to get into medical school.

If by this you mean "SMPs aren't easy" then I agree with you. But generally that's all an SMP is: a stepping stone into med school for those who are ready for med school but can't get in without a direct audition.

Keep in mind: Just because you are in an SMP doesn't mean you're guaranteed into medical school.

👍

Best of luck to you.

 

[deleted248403]

To glaring things wrong this thread thus far:

I think your 27 on the MCAT is sufficient already.

SMP pretty much serves the same purpose as a post bac program..

OP - an SMP is not the answer. You have been told this (i believe - so many people thinking an SMP is a substitute for a poor MCAT these days). You need to do better on the MCAT or go DO or go to the Carib.

*Edit - Midlife beat me to it*

 

[kn0wTall]

Thank you all for your response!

Yes, I am giving it my best for my March MCAT. I think I am going to apply to SMPs right now anyway, and can decide whether to join one or not if I have acceptances in hand.

DrMidLife: I will think about traditional masters. However, I think most of them will require me to take GREs and I should probably work on mcats before I even think about GREs.

Hope my mcats go well this time around! And thank you all once again for your response 🙂

 

[DrMidlife]

DrMidLife: I will think about traditional masters. However, I think most of them will require me to take GREs and I should probably work on mcats before I even think about GREs.

I'm suggesting the opposite order. If you do a traditional masters, you would want to wait to take the MCAT, so that your score doesn't expire. Doing a traditional masters would buy you more time to work on your MCAT preparation. I don't think you're in a situation where a number of months is going to change your score. A lifestyle change and epic humility and years of work might.

If you are taking every full length MCAT practice test and scoring above 32 on every single one, and you are soul-searching and agonizing and being extraordinarily imaginative and responsible about what happened on your previous MCAT exams and how you're going to get an above average score this time, then great! If this is not the case, then don't take the exam in March. The word "hope" is nice but it's not a strategy or a basis of confidence. Just because you can retake the MCAT lots of times doesn't mean you should - it doesn't look good. How do you know your final, as-good-as-it's-going-to-ever-get-because-you-gave-it-everything MCAT will be in March?

Switching your attention to the GRE could be beneficial for you, long term, in establishing test taking chops. The GRE is considerably easier, compared to the MCAT, in my opinion. If you "step down" to the GRE, and you are able to earn a good score by applying the lessons you've learned from your MCAT experience, and learning from GRE prep skills you can leverage on the MCAT, that would bode well for a future MCAT retake.

Or: go DO. Board exams will still be just as difficult, but at least it's easer to get into med school.

Best of luck to you.