SMP Application

[ChickenNuggetsAreSuperior]

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Hello everyone, I hope you're all staying safe 🙂

I'm graduating this June with a BSc in biology. My cGPA is 3.59 with a very strong upward trend: 3.21->3.56->3.83->3.94. Science GPA is very close to that with a similar trend. MCAT is 510. I know my chances of getting into med school are very low at this point (GPA and as a Canadian). My ECs are pretty good I think: 1.5 years medical scribe, exec position in 2 clubs, working with 5 international charities, 3 research labs volunteering (no publications). Worked in a pharmacy for some time. 500hrs of Shadowing (international: Canada, US, Jordan, Iraq).

I know my GPA is my biggest downfall, so I'm applying to an SMP in hopes that it will improve my application. I do have a couple of questions that I haven't found the answer to online.

How likely am I to get into an SMP as a Canadian?

What's the application process like for an SMP? Are there any Canadians who have experience with this and how did it impact your application to med school?

Is there a list of SMP's that accept and are favourable to Canadian students?

If you have advice on a different plan to improve my application, please let me know.

Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

 

[Moko]

I'm graduating this June with a BSc in biology. My cGPA is 3.59 with a very strong upward trend: 3.21->3.56->3.83->3.94. Science GPA is very close to that with a similar trend. MCAT is 510. I know my chances of getting into med school are very low at this point (GPA and as a Canadian). My ECs are pretty good I think: 1.5 years medical scribe, exec position in 2 clubs, working with 5 international charities, 3 research labs volunteering (no publications). Worked in a pharmacy for some time. 500hrs of Shadowing (international: Canada, US, Jordan, Iraq). I know my GPA is my biggest downfall, so I'm applying to an SMP in hopes that it will improve my application. ... If you have advice on a different plan to improve my application, please let me know.

Let's take a step back. Non-American matriculants have an average GPA of 3.77±0.21 and an average MCAT of 513±6. You are not that far behind, certainly not so much as to warrant a SMP, which should only be treated as a very expensive last resort. I would recommend taking another year of upper division classes to improve your GPA at a "record-enhancement" program, while continuing to work on other components of your application (particularly US-based experiences, and possibly retaking the MCAT depending on your practice scores and target schools). Your having hundreds of hours of shadowing is overkill. You do not need any more shadowing. Just my thoughts.

 

[ChickenNuggetsAreSuperior]

Let's take a step back. Non-American matriculants have an average GPA of 3.77±0.21 and an average MCAT of 513±6. You are not that far behind, certainly not so much as to warrant a SMP, which should only be treated as a very expensive last resort. I would recommend taking another year of upper division classes to improve your GPA at a "record-enhancement" program, while continuing to work on other components of your application (particularly US-based experiences, and possibly retaking the MCAT depending on your practice scores and target schools). Your having hundreds of hours of shadowing is overkill. You do not need any more shadowing. Just my thoughts.

Thanks for your reply. I'm curious as to why an SMP would be the last resort? Would it not provide the GPA boost and a Possible linkage to a med school. Also for your advice, I have the option of doing a second bachelor's degree in 2 years, or would a minor or just general classes be better?

 

[fjeowpij]

I had very similar stats and I did an SMP. I thought it really helped my application, and I ended up getting accepted to the school where I did the SMP.

To answer your question, I don't think you'll have a problem getting into a US SMP program as a Canadian. The application process for SMP is a lot simpler than med school. With your current stats, you could probably get into a lot of SMP programs.

Although SMP can help boost your stats and increase your shots at med school, it's also a somewhat dangerous move. A lot of people caution against it because if you do not do well, it is a major red flag and your chance of getting into med school is very slim. A lot of SMP programs mirror the first-year med school curriculum so it is very intense. The grading system is also different for different programs and you should research them. Even if you do well, it is not guaranteed that you get accepted to the program's med school as a lot of programs do not have linkage.

Every SMP program is different. Some confer a Master's degree at the end and some are a certificate program. You should look through the program's website and decide which is the best fit for you if any.

 

[Moko]

Thanks for your reply. I'm curious as to why an SMP would be the last resort? Would it not provide the GPA boost and a Possible linkage to a med school. Also for your advice, I have the option of doing a second bachelor's degree in 2 years, or would a minor or just general classes be better?

In addition to the above, SMPs count towards your graduate GPA, not your undergraduate GPA (the latter is what's looked at most closely). You already have a significant upward trend. Another year of good grades at your current institution or a post-bacc will probably be sufficient from a GPA standpoint. Of course, the higher you can get your uGPA the better. Just my thoughts

 

[ChickenNuggetsAreSuperior]

I had very similar stats and I did an SMP. I thought it really helped my application, and I ended up getting accepted to the school where I did the SMP.

To answer your question, I don't think you'll have a problem getting into a US SMP program as a Canadian. The application process for SMP is a lot simpler than med school. With your current stats, you could probably get into a lot of SMP programs.

Although SMP can help boost your stats and increase your shots at med school, it's also a somewhat dangerous move. A lot of people caution against it because if you do not do well, it is a major red flag and your chance of getting into med school is very slim. A lot of SMP programs mirror the first-year med school curriculum so it is very intense. The grading system is also different for different programs and you should research them. Even if you do well, it is not guaranteed that you get accepted to the program's med school as a lot of programs do not have linkage.

Every SMP program is different. Some confer a Master's degree at the end and some are a certificate program. You should look through the program's website and decide which is the best fit for you if any.

do you mind sharing where you did your SMP? I'm currently looking at Cinncinati as my top choice, because of its new linkage program.

 

[ChickenNuggetsAreSuperior]

In addition to the above, SMPs count towards your graduate GPA, not your undergraduate GPA (the latter is what's looked at most closely). You already have a significant upward trend. Another year of good grades at your current institution or a post-bacc will probably be sufficient from a GPA standpoint. Of course, the higher you can get your uGPA the better. Just my thoughts

Are there universities that value an upward trend more than cGPA? Also, would you recommend science classes for the additional year or just general studies? Hypothetically how much higher should I get my GPA to be?

Again, Thanks for taking the time to reply 🙂