SMP Competitiveness?

[BrandNewDay]

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I'm going to be applying to a few SMPs (Georgetown, Cincy, Drexel, Tufts) for next year. How competitve are the SMPs, and (more importantly) what makes a competitive applicant? My GPA (like most applicants') is lower than I'd like at a 3.35/3.25, but I have an okay (30R) MCAT score. On the other hand, I have plenty of ECs and am generally a unique candidate. If I apply early (in the next few weeks or so), will I have a legitimate shot of getting in or is it more competitive than all my searching has suggested?

I understand this is generally more suited to the post-bacc forum, but I've yet to get a question answered there and I really do want to know. Thanks so much!

 

[gmcguitar4]

I have heard they are pretty competitive but the only way to know is to apply. Because of your GPA, it would be great if you got in. I would say no matter what anyone says here you go for it. You should also try calling the programs or search online about average stats of entering students so you get a better idea.

Just in case it doesn't work out, you should maybe apply to local schools as a part-time student so that if you don't get in, you can still attempt to raise your GPA with some upper-level science courses.

Also, you should consider DO schools.

 

[BrandNewDay]

I have heard they are pretty competitive but the only way to know is to apply. Because of your GPA, it would be great if you got in. I would say no matter what anyone says here you go for it. You should also try calling the programs or search online about average stats of entering students so you get a better idea.

Just in case it doesn't work out, you should maybe apply to local schools as a part-time student so that if you don't get in, you can still attempt to raise your GPA with some upper-level science courses.

Also, you should consider DO schools.

Thanks for your words of encouragement. I will definitely to apply to five SMPs (tulane if I get waitlisted this cycle). I just wanted to gauge how competitive I am. Unfortunately, there is no MSAR for SMPs. I seem to be at or above average for GPA (both listed on the schools websites and what I've found here) and at or slightly below average for MCAT.

Even more unfortunately, the closest legitimate college to me is the one I went to for undergrad... and it's 45 minutes away. Besides, there's only one or two upper level bio courses I haven't taken- not enough to significantly affect my GPA.

The next time I apply, I'll apply DO. It'll be my last chance anyways- but until then, I don't want to be fighting stigma and misinformation for my entire career. SMP > DO for me. DO > not being a doctor- which will drive my school selection next cycle I apply.

 

[gmcguitar4]

Heres the deal...your GPA and MCAT are below the average for MD matriculants. If you rocked your SMP, which is very challenging to begin with, you would increase your chances for sure. But you have to get into an SMP, which is up in the air at this point. You said DO> not being a doctor and you said next cycle will be your last chance? I assume your MCAT expires? I would say forget the SMP, concetrate on DO. Retake a few science courses you messed up and take advantage of DO grade replacement. If you did that and raised your gpa by .2-.3, paired with your 30 MCAT, you will fo sho get into a DO program.

This idea is based on the fact that you said it would be your last time.

 

[BrandNewDay]

Heres the deal...your GPA and MCAT are below the average for MD matriculants. If you rocked your SMP, which is very challenging to begin with, you would increase your chances for sure. But you have to get into an SMP, which is up in the air at this point. You said DO> not being a doctor and you said next cycle will be your last chance? I assume your MCAT expires? I would say forget the SMP, concetrate on DO. Retake a few science courses you messed up and take advantage of DO grade replacement. If you did that and raised your gpa by .2-.3, paired with your 30 MCAT, you will fo sho get into a DO program.

This idea is based on the fact that you said it would be your last time.

The MCAT won't expire for another few years- it's from this June. Realistically, the next time I apply will be my last opportunity (I'd have to get a phd to apply again. >.<) If it gets to the point where DO is my only option, I'd try and retake some courses, but for now, I want to focus on SMP in order to finally gain admission to an MD program.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Personally speaking your gpa while lower than average is no where near horrible enough to warrent a SMP, do you really want to blow away 50 grand and risk potentially messing up? I'd personally aim to get a higher mcat, get some more strong EC's and other things which will make you a more attractive candidate.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

The MCAT won't expire for another few years- it's from this June. Realistically, the next time I apply will be my last opportunity (I'd have to get a phd to apply again. >.<) If it gets to the point where DO is my only option, I'd try and retake some courses, but for now, I want to focus on SMP in order to finally gain admission to an MD program.

I don't follow?

 

[BrandNewDay]

Personally speaking your gpa while lower than average is no where near horrible enough to warrent a SMP, do you really want to blow away 50 grand and risk potentially messing up? I'd personally aim to get a higher mcat, get some more strong EC's and other things which will make you a more attractive candidate.

My GPA is the weakest part of my application- and I don't know how much I could potentially pull up the MCAT. Even beyond the GPA, I believe one of the ADCOM's concerns is my ability to handle medical school. So in addition to pulling up a lackluster GPA, I need to prove that I have the stamina and maturity to survive (and excel) in medical school.

I'm not funding my own education- if I don't get in after one more cycle, I'd have to get a PhD, according to parental demands.

 

[MegMurry]

The SMPs are not as competitive as you may think, especially since they usually consist of applicants who are currently applying and are just looking for a plan B in fear they may not be admitted this cycle. Quite a few of the initial acceptees end up getting off waitlists during the summer and thus an influx of additional candidates can enter the pool.

Your GPA is fine for an SMP, but your MCAT isn't perfect. The SMP is ideal for people with weak GPAs/strong MCATs, and as such, they look for people with those sorts of stats because those are the students they're most likely to be able to help get into med school. That being said, I know someone with a sub30 MCAT and 3.7+ GPA who was in a SMP and matriculated into the feeder medical school.

As gmcguitar said, you won't know until you apply. You can also talk to the directors of the programs individually to talk to them about your options - they're generally very helpful.

If you choose your SMP wisely and are willing to truly work your butt off for one year, you can actually get into a feeder med school and do really well. Georgetown, Cincy, Drexel, Tulane, and Rosalind Franklin all have SMPs you should really consider. In particular, Tulane's ACP program takes you if you get even one waitlist and then guarantees you admission into their med school, and Cincy's SMP goes pretty much straight into their med school from what I hear. The Cincy program is very tightknit. I don't know how much Loyola and BU's SMPs help their kids get into their own schools - I don't think very much compared to the other schools.

Admittedly, I don't know very much about the competitiveness about the DO process compared to my background with SMP / MD, but I wish you luck. It's not an easy decision you have in front of you.

 

[BrandNewDay]

The SMPs are not as competitive as you may think, especially since they usually consist of applicants who are currently applying and are just looking for a plan B in fear they may not be admitted this cycle. Quite a few of the initial acceptees end up getting off waitlists during the summer and thus an influx of additional candidates can enter the pool.

Your GPA is fine for an SMP, but your MCAT isn't perfect. The SMP is ideal for people with weak GPAs/strong MCATs, and as such, they look for people with those sorts of stats because those are the students they're most likely to be able to help get into med school. That being said, I know someone with a sub30 MCAT and 3.7+ GPA who was in a SMP and matriculated into the feeder medical school.

As gmcguitar said, you won't know until you apply. You can also talk to the directors of the programs individually to talk to them about your options - they're generally very helpful.

If you choose your SMP wisely and are willing to truly work your butt off for one year, you can actually get into a feeder med school and do really well. Georgetown, Cincy, Drexel, Tulane, and Rosalind Franklin all have SMPs you should really consider. In particular, Tulane's ACP program takes you if you get even one waitlist and then guarantees you admission into their med school, and Cincy's SMP goes pretty much straight into their med school from what I hear. The Cincy program is very tightknit. I don't know how much Loyola and BU's SMPs help their kids get into their own schools - I don't think very much compared to the other schools.

Admittedly, I don't know very much about the competitiveness about the DO process compared to my background with SMP / MD, but I wish you luck. It's not an easy decision you have in front of you.

I've evaluated all the SMP programs, and I feel that Georgetown, Drexel, Cincy, Tufts, (maybe) Toledo, VCU, and Tulane are the only ones that would suit my situation. I don't remember the loyola one, but the BU one just didn't seem to work for me. I was not thrilled with what I read about the RFU one, unfortunately. Thanks so much for your words of encouragement and advice- I really do appreciate it.

EDIT: I realize now that you're going to attend RFU. I MEANT NO DISRESPEEEECT!

Especially because I'm applying there too. Without much hope for an interview.

 

[gmcguitar4]

I'm not funding my own education- if I don't get in after one more cycle, I'd have to get a PhD, according to parental demands.

Seriously? It's your life dude. PhD is not considered some easy alternative. Depending on what you do it in, it could take 7 years of 12 hour+ days of hard work. Like medicine, if your heart is not set on it, it will be a long and painful process that leads you to nothing. I would suggest searching for a job in healthcare related field remove yourself from the influence of parental demands.

 

[MegMurry]

I've evaluated all the SMP programs, and I feel that Georgetown, Drexel, Cincy, Tufts, (maybe) Toledo, VCU, and Tulane are the only ones that would suit my situation. I don't remember the loyola one, but the BU one just didn't seem to work for me. I was not thrilled with what I read about the RFU one, unfortunately. Thanks so much for your words of encouragement and advice- I really do appreciate it.

EDIT: I realize now that you're going to attend RFU. I MEANT NO DISRESPEEEECT!

Especially because I'm applying there too. Without much hope for an interview.

LOL it's cool, no offense taken. I really should update my mdapps...RFU isn't the only school i've been accepted to 😉 but I know med schools can look up where we've been accepted so I'm trying to maintain anonymity until the end of the cycle.

And actually, when I visited CMS, I was truly surprised and really impressed with the facilities and how happy everyone was there. Trust me, that is NOT something to be discounted, as someone who's already been immersed in the med school environment...

 

[BrandNewDay]

LOL it's okay, RFU isn't the only school i've been accepted to 😉 but actually, when I visited, I was really impressed with the facilities and how happy everyone was there. Not something to be discounted.

Oh. Well you might want to update your MDapps. I think it's a great school, I just didn't like their SMP. May I ask which SMP you attended?

 

[MegMurry]

Oh. Well you might want to update your MDapps. I think it's a great school, I just didn't like their SMP. May I ask which SMP you attended?

One of the ones mentioned in this thread. 😎 PM me if you really want to know, but I honestly don't think it's too relevant as I have known/met people who went through pretty much every program you listed and seen their outcome. I also did my research before choosing, haha 😉

 

[MegMurry]

Seriously? It's your life dude. PhD is not considered some easy alternative. Depending on what you do it in, it could take 7 years of 12 hour+ days of hard work. Like medicine, if your heart is not set on it, it will be a long and painful process that leads you to nothing. I would suggest searching for a job in healthcare related field remove yourself from the influence of parental demands.

I agree. PhD =/= backup to MD/DO, unless you really, truly love research. Don't make huge life decisions based on your parents' desires. You'll be miserable before you hit 40. Also, it's hard to demonstrate maturity in interviews/grad school when mom and dad are still dictating your life. The sooner you start pushing for independence, the better off you'll be. Again, best of luck!

 

[BurntFlower]

Seriously? It's your life dude. PhD is not considered some easy alternative. Depending on what you do it in, it could take 7 years of 12 hour+ days of hard work. Like medicine, if your heart is not set on it, it will be a long and painful process that leads you to nothing. I would suggest searching for a job in healthcare related field remove yourself from the influence of parental demands.

👍

 

[willen101383]

I did a Drexel post bacc (although not their SMP, the IMS program). I had a GPA lightyears lower than yours and had no trouble getting into multiple DO programs. Didnt apply to any MD schools.

PM me with any Qs.

And to reiterate what the others are saying. STOP LETTING YOUR PARENTS RUN YOUR LIFE. If it means having loans, it means having loans.

Would you rather end up in med school with 50k in debt from a SMP...or be stuck in a career you hate for the rest of your life?

Man this "my parents control me" thing we always see here on SDN really irks the **** out of me.

 

[JESSFALLING]

You should consider applying to LECOMs 1 year program. If you do well in it you'll have a great shot at getting in there

 

[Status Sciaticus]

you might want to consider UNTHSC's medical science program. it used to be a post-bacc but was reformed into an SMP. While its at a DO school, all of the Texas schools are very familiar with the program's validity and academic rigor.

Im paying 9 grand for the whole year for tuition, but im in-state. Im sure you could qualify for a discounted tuition. one of the students i know here got the instate rate.

 

[high5]

i had similar stats (3.2, 32) and did the BU SMP. i wouldn't have gotten the interviews for MD and ultimately in an MD w/o it.

if ur serious on MD, do an SMP, it's high risk high reward...retake ur MCAT also (u can do it after the SMP yr - your BS should be alot easier by then). even if u don't ace the program, you can still apply DO...a lot of my classmates who didn't do too well in the program (sub 3.4 gpa) were still able to get into a DO program afterwards.

good luck.

 

[r1d1]

The AAMC website lists three SMP programs under Tulane. Which one do you guys refer to, the pharmacology one?

 

[BrandNewDay]

The AAMC website lists three SMP programs under Tulane. Which one do you guys refer to, the pharmacology one?

I'm referring to the ACP one that you must be on a waitlist to qualify for.