SMP Confusion

[MidwestLovin]

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I read the official thread on them and it sounded appealing. One thing that did not was that the OP said that you should have taken the MCAT + applied by the time you start because you will have no time?

I thought an SMP was to improve GPA and your application and not to have something to talk about during an interview? Is it just to show you're improving your chances although no one will really know if you did? How will admissions see if you've improved if you apply before starting it?

What else do you get out of it? As appealing as it is, the price tag is not.

 

[mehc012]

I read the official thread on them and it sounded appealing. One thing that did not was that the OP said that you should have taken the MCAT + applied by the time you start because you will have no time?

I thought an SMP was to improve GPA and your application and not to have something to talk about during an interview? Is it just to show you're improving your chances although no one will really know if you did? How will admissions see if you've improved if you apply before starting it?

What else do you get out of it? As appealing as it is, the price tag is not.

It will NOT improve your undergraduate GPA. Only undergraduate classes will accomplish that for you.
Most SMPs require an MCAT score when you apply to them.

Think of it this way: SMPs are a backdoor, last-ditch shot for many people. An SMP is "alright, we're not willing to grant you MD school admission yet, but we'll let you take the classes." If you do well in those classes, then you have demonstrated that you can handle med school academically...because you've handled med school classes already.

Typically, you apply for med schools, but also throw in some SMP apps if you think you may not get accepted. If you don't get into med school, you go take med classes anyway, and the next year you apply and say "look, I already did med school classes and I kicked butt, so let me in now".

Of course, if you fail the SMP you have pretty much failed the most specific test of your ability to handle med school courses aside from actually being a med student, so...you're pretty much SOL.

 

[MidwestLovin]

It will NOT improve your undergraduate GPA. Only undergraduate classes will accomplish that for you.
Most SMPs require an MCAT score when you apply to them.

Think of it this way: SMPs are a backdoor, last-ditch shot for many people. An SMP is "alright, we're not willing to grant you MD school admission yet, but we'll let you take the classes." If you do well in those classes, then you have demonstrated that you can handle med school academically...because you've handled med school classes already.

Typically, you apply for med schools, but also throw in some SMP apps if you think you may not get accepted. If you don't get into med school, you go take med classes anyway, and the next year you apply and say "look, I already did med school classes and I kicked butt, so let me in now".

Of course, if you fail the SMP you have pretty much failed the most specific test of your ability to handle med school courses aside from actually being a med student, so...you're pretty much SOL.

Makes sense, but the SMPs I looked for wanted you to enroll my July, that makes no sense.

 

[mehc012]

*Disclaimer*timings of individual schools may vary.
Key points: won't affect your undergrad GPA, MCAT is usually required

 

[MidwestLovin]

*Disclaimer*timings of individual schools may vary.
Key points: won't affect your undergrad GPA, MCAT is usually required

So for helping undergrad GPA, post-bacc?

 

[mehc012]

So for helping undergrad GPA, post-bacc?

Yup. Or a DIY post-bacc, which is just taking classes on your own.

 

[MidwestLovin]

Yup. Or a DIY post-bacc, which is just taking classes on your own.

Thanks for clearing that up.