SMP for Fall 2015 advice

[Reesie13]

Hi all,
I am looking into SMP and other academic enhancer programs for next fall (2015).
So far I'm considering:
Georgetown, George Mason, Boston, Tuffs, Virginia Commonwealth, Eastern Virginia, Temple.
Does any one know anything about the GW graduate certificate and masters programs in anatomical and translational sciences? They seem to be much newer and I haven't been able to find any information on them here.

Background info about my application:
I graduated with a BS in Early Childhood Special Education in May 2013. Since then I have been finishing up the basic sciences while working full time. I had half of them done as an undergrad since I started college as a science major.
I am currently in Organic chemistry II and Physics II and plan to take biochemistry in the Spring. (Grades are looking really good this semester, just finals left!!)
Some of the schools want the GRE and some want the MCAT so I will be taking the GRE late January and the new MCAT April or May.

Undergrad GPA: 3.8
Undergrad sGPA: 3.2 (bio 1 and 2/ chem 1 and 2) Taken at Arizona State University
Graduate GPA: 4.0 (courses in medically fragile infants and toddlers, working with families, and severe disabilities)
Postbacc sGPA: 3.37 (orgo I, genetics, cell bio, virology, physics I)
Rest of classes taken at University of Maryland College Park

I am now looking into programs like these because I need to enhance my course work and demonstrate that I can handle a full course load of science classes when fully committed. I will be able to commit full time when I get into a program such as this one. I currently work with a family with significant special needs that has pulled at my attention and time during my postbacc work, sometimes requiring being there for 24hr for safety reasons.

I volunteered at Children's National Medical Center with Dr. Penny Glass in the Child Development Clinic. I observed developmental evaluations, did developmental evaluations in the Genetics: Down Syndrome Clinic providing feedback to parents, and accompanied Dr. Glass on in-patient consults: Summer 2012, Summer 2013 -- January 2014

I volunteered at University of Maryland Medical Center NICU Follow-up Program as a parent educator and child development specialist: Summer 2013 -- February 2014

I was a temp service coordinator through the University of Maryland Medical System Department of Neonatology for infants and toddlers who graduated from the NICU: October 2013 -- February 2014

I have shadowed in the Department of Neonatology and Cardiology at Children's National, and General Pediatrics, Developmental Pediatrics and Neonatology at University of Maryland Medical Center.

Thanks for any insight anyone has!

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[DrMidlife]

OK I'm incited.

SDN has a postbac forum where you can get info from current/former students in SMPs. The word "postbac" here means "things you do after undergrad, before med school" so avoid using "postbac" since it won't get you good help.

Word to the wise, if you simply repost the above in the postbac forum, you'll get "yelled" at. There's so much info there that you should spend many hours reading before asking questions. Really. Find out what has changed recently in the programs you list.

The only thing you need to worry about is your academics. The rest of your stuff is as good as it needs to be. De-emphasize the kid stuff at this point - emphasize your breadth of experience.

You need to be getting A's in your current classes. Right now it looks like you might have trouble under the pressure of an SMP. Get A's.

SMPs are not erasers. Your undergrad work will be scrutinized and will still be huge in med schools' judgment of your candidacy, even if you do great in an SMP. So: assume you need to finish the SMP before you apply to med school. You don't get credit for being enrolled in an SMP, and your numbers aren't strong enough for a same-year-as-SMP med school app. Consider the benefits of programs like Boston or Tufts which tidy up your app year with a second year, MPH or research.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Reesie13]

Thank you for your reply. I agree that my academics is the concern here. I am getting A's in my current classes so I hope that will help me get into one of these programs. I have also have already decided to wait til after the SMP to apply so I don't waste time applying this year.
Have you heard anything about the George Washington programs? I have searched a lot on here for them and can't seem to find anything.