SMP Options

[John Wick]

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Found Goro's advice from previous SMP post. Deleted

 

[John Wick]

Okay so in my research I developed another question or four. If I apply and get into an SMP for the Fall of 2019, do I have to wait to apply to medical school until the cycle after I get all my grades back in Summer of 2020, which means I wouldn't go to school until 2021? Or can I apply to medical schools next cycle while attending the SMP and just send update letters with my grades? My MCAT is only acceptable for 3 years, correct? So if I took it April 2018 it would be accepted for 2 more cycles?

 

[beeboops]

Most people would advise that you wait to apply until all your SMP grades are in (summer 2020) as simply being enrolled in an SMP doesn’t really impress schools. However, good grades in an SMP definitely would impress them.

It also gives you a little more time to beef up ECs and get some crucial real world experience in during the year between finishing up the SMP and matriculating into med school.

I’m unsure about the MCAT, however. You may have to retake it. You should be able to have a slightly lighter 2nd semester in your SMP and start studying then for a retake in May 2020. I’ll let others chime in about the MCAT as I’m unfamiliar with score expiration dates.

 

[DoctorSnow]

I have seen SMP students applying to medical school during that year but I think you would still have time to keep your MCAT score if you waited for after the SMP. If you took it in April of 2018, your MCAT would be eligible until April of 2021 and all schools during that 2020/2021 cycle would still accept your MCAT
(most schools have a deadline in the Fall when they begin the cycle. For this cycle, it's Fall of 2015 because 3 years before Fall of 2018)

I probably butchered this explanation...

 

[Goro]

Okay so in my research I developed another question or four. If I apply and get into an SMP for the Fall of 2019, do I have to wait to apply to medical school until the cycle after I get all my grades back in Summer of 2020, which means I wouldn't go to school until 2021? Or can I apply to medical schools next cycle while attending the SMP and just send update letters with my grades? My MCAT is only acceptable for 3 years, correct? So if I took it April 2018 it would be accepted for 2 more cycles?

If it's an SMP at a med school with linkage, you would interview in April/May and matriculate in Aug/Sept. If not, then yes, you wait one more year.

Med schools aren't going anywhere.