SMP or Clinical Experience

[NeuroAF]

Hello SDN!

I am a college senior planning on taking two gap years before entering medical school. I had been hoping to spend my first gap year gaining clinical experience by working as a scribe, however looking at the MSAR it appears that my stats are too low to be competitive at most schools. I'm toying with the idea of doing the UNT HSC M.S. in medical sciences to become a more competitive applicant, however I have read that doing an SMP with my GPA is a big risk. Should I do an SMP or just focus on gaining clinical experience?

I'd appreciate any input!

cGPA: 3.57
sGPA: 3.40
MCAT: 510: 126/128/126/130
TX resident
URM

Research experience for over 1 year, poster presentation
90 hours clinical job
100 hours of clinical volunteering
Tons of non-clinical volunteering
Held multiple leadership positions for volunteer organizations

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[Scrizzy]

From your stats, you should be fine. You're also URM, so you should be solid for most Texas medical schools. If you do apply this coming cycle, you will still be taking one gap year though.

 

[LizzyM]

Heck, you have a good shot even at some private schools outside of TX but the TX schools are sweet in terms of in-state tuition.

Take a gap year to work as a scribe... and apply during that year. why take two years if you've already taken the MCAT. Apply this year in June, matriculate in 2018.

 

[NeuroAF]

Thanks for the advice.

To clarify I am planning on two gap years because I would like to spend the first getting more clinical experience/shadowing and spend the second doing a service program such as AmeriCorps (which I would like to do out of genuine interest, not just trying to "look good").