SMP or grad pgm advice?

[pesanserinus]

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i am an undergrad senior with a 3.24 cGPA and 3 sGPA (sGPA: Cs+,Bs, B+s to Bs and B+s, As), good ECs (research, volunteering and leadership experience) and good LORs. 1st MCAT: 32 (11/11/10) and then 29 (9/10/10)--nerves and anxiety 🙁. i applied to med school this past summer and have received rejections from over half of the schools i applied to and no interview invites. because i am a little borderline for SMPs i would like to apply early but after talking to premed advisors and current SMPs and grad students I am still undecided about what to do.

1 year or 2 year SMP or reg grad school? i lean towards the SMP option because i enjoy med related classes but worry about the risk because i am still pulling quite a few Bs in my hard science classes. i would prefer to attend a pgm with a smaller class size because i went to a pretty large undergrad.

also just wondering is epidemiology considered a "soft science"?

thanks a lot!

 

[DrMidlife]

because i am a little borderline for SMPs

I don't think you're borderline. You're right up the middle. You should retake the MCAT before you apply (either to an SMP or to med school) and get another 32+ so that your most recent score isn't tainted.

reg grad school?

This won't compensate for undergrad GPA, and is unlikely to help your med school app.

i lean towards the SMP option because i enjoy med related classes but worry about the risk because i am still pulling quite a few Bs in my hard science classes.

You have to get A's no matter what you do at this point. You can do more undergrad to bring up your GPA - if you get A's. You can do an SMP - and you have to get A's. If you do regular grad school with the intent of going on to med school - you have to get A's.

also just wondering is epidemiology considered a "soft science"?

Yes.

Best of luck to you.