SMP or no SMP

[M.Furfur]

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[Lokhtar]

You don't need an SMP. You can get into medical school without it. I assume you applied widely already and did not get in?

Your MCAT is lower than average, so spend a year studying your butt off (and also getting more clinical experiences) and apply again with a 32+. It's cheaper, and safer. Or you can go the D.O. route, but if you want allopathic, you can get in without going through the dangerous SMP route.

 

[Jman35]

I don't mean any offense by this, but you should really not be doing an SMP. It kind of bugs me when people with 3.6+ gpa do smp programs to "raise their chances." SMPs were designed for people with low GPA to show adcomms that their previous academic faults are gone and that they can handle the heavy course load in med school. With a 3.7 gpa you have very little, or no academic faults. You should concentrate VERY hard on studying for the mcat for the next 6-12 months. An smp will require A LOT of studying, so just channel that into your mcat work. This will raise your mcat into the 30s making you a very competitive applicant. Save yourself the time, money, and redundancy of an smp and get some clinical experience and mcat help.

When someone in your position applies to an smp, they basically take that position from someone who actually needs it. SMP programs don't really care, and they gladly take the higher gpa because they know you WILL get into school, and this serves them by making their % acceptance rate increase ---> more students applying subsequent years ---> more money.

I'm sorry for the rant, and I really do not mean any offense toward you. You'll get much more out of another year of working as something like an ER tech, and make yourself a better candidate than you would by taking an smp.

Oh and also. SMPs are kind of a "last step" for most people. They can make or break you. People with low gpa go to them since for them the risk vs. reward is very favorable. For someone with a high gpa, this ratio is not favorable at all. If for example you went into an smp and got mediocre grades, this would send off huge red flags and would hurt you much more than anything else you could do.

 

[UnderdogMD]

no SMP

 

[M.Furfur]

No offense taken at all, actually today was the first time I ever hear about it, which is why I am inquiring. I will only have three months to study the MCAT, otherwise I will be losing two years instead of this one only.

 

[Jman35]

No offense taken at all, actually today was the first time I ever hear about it, which is why I am inquiring. I will only have three months to study the MCAT, otherwise I will be losing two years instead of this one only.

How old are you if you don't mind me asking? Two years is not a long time at all. Some of us here are losing, or going to lose, upwards of 5-7 years due to a need to rebuild ourselves. 3 months to get a 28 into the 30s is doable...but it depends on your study habits and dedication. I don't know what your volunteering and clinical experience looks like, but you can get so much done in one or two years that will really help out your app.

 

[Lokhtar]

How old are you if you don't mind me asking? Two years is not a long time at all. Some of us here are losing, or going to lose, upwards of 5-7 years due to a need to rebuild ourselves. 3 months to get a 28 into the 30s is doable...but it depends on your study habits and dedication. I don't know what your volunteering and clinical experience looks like, but you can get so much done in one or two years that will really help out your app.

Two years probably isn't necessary for him. Three months, if he can improve, is fine. If not, a year of studying and padding up his EC's is more than enough.

 

[M.Furfur]

How old are you if you don't mind me asking? Two years is not a long time at all. Some of us here are losing, or going to lose, upwards of 5-7 years due to a need to rebuild ourselves. 3 months to get a 28 into the 30s is doable...but it depends on your study habits and dedication. I don't know what your volunteering and clinical experience looks like, but you can get so much done in one or two years that will really help out your app.

Im 30 with plenty of clinical experience, I hope I will be able to pull up my score in just three months of studying while also working.