SMP or Undergraduate GPA for DO

[deleted92121]

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By the grace of everything holy I have somehow been accepted to a respected SMP with only one SOM affiliation, but not the program I wish to attend. Still, I think it may be worthwhile. Here's where I am:

cGPA and sGPA for undergraduate was sub-2.5 (2.2ish)
Last 40: 3.9 including upper level science
MCAT 511
12+ years in EMS as a medic
Research, leadership, and volunteer experience

Question is, should I bother attending a SMP with such poor UG GPA? In other words, will a strong showing in SMP not negate the UG aspect?

Or better put, am I wasting my time?

 

[Goro]

By the grace of everything holy I have somehow been accepted to a respected SMP with only one SOM affiliation, but not the program I wish to attend. Still, I think it may be worthwhile. Here's where I am:

cGPA and sGPA for undergraduate was sub-2.5 (2.2ish)
Last 40: 3.9 including upper level science
MCAT 511
12+ years in EMS as a medic
Research, leadership, and volunteer experience

Question is, should I bother attending a SMP with such poor UG GPA? In other words, will a strong showing in SMP not negate the UG aspect?

Or better put, am I wasting my time?

SMP can make up for poor UG GPAs.

What are your GPAs total?

 

[deleted92121]

@Goro cGPA is 2.35 and sGPA is 2.4
MCAT 511

 

[Goro]

Ace the SMP and then apply broadly to DO schools, and your state MD school

 

[deleted92121]

Ace the SMP and then apply broadly to DO schools, and your state MD school

Thank you for the advice.

 

[deleted92121]

@ Goro quick follow up. LECOM is my top choice but they require a 2.7 in science for consideration. I took many credits and even an SMP with a 4.0 brings me shy of a 2.7. Can you comment on how I would be considered even if I don’t meet cutoffs? I am thinking there is an additional component they look at or a human factor?

 

[Magus5454]

@ Goro quick follow up. LECOM is my top choice but they require a 2.7 in science for consideration. I took many credits and even an SMP with a 4.0 brings me shy of a 2.7. Can you comment on how I would be considered even if I don’t meet cutoffs? I am thinking there is an additional component they look at or a human factor?

Just aim for 3.7+. SMP courses are very similar to med school so they will know you can handle the curriculum

 

[deleted92121]

Just aim for 3.7+. SMP courses are very similar to med school so they will know you can handle the curriculum

I guess my question is how do you avoid the auto screen? If cutoff is X and you are below X but have an SMP, etc how do you avoid getting auto rejected?

 

[dial1010usa]

I guess my question is how do you avoid the auto screen? If cutoff is X and you are below X but have an SMP, etc how do you avoid getting auto rejected?

Apply anyways and hopefully you will get in. Most of med school's smp requires sgpa > 2.9 like Touro Nevada. Your MCAT will make it up.
The other option is to take more upper division science classes for another year and apply directly to med school.

 

[deleted92121]

Apply anyways and hopefully you will get in. Most of med school's amp requires sgpa > 2.9 like Touro Nevada. Your MCAT will make it up.
The other option is to take more upper division science classes for another year and apply directly to med school.

Thank you for the input. Even with a solid SMP showing, my overall sGPA will only be 2.5ish. Post-bacc cumulative coursework, including SMP, will be around a 3.3 if I can maintain a 3.7 or better in the program. Last 40 credits have been 3.8. I also have a faculty member from my school of choice as a LOR if that helps but I don’t know if it will. It really is sobering how well I’ve done over the last ~ 4-5 post bac semesters and how terrible I was before. Made a few changes in my life, sought counseling, and am on an upward trend at 33 years old.

 

[BobbyKoch]

You just have to apply broadly and craft the rest of your app to highlight the changes you’ve made. I would caution against getting too enamored with any one program, especially like LECOM that gets 10k+ apps. Good luck to you!

 

[deleted92121]

You just have to apply broadly and craft the rest of your app to highlight the changes you’ve made. I would caution against getting too enamored with any one program, especially like LECOM that gets 10k+ apps. Good luck to you!

I think you’re right. Wife works in the area. Good job. Wouldn’t have to sell our home. Suppose I could convince her about other places.

Out of curiosity, do you or anyone else on here have an idea of which osteopathic programs are most amenable to reinvention stories?

 

[BobbyKoch]

I think you’re right. Wife works in the area. Good job. Wouldn’t have to sell our home. Suppose I could convince her about other places.

Out of curiosity, do you or anyone else on here have an idea of which osteopathic programs are most amenable to reinvention stories?

I had similar-ish stats to you, but higher GPA (thanks to similarly high performance in post-bacc). I got attention from KCU, ARCOM, ACOM and TouroNY. You may be out at KCU due to their 3.25 minimum.

Generally I think most DO schools are open to reinvention, however, I'd urge you to cast a wide net and include newer schools. Believe me, I understand the draw when you are settled in a location already. But ultimately you are going to be making a very significant investment of time, money and energy into this endeavor. If you have the luxury of a choice of schools, pick the one that excites you even if it means uprooting. Just my opinion, of course.

 

[DrStephenStrange]

Thank you for the input. Even with a solid SMP showing, my overall sGPA will only be 2.5ish. Post-bacc cumulative coursework, including SMP, will be around a 3.3 if I can maintain a 3.7 or better in the program. Last 40 credits have been 3.8. I also have a faculty member from my school of choice as a LOR if that helps but I don’t know if it will. It really is sobering how well I’ve done over the last ~ 4-5 post bac semesters and how terrible I was before. Made a few changes in my life, sought counseling, and am on an upward trend at 33 years old.

Just FYI, your post-bacc gpa and your SMP gpa won't be combined when applying because the SMP will be considered graduate level while your post-bacc is still UG. But yeah, just like others have said ace that SMP, apply broadly, and hope for the best.

 

[deleted92121]

Thanks for all the advice. I spoke with LMU DCOM today and they were awesome to get advice from. They sounded positive about my plans and my position moving forward. They want to see you can handle graduate level science and do decently on the MCAT. Also serving rural helps which I’ve done in the past as a paramedic.

 

[Dr.Gains]

Just FYI, your post-bacc gpa and your SMP gpa won't be combined when applying because the SMP will be considered graduate level while your post-bacc is still UG. But yeah, just like others have said ace that SMP, apply broadly, and hope for the best.

I thought AACOMAS combines both undergraduate and graduate GPA when calculating your cumulative GPA?
"Combined with any post-baccalaureate coursework plus any graduate coursework to create an overall GPA."

Calculating Your AACOMAS GPAs

help.liaisonedu.com

 

[Shotapp]

Just FYI, your post-bacc gpa and your SMP gpa won't be combined when applying because the SMP will be considered graduate level while your post-bacc is still UG. But yeah, just like others have said ace that SMP, apply broadly, and hope for the best.

AACOMAS combines grad GPA with undergrad. MD schools on the other hand don't.

 

[DrStephenStrange]

I thought AACOMAS combines both undergraduate and graduate GPA when calculating your cumulative GPA?
"Combined with any post-baccalaureate coursework plus any graduate coursework to create an overall GPA."

Calculating Your AACOMAS GPAs

help.liaisonedu.com

AACOMAS combines grad GPA with undergrad. MD schools on the other hand don't.

Sorry I didn't make that clear, but I was talking about the AMCAS application. That's why I also said that their MCAT score would update automatically which is not true for AACOMAS (because you gotta send them your MCAT score).