SMP/Structured Post-Bac vs DIY Post-Bac....help!

[JimmyB123]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello yall,

I have been accepted to a couple SMPS/Structured Post-Bac (PB) programs [Cinci's MS in Physiology, Mississippi MS in medical sciences, Boston MAMS]. Should I do one of these or enroll in a local college and do a DIY PB? I only intend to do PB work for a year.

A little background about me: My GPA sits at a whopping 3.4, and I made a decent MCAT (between 30 and 33). Since I have taken so many credits, a full courseload's worth would raise my GPA up to a 3.555.

Do you think I should go with one of the SMP/structured PB programs, or do the DIY PB? the DIY PB would be 10k cheaper. I am not in a huge financial crunch though, but if the DIY PB would achieve essentially the same effect, I would rather save the 10k.

Thanks!

 

[JimmyB123]

please help me!

 

[DrMidlife]

Work backwards starting from the volunteer physician who is reviewing your med school app in a pile of maybe 50 apps that s/he needs to get through. They all look the same, so s/he's looking for reasons to say no, not reasons to say yes, because there are 5000 apps, room for about 500 interviews, and seats for 150.

If you're a resident of the state and it's a public school, and you're above the minimums, you'll probably get an interview invite, unless you're in California or New York or another ridiculously competitive state. If you get that interview and you are an unbelievable rock star, then your interview will strongly counter your below-average-matriculant stats, and you might get waitlisted or better. Otherwise, the interview is a courtesy so your parents don't sue.

In all other cases, your average MCAT (31+ is average) and your below average GPA will not get much done for you. This is probably why you're asking about SMPs and DIY postbacs.

You don't mention an MCAT retake, but you should consider doing one if you are confident you can get some more points. You won't get your GPA above average, but you still have a chance at an above average app asset.

If you have the option to do more undergrad to get up over 3.5, that's a better option than doing an SMP, but understand that you need to complete that work before you get any benefit. So look at the 2 year horizon. You'll finish a year of coursework, maybe retake the MCAT in April/May, apply MD in June, and then you have a whole 'nother year to think about. The first ~6 months of that year can help your MD apps. Jobs are fine, more coursework is fine, or choosing a 2 year SMP (such as Boston) is fine.

Regardless, I'm voting for Cincinnati, followed by an MCAT retake in the 2015 format, apply in June 2015, and do something YOU want to do during your app year. Cincinnati's program is very strong, and it's a nice packaged asset for reviewers to consider.

Best of luck to you.

 

[DrMidlife]

One other thing: Ohio will let you become a resident, so you can get instate tuition at one of its many public med schools. This should not be trivialized.

 

[JimmyB123]

Thank you for your response.

About the MCAT retake: my MCAT is already at the matriculant average, and since I'm not gunning for top schools, I don't really see the use of a higher MCAT score.

My GPA is below average and that's what I'm more focused on repairing. I do think an SMP will be a better use of my time though because I do not plan on applying to DO programs.

 

[DrMidlife]

About the MCAT retake: my MCAT is already at the matriculant average, and since I'm not gunning for top schools, I don't really see the use of a higher MCAT score.

Two years from now you might find yourself sitting on a waitlist or two, not sure you're getting in anywhere, wishing you'd done more, wishing you'd done everything you could do. The emotional rollercoaster and unpredictable outcomes of your app year, even with super low tier schools, will suck the life out of you. You'll sit in interview waiting rooms with kids who are nervous as hell with their 3.8/38's. You'll tell somebody, once, what your numbers are, and they'll try to hide their wince. You'll get asked by interviewers why they should take you over a student with higher stats.

If you don't honestly think you can get a couple more points, then leave it alone. If you like anguish, then by all means leave stones like these unturned.

 

[JimmyB123]

Two years from now you might find yourself sitting on a waitlist or two, not sure you're getting in anywhere, wishing you'd done more, wishing you'd done everything you could do. The emotional rollercoaster and unpredictable outcomes of your app year, even with super low tier schools, will suck the life out of you. You'll sit in interview waiting rooms with kids who are nervous as hell with their 3.8/38's. You'll tell somebody, once, what your numbers are, and they'll try to hide their wince. You'll get asked by interviewers why they should take you over a student with higher stats.

If you don't honestly think you can get a couple more points, then leave it alone. If you like anguish, then by all means leave stones like these unturned.

What would be a "safer" MCAT score?

 

[DrMidlife]

I can't believe you're asking that question. If you think you'll be "safe" with a 32 or something similar, then you should familiarize yourself with just how competitive MD admissions are. About 45,000 people apply every year and about 20,000 are rejected. Those are horrible odds, 10x as horrible when you have damage, as you do. If you think there is some bar you can get over and then you'll be ok, you should probably spend some time in the reapplicant forum where the 3.8/38's go to find out what went wrong.

The answer to "what MCAT score do I need?" is: the highest one you can get. If you get a 38 you should be a bit upset you didn't get a 39. Your ability to squeeze out more points on the MCAT directly applies to your ability to squeeze out more points on a future tests that are even more important.

You seem very worried that you might "waste" some effort or time or money in your attempt to get into med school. That's an utterly depressing attitude.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Hailstorm]

Since you have Georgia residency, you might want to get in contact with your state schools.

 

[JimmyB123]

I can't believe you're asking that question. If you think you'll be "safe" with a 32 or something similar, then you should familiarize yourself with just how competitive MD admissions are. About 45,000 people apply every year and about 20,000 are rejected. Those are horrible odds, 10x as horrible when you have damage, as you do. If you think there is some bar you can get over and then you'll be ok, you should probably spend some time in the reapplicant forum where the 3.8/38's go to find out what went wrong.

The answer to "what MCAT score do I need?" is: the highest one you can get. If you get a 38 you should be a bit upset you didn't get a 39. Your ability to squeeze out more points on the MCAT directly applies to your ability to squeeze out more points on a future tests that are even more important.

You seem very worried that you might "waste" some effort or time or money in your attempt to get into med school. That's an utterly depressing attitude.

Best of luck to you.

I think the attitude you advocate is very realistic and a good one to have, but I don't necessarily agree. Sure, med school is very difficult to get into and you want to have the best possible application, but you don't need a 3.8/38; those people that aren't getting in with 3.8/38 are doing something really wrong.

From my undergrad, over the past 5 years, those with a 3.6/31 have had close to a 90% acceptance rate into a medical school. I think if you apply smart with those numbers, you really should expect to get in somewhere.

Once again, I do think your advice on getting the highest possible MCAT score is very sound advice. I actually might retake the MCAT, but it's not because a 3.6/31 is a very scary place to be. Its because I would want to be better than average. But there's nothing wrong with being average. 50% of the people accepted to medical school every year are "average"

 

[tttgo]

If I had the 3.4/31, I would probably have a 40% chance due to this (since 3.4 is on lower end of the range). Personally, I think that's a very scary place if I was applying MD only. Of course I would reapply if I did not get in, but that would not be ideal.

My thought process if it were me would be:
applying MD only or not? If applying DO, I would skip the smp and just apply this cycle.

retake the mcat? I would not retake if it would be perceived badly by adcoms (in another thread there were ones that would reject if someone retook a 36) or if I did not have adequate time. If I retook, I would set a limit on my verbal goal at 11 (just being realistic here since I've never scored above that during practice. I got a 10 on my real thing), but would aim for the sky for the sciences. Since I've already taken the mcat once, there's an inherent risk of taking it again and doing worse. Just like for smps, if I decide to pull the trigger, I would aim for as high as possible.

smp or not? Doing avg or slightly above average gpa-wise(let's say 3.2) might actually hurt more for both md and do than not doing the program. I'm not afraid of putting in the time and money, but it would be a bad use of it if I didn't need the program or I didn't do well in it. *For cincinnati's, 31 is below the avg.