SMP-Toledo

[Meowster007]

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Hello I was wondering if anyone knew about the SMP/Post Bacc at Toledo and had any reviews for it? I would like to hear multiple people so please chime in! Thoughts versus other SMPs/post baccs? Your experiences? Your stats going in? Thanks

 

[FutureSurgical]

After reading some posts here, the best option is any DO school with linkage. I'd choose VCOM tbh

 

[Meowster007]

After reading some posts here, the best option is any DO school with linkage. I'd choose VCOM tbh

VCOM has a good linkage program with lower MCAT scores but should we also take into the consideration about the merger between MD/DO and the Step 1 being Pass/Fail? Hence shouldn't we be trying our hardest for MD but have DO right there for us if it doesn't turn up? I'm just trying to see past this stage that what if you get into X school then what are the chances of going into whatever specialty and whatever residency. Thanks for the response btw!

 

[FutureSurgical]

VCOM has a good linkage program with lower MCAT scores but should we also take into the consideration about the merger between MD/DO and the Step 1 being Pass/Fail? Hence shouldn't we be trying our hardest for MD but have DO right there for us if it doesn't turn up? I'm just trying to see past this stage that what if you get into X school then what are the chances of going into whatever specialty and whatever residency. Thanks for the response btw!

No problem! To be honest, as someone starting this fall to medical school, I may not have much weight in the whole Step 1 P/F or merger. However, the merger is really supposed to make things more centralized. In my opinion, it will only remove some bias against DO grads.

As far as step 1, that's harder. A lot of people think this hurts DOs in that you have one less objective measure against MDs. However, I think the importance will be shifted to different aspects of our app; namely LORs, research in the field, clinical grades, away rotations and Step II CK. As a DO, people already had to work hard to get into competitive residencies with those aspects; the only change is now we all will ride on CK to push us through the barrier.

Lastly, VCOM is a great school. With a linkage like that, all you need to do is do well in the program if you have the MCAT score

 

[Meowster007]

No problem! To be honest, as someone starting this fall to medical school, I may not have much weight in the whole Step 1 P/F or merger. However, the merger is really supposed to make things more centralized. In my opinion, it will only remove some bias against DO grads.

As far as step 1, that's harder. A lot of people think this hurts DOs in that you have one less objective measure against MDs. However, I think the importance will be shifted to different aspects of our app; namely LORs, research in the field, clinical grades, away rotations and Step II CK. As a DO, people already had to work hard to get into competitive residencies with those aspects; the only change is now we all will ride on CK to push us through the barrier.

Lastly, VCOM is a great school. With a linkage like that, all you need to do is do well in the program if you have the MCAT score

Very interesting response and definitely will think hard about this! Thanks!

 

[Meowster007]

For the people voting Rosalind, please explain why... (as compared to these others.)

 

[Meowster007]

Does VCOM have a conditional interview or conditional acceptance?

Conditional Acceptance

 

[adam987]

OP, what did you end up going with?

 

[Meowster007]

OP, what did you end up going with?

I will be applying this year for the programs so I wanted to know which was worth it.

 

[adam987]

plenty of post on SDN bashing RFU.. I was almost going to apply there but ended up deciding against it after looking around and seeing too many posts saying it was NOT worth it. i've also seen the same said for Georgetown btw.

I would seriously seriously go with Toledo if you want to go MD; I would also consider adding EVMS to your list of SMPs to apply to. You should take a look at the program pages for both on SDN both for the 2020-2021 and 2019-2020 cycles. In those two cycles, you'll find a LOTT of information; these pages helped me a lot when I was (and still am!) applying to SMPs.

 

[Meowster007]

plenty of post on SDN bashing RFU.. I was almost going to apply there but ended up deciding against it after looking around and seeing too many posts saying it was NOT worth it. i've also seen the same said for Georgetown btw.

I would seriously seriously go with Toledo if you want to go MD; I would also consider adding EVMS to your list of SMPs to apply to. You should take a look at the program pages for both on SDN both for the 2020-2021 and 2019-2020 cycles. In those two cycles, you'll find a LOTT of information; these pages helped me a lot when I was (and still am!) applying to SMPs.

Thank you so much for the info!

 

[deleted978967]

Im a current M1 soon to be M2 at Toledo, and went through the Toledo SMP (was also accepted to RF SMP). Feel free to ask me any questions.

 

[SadNonTrad]

Im a current M1 soon to be M2 at Toledo, and went through the Toledo SMP (was also accepted to RF SMP). Feel free to ask me any questions.

Hey! First of all I would like to preface by thanking you for your detailed responses(I have seen your other posts on threads) and trust me it is not easy to filter out the negativity and the crappy toxic premed culture and you give me hope. So I am an Ohio resident and in a DIY post bacc(I expect a 3.38 cGPA and a 3.55 science after my post bacc is done), but if I apply in the winter, I won't have that spring semester's grades to send to GV. Would it be a good idea to update him as to how those classes are going or wait it out till those spring '21 grades come out. Otherwise, I feel liike if I don't apply that I might miss out on the rolling admission timeline into the MSBS. If I apply in October, I'll have a 3.2 cGPA and a 3.3 science. If you have any advice, that would be so nice of you. I know that I am going to be an SMP candidate(per stats above) probably will get me rejected from all med schools I feel like.

 

[deleted978967]

Hey! First of all I would like to preface by thanking you for your detailed responses(I have seen your other posts on threads) and trust me it is not easy to filter out the negativity and the crappy toxic premed culture and you give me hope. So I am an Ohio resident and in a DIY post bacc(I expect a 3.38 cGPA and a 3.55 science after my post bacc is done), but if I apply in the winter, I won't have that spring semester's grades to send to GV. Would it be a good idea to update him as to how those classes are going or wait it out till those spring '21 grades come out. Otherwise, I feel liike if I don't apply that I might miss out on the rolling admission timeline into the MSBS. If I apply in October, I'll have a 3.2 cGPA and a 3.3 science. If you have any advice, that would be so nice of you. I know that I am going to be an SMP candidate(per stats above) probably will get me rejected from all med schools I feel like.

Hey there
Yeah that is kind of a tough position. Excluding potential spring 2021 grades do you otherwise still have a strong upward trend in grades including postbacc classes over the last year or two? Also do you have an MCAT score?

Assuming you have a decent MCAT score and strong upward trend in the last year or two, I would still go ahead and apply this winter.

While they have rolling admissions and a class size of no more than 60, they end up sending out WAY more than 60 acceptances fully knowing that many of the students they accept will get off wait-lists and into med schools, or will bail on Toledo and go to other SMPs with fancier names than Toledo. So even with less than the strongest grades possible, it still means you would very likely be competitive for a spot in the MSBS program (which btw has had a really great med school acceptance rate this year!)

 

[SadNonTrad]

Hey there
Yeah that is kind of a tough position. Excluding potential spring 2021 grades do you otherwise still have a strong upward trend in grades including postbacc classes over the last year or two? Also do you have an MCAT score?

Assuming you have a decent MCAT score and strong upward trend in the last year or two, I would still go ahead and apply this winter.

While they have rolling admissions and a class size of no more than 60, they end up sending out WAY more than 60 acceptances fully knowing that many of the students they accept will get off wait-lists and into med schools, or will bail on Toledo and go to other SMPs with fancier names than Toledo. So even with less than the strongest grades possible, it still means you would very likely be competitive for a spot in the MSBS program (which btw has had a really great med school acceptance rate this year!)

I don't have an MCAT score unfortunately. My goal was to take it in November but obviously that might not happen now due to COVID. I have a great upward trend from senior year to now. If i apply after fall semester completes, I'll most likely be at a 3.25 cgpa and 3.4 science. The good thing is that when I apply, I will have 4 semester(including summer) of above 3.5 (factoring in my hopeful 4.0 for DIY post bacc and my 3.5 from senior year). Also if it helps you out I am a non trad who worked as an engineer until COVID happened(I am class of 2019 from Case Western). I also will have 250 hours of Hospice Volunteering and 40 hours shadowing. Would it be a good idea to notify them that more grades were coming out, but still apply?
I feel like I'm at the cusp of not needing an SMP but my best shot is DO schools with my current situation and I would prefer to go MD.
Thanks MiracleMax by the way for your response! It is good to hear that the MSBS worked out for many students this year!