SMP vs. Post-Bac Clarification

[shadeR]

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Long time troll, first-time poster.

Anyway, my question is what's the difference between Post-Bac programs and SMP programs? Also, drawbacks/advantages? When I first read about SMP and Post-Bac programs, I thought I knew what they were, but I think I'm wrong.

Basically, I want to know because I don't know where to apply. I thought I should apply to SMPs, but I was also thinking about applying to some post-bacs too...

Bio Sci major, concentration in Cell, Molecular, Dev. Bio
-UG GPA - 3.072
-BCPM GPA - 2.8613
-MCAT - taking in Jan '08
-had a year of research in a BioMed lab at school, no pubs, but a good LoR
-held an internship at a small biotech firm that makes antibodies doing quality control work
-not much volunteerism, but after I made the decision to get into medicine, I did start to volunteer at a humane society (animal shelter) and a hospital (still need to get my TB tests done though, aka I'll start within a month)
-my uncle, and also my cousin's aunt is a doctor, so I can shadow them (was planning to do it after I take the test in January)

Anyway, I was pretty much going to apply to SMPs (Georgetown, UCinn, BUMAMS), but I read that SMPs are last-resort, and if you mess up in those programs, you're pretty much out. I'm not saying that I can't do it, but unforeseen circumstances may cause something...

Which is why I want to do a post-bac, but I read that post-bacs are only for those who haven't done the pre-reqs (non-science majors)? I thought post-bacs were traditional-science Master's programs (2-3 years)?

Anyway, what should I do?
Thank you, friends at SDN for taking the time to reply. 🙂

 

[ootsocsid]

There are basically three types of programs:

(1) Post bac programs for people who have not done their requirements yet. E.g., Columbia, Bryn Mawr, Penn Pre-Health, Goucher.

(2) Post bac programs for people who have done the requirements but have low GPAs. In these programs, you take upper-level undergraduate science courses that count toward (and hopefully improve) your undergraduate GPA. E.g., Penn Special Sciences.

(3) SMPs, where you take medical school classes (or similar) for a year (or two). This does not help your undergraduate GPA, but if you do well in these programs some schools will apparently overlook your undergraduate record. E.g., BU, Drexel, LECOM.

 

[DrMidlife]

...and 4) Unstructured postbacs, where you just take more undergrad classes, wherever you can, paid for however you can.

5) 2nd bachelors, if you need a lot more undergrad units. This gives you the benefits of being a fairly normal enrollee with financial aid and registration privileges.

 

[shadeR]

With that said, which do you think would be more beneficial for my position? SMPs, or post-bac programs for people with low GPAs? (#2)

I've tried to do an unstructured postbac at state, but
1--it costs too much
2--unable to get parking (extension students are not allowed to get regular parking permits 🙁)

 

[postbacker]

With that said, which do you think would be more beneficial for my position? SMPs, or post-bac programs for people with low GPAs? (#2)

I've tried to do an unstructured postbac at state, but
1--it costs too much
2--unable to get parking (extension students are not allowed to get regular parking permits 🙁)

Formal post baccs are usually very expensive, and I assume the same is true for SMPs, so your first problem is not going to be solved by anyone here...

The shortest path is through an SMP - I would say give it a shot. Otherwise, you could spend a couple of years post bacc'ing it, and still not have a GPA that does you much good and then you will have to do an SMP anyway...

But you need to be able to overcome cost and parking problems no matter where you go...