SMP Vs PostBac Vs Work (research or MA)-Help me decide please

[helpmepickbetween]

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Hello,

I am really conflicted about what I should do. For context, I will be graduating in May with a BS degree. I go to a liberal arts school which is considered a "mini IV" because of how hard it is. I got a low gpa for various reasons, but I take the full blame for it. Once I realized my potential and I started to do well. What do you guys recommend I do? I really want to go to medical school, but how do you think I can overcome this GPA hurdle.



Should I consider SMPs? Post bacs?? DIY post bac? School recommendations?

or

Should I just work and excel on the MCAT while retaking the Pre-req classes I got below C in?

I appreciate all advices!!!

 

[Goro]

Do the SMP or postbac. You need to prove that you can handle a medical school curriculum. And a high MCAT score does not remediate a low GPA. It only accentuates the differences between the two.

Read my post on reinvention for pre-meds.

 

[helpmepickbetween]

Thank you @Goro Where can I find your posts on reinvention for pre-meds?

 

[gyngyn]

Thank you @Goro Where can I find your posts on reinvention for pre-meds?

Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention (updated for 2021)

EDIT: Post in WAMC forum for recommended school lists. This thread isn't for that. So you want to be a doctor, but your GPA is terrible. Is that the end? Rule #1: Take a deep breath, and stop fussing. The sky is not falling. But you are going to need to reinvent yourself. This will take...

forums.studentdoctor.net

 

[helpmepickbetween]

Thank you so much @gyngyn !!!! Your post was very helpful @Goro Thank you

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I lean more SMP than postbac. Your science/BCMP GPA are low that it would take a lot of undergrad courses to move the GPA.

 

[helpmepickbetween]

Thank you so much for your advice @Mr.Smile12 How many undergrad courses do you think I need if I do Post bac? or What GPA do you think I should I aim for to get into USMD schools?

I am considering SMPs as well, but I'm scared that they're a little risky. What do you think?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you so much for your advice @Mr.Smile12 How many undergrad courses do you think I need if I do Post bac? or What GPA do you think I should I aim for to get into USMD schools?

I am considering SMPs as well, but I'm scared that they're a little risky. What do you think?

At the very least, every C you have earned should be offset by an A, so at least 5 courses. That still only gets you closer to a 3.0 science GPA, and that's arguably not quite enough for an MD program, though the reinvention would help you a little. (I'll let my colleagues also jump in.) Maybe a 3.0 sGPA is good enough for DO, but I feel it still might be a bit too low.

SMP is meant to be high-risk high-reward, but you have to decide on whether you would bet on yourself to succeed or not. Read @Goro's guide as we have suggested.

 

[Goro]

Thank you so much for your advice @Mr.Smile12 How many undergrad courses do you think I need if I do Post bac? or What GPA do you think I should I aim for to get into USMD schools?

I am considering SMPs as well, but I'm scared that they're a little risky. What do you think?

High risk, but high reward