SMP vs Retaking Classes for DO schools

[GypsyHummus]

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Hello everybody,

I am finishing up my senior year come Fall 2014 (4 years plus 1 extra semester) and could use some advice regarding DO schools.

I am a non science major have a solid cGPA (3.45) but a lower science GPA for DO schools (3.1). I have yet to take the MCAT, and I am in organic right now and taking biochem in the fall of next year. What I was thinking is I could retake the one C I got in my Intro bio class, which would raise my sGPA to a 3.3, if my sGPA doesnt move after orgo and biochem, which would put me in the running for DO schools.

On the other hand, I could also try and enroll in a Special Masters Program (SMP) at my in state MD school, however, that seems to be like a very risky road. From the advice that I have gathered from people on this site, SMP is a last ditch effort to show ADCOM that you can handle medical school, and if you preform well, it can help to earn an acceptance at MD school. My state does not have any DO schools, so I would save a ton of money in medical school by going in state vs private DO, so that alone might be worth the risk.

I currently live with the parents right now, and they would be OK with me spending some extra time taking classes as long as I am taking classes. The SMP is about two hours away, so I would have to take out loans and move away for that. The SMP is about 20K a year.

Does anyone know what looks better for DO schools, retaking classes vs SMP?

Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you 🙂

 

[Dreamstoo]

Hello everybody,

I am finishing up my senior year come Fall 2014 (4 years plus 1 extra semester) and could use some advice regarding DO schools.

I am a non science major have a solid cGPA (3.45) but a lower science GPA for DO schools (3.1). I have yet to take the MCAT, and I am in organic right now and taking biochem in the fall of next year. What I was thinking is I could retake the one C I got in my Intro bio class, which would raise my sGPA to a 3.3, if my sGPA doesnt move after orgo and biochem, which would put me in the running for DO schools.

On the other hand, I could also try and enroll in a Special Masters Program (SMP) at my in state MD school, however, that seems to be like a very risky road. From the advice that I have gathered from people on this site, SMP is a last ditch effort to show ADCOM that you can handle medical school, and if you preform well, it can help to earn an acceptance at MD school. My state does not have any DO schools, so I would save a ton of money in medical school by going in state vs private DO, so that alone might be worth the risk.

I currently live with the parents right now, and they would be OK with me spending some extra time taking classes as long as I am taking classes. The SMP is about two hours away, so I would have to take out loans and move away for that. The SMP is about 20K a year.

Does anyone know what looks better for DO schools, retaking classes vs SMP?

Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you 🙂

I have one more physics class left and one o Chem lab ( all pre reqs are B minus or higher). Do science is 3.4 md science is 3.1 cgpa is 3.3. If I can get to a 3.5/3.3bcpm by senior year I will probably apply to instate mds. I've heard good things about smps but if I got into at least one DO I would go there

 

[user3]

you will be fine for DO as is with a 27. Just retake the classes, and save your money.