SMP Worth it?

[dsk89]

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I'm looking into ways on improving my GPA. i have a Low GPA ~3.3 sGPA and ~3.5 cGPA. MCAT 28. I am planning on improving my EC's this year while also retaking the MCAT, in preparation for reapplying MD and DO for the 2014-2015 cycle. My main question, would taking an SMP during application year benefit me if I were to do well? Or would my undergrad GPA still be frowned upon (particularly by MD schools), and thus I'd by wasting my money on doing it at all? My GPA is not good enough to get accepted into MD, but I don't know if its low enough (like below 3.0) to the point where an SMP would really benefit my application.

 

[gmcguitar4]

For MD, you need to retake the MCAT and do an SMP. You are lookin at a ridiculous amount of extra debt. Apply to DO schools with your current stats. Maybe retake 1-2 science courses you did bad in if it really bothers you. As you stand, you should get DO interviews.

 

[Goro]

Strongly concur, as of right now you're competitive for any DO program, including mine. You're well below avg for MD programs, but you might have a chance at your state school (if any) and the lowest of the low tiers, like SLU and MCW.

For MD, you need to retake the MCAT and do an SMP. You are lookin at a ridiculous amount of extra debt. Apply to DO schools with your current stats. Maybe retake 1-2 science courses you did bad in if it really bothers you. As you stand, you should get DO interviews.

 

[Instatewaiter]

.

 

[icaruswalks]

Well it depends on what your goals are. If you are cool with being a DO, then apply DO after a little grade remediation.

If you want MD, then do the SMP. I was in a similar situation way back in the day and opted to go the SMP route. Without it I would never have reached anywhere near where I am today. That was one of the best choices I have made (currently a fellow at the #1 cardiology program in the country and did residency at the #1 medicine program)

Now, I have seen others who opted to do an SMP and didn't perform. They ended up screwing their chances for medical school and had to go to the carribean. So the decision carries some risk.

This. If youre going to do an SMP, go in 110%. Think of it as your last chance, I did an SMP and it was def the best decision of my life.

 

[Instatewaiter]

There is a post bacc forum on sdn that has some good info.

 

[BouncingBack]

nope, i think SMP is not worth it. I know many that did it and things didn't pan out well at the end. Hmm, at least with the master's they got, they might be able to do some research

 

[darklabel]

I think it is as long as you go to the right program. There's a lot of "SMP" programs but very few are actually good. Look for small programs and ones that have strong linkages. For instance, Georgetown is a good program, but at ~50k tuition and a class of ~110 students, I wouldn't risk such a gamble, but some people are/can and somehow make it to the top 10% of the class that gets into Georgetown.

I would say do your research and do it well. Very few programs in the nation are actually worth your time and a majority of the ones out there usually get people into DO, pods etc schools, which you could've done without an SMP.

 

[notbobtrustme]

SMP is do or die. If you don't perform well, your chances are boned.

 

[Instatewaiter]

SMP is do or die. If you don't perform well, your chances are boned.

Realistically, I do think you'd really have to underperform (like Cs or all Bs) to have no shot at DO school after an SMP.

Personally I think the risk is reasonable to get your academic career back on track.

 

[notbobtrustme]

Realistically, I do think you'd really have to underperform (like Cs or all Bs) to have no shot at DO school after an SMP.

Personally I think the risk is reasonable to get your academic career back on track.

I totally agree; I just wanted to say that don't half-ass an SMP. It's really a med school audition and every single party involved knows that. You can't gloss over a poor SMP performance to any adcom committee.

 

[battousai]

Well if you're applying, I would apply DO and some SMP programs. I think that if you don't have a preference of MD or DO, that you should go DO and save yourself the 50-60k

 

[mommy2three]

I totally agree; I just wanted to say that don't half-ass an SMP. It's really a med school audition and every single party involved knows that. You can't gloss over a poor SMP performance to any adcom committee.

I have to agree with this completely.

i am unusual in that i somehow got a second shot to do an SMP after missing the gpa cutoff in the first one i did by one question on an exam.

so i have been on both sides of the coin - the underestimating what it would take side and underperforming and very well risking my chance at ever attending medical school ever again -

and the i finished one with success and got into medical school and am in the match process right now side of things.


an SMP is not a magic solution - it is not a get into medical school free card. it is a very real risk. you should not underestimate that. it is not good enough to go in and get b's - you need to get a's. and before you say that is easy do not underestimate the amount of study time it takes to do that. the classes you run into are unlike any you have every taken and will challenge you on every single level.

so should you consider a SMP - yes you should. but before you should you need to stop and ask yourself if you are ready to make whatever sacrifice you have to make in order to get the grades you need.

also you need to look at the program you are applying to - where do their graduates end up? how many go into medical school? where do they go to medical school? etc. you want to make sure you are someplace that can get you where you want to be if you go there and are not wasting $$ or time.

gl

 

[Status Sciaticus]

I did very well in my SMP.

Prior to that : zero interviews

After SMP: 5 IIs so far (4MD/1DO)

Admittedly, I did improve my MCAT as well.

 

[Seeker99]

What if OP just creamed the MCAT?

I mean, my story is similar to theirs where I had crappy GPA (3.3) and I rocked my MCAT the second time I took it bringing my LizzyM score up to 70. I decided to forego SMP's after this partly because of the EC's I can do with the extra time and because I didn't think I needed GPA improvement anymore.

 

[futuremddo]

I'm also curious to the answer to this question. What does, for example, a 3.3 overall GPA (lower in undergrad, higher in post-bacc), 35 MCAT, and a solid last two years of As in an informal post-bacc with upper-levels look like?

 

[darklabel]

What if OP just creamed the MCAT?

I mean, my story is similar to theirs where I had crappy GPA (3.3) and I rocked my MCAT the second time I took it bringing my LizzyM score up to 70. I decided to forego SMP's after this partly because of the EC's I can do with the extra time and because I didn't think I needed GPA improvement anymore.

I'm also curious to the answer to this question. What does, for example, a 3.3 overall GPA (lower in undergrad, higher in post-bacc), 35 MCAT, and a solid last two years of As in an informal post-bacc with upper-levels look like?

See what happens and apply to SMPs at the same time.

Also, I think these cases are why applying early is very important.