SMP's for low MCATers

[Murphy Brown]

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My GPA is high (3.8), but my MCAT is off the charts low. I'm retaking but my practice scores are still low. I'm just not that good a test taker. I'm applying MD and DO, but I don't want to go to the Carib. Is there any SMP I can do? Any advice.

 

[RySerr21]

My GPA is high (3.8), but my MCAT is off the charts low. I'm retaking but my practice scores are still low. I'm just not that good a test taker. I'm applying MD and DO, but I don't want to go to the Carib. Is there any SMP I can do? Any advice.

An SMP would be a complete waste of time and money with a 3.8 GPA. Its going to do nothing for your MCAT score and do next to nothing for your GPA. How low is "off the charts low?" The teens? Mid 20s?

Advice: absolutley do not waste time doing an SMP. Try to figure out ways to do better on the MCAT b/c right now thats the only thing holding you back. Have you taken a prep course? How did you study last time? Did you change that study habit since it clearly didn't work?

 

[WeAreNotRobots]

An SMP would be a complete waste of time and money with a 3.8 GPA. Its going to do nothing for your MCAT score and do next to nothing for your GPA. How low is "off the charts low?" The teens? Mid 20s?

Advice: absolutley do not waste time doing an SMP. Try to figure out ways to do better on the MCAT b/c right now thats the only thing holding you back. Have you taken a prep course? How did you study last time? Did you change that study habit since it clearly didn't work?

hell yeah.

to improve your gpa, you can do a postbacc, or specifically an smp. this does NOT apply to you.

to improve your mcat score, you should prepare for and retake the mcat. this does apply to you.

 

[han14tra]

This is impossible to answer without knowing you MCAT score. If you go a 3 J, you may be in permanent danger. If you got a 25P like me, then you might get into a MD school. I did. In fact, I had 5 MD interview offers (no carrib schools. All were US allopathic schools).

 

[Murphy Brown]

I got a 20 on the real thing. I enrolled in a Princeton course and changed all my study materials. I just took three AAMC practice tests this past week and scored a 21, 22, and 21. I feel like I know the information, but I have a habit of narrowing down to two questions and always picking the wrong one. The one I pick always makes sense to me and most of the time, it isn't blatantly wrong, it's just not right if that makes sense?

I don't know what to do.

 

[han14tra]

I would get the EK books including the 1001 Q series. Do lots of practice questions, and then check the back of the book. It gives you explanations. There is a strategy for how to take the MCAT. They deliberately try to confuse you and you have to learn their tactics.

Initially, I was stuck at the 20 mark for about 4 months. I had a friend tell me to do practice problems because I falsely believed that merely memorizing the PR and Kaplan books were guarentee me a perfect score. Once I started doing EK practice problems, my score went from a 20-28 in two weeks. If only I had recognized the problem sooner, I may have done better on the MCAT.

 

[Bacchus]

My GPA is high (3.8), but my MCAT is off the charts low. I'm retaking but my practice scores are still low. I'm just not that good a test taker. I'm applying MD and DO, but I don't want to go to the Carib. Is there any SMP I can do? Any advice.

With all due respect, at your current level now you probably will have an extremely hard time getting in somewhere. Keep up with your PR course and practice, practice, practice.

 

[wurm]

I heard Exam Crackers is pretty good. My friend was only getting as high as 28 on his MCAT before EC but then after he read those books he got a 37 on the test. I myself did not read all the books. I only read the verbal one and it pushed me up from an 8 to a 10.

 

[Terpskins99]

I would get the EK books including the 1001 Q series. Do lots of practice questions, and then check the back of the book. It gives you explanations. There is a strategy for how to take the MCAT. They deliberately try to confuse you and you have to learn their tactics.

Initially, I was stuck at the 20 mark for about 4 months. I had a friend tell me to do practice problems because I falsely believed that merely memorizing the PR and Kaplan books were guarentee me a perfect score. Once I started doing EK practice problems, my score went from a 20-28 in two weeks. If only I had recognized the problem sooner, I may have done better on the MCAT.

👍👍👍

You need to figure out the pattern of mistakes that you are making. Continue to hit the practice questions hard (always do them timed).

 

[alibai3ah]

SMPs are catered to students completely different from you. They usually favor higher MCAT/ Low GPA. There is absolutely no reason for you to take on the financial commitment of a SMP when you have a 3.8 GPA. Try doing a lot of practice problems for the MCAT, it helps a lot. Berkeley Review helped improve my score...

 

[Aladdin]

Waste of time. SMP's will help override a poor GPA. Spend your time studying for the MCAT instead.

 

[Bunny Fru Fru]

I don't know what an SMP is? I tried to look it up in various other ways, but thought I'd just rather not waste more time and ask. I'm fairly new to SDN, sorry if this is an elementary question.

 

[Bacchus]

Its a Specials Master's Program where you take the first year medical school classes to show you can withstand the academic rigor. Doing well usually gets you an acceptance. I'm not sure, but there may be programs that will take you as long as you reach a certain standard in the program.

 

[Murphy Brown]

Thank you guys. I've done most of what you suggested in this thread but I guess I just have to try harder. I'm just losing faith and feel very discouraged thinking this is what could keep me out of med school after so many years of hard work. It's just disheartening.

 

[flip26]

Any question in your mind that the quality and rigor of the pre req courses you took was adequate?

How are peers from your college faring in this process?

Have you taken all of the pre-reqs?

How have you done on other standardized tests like the SAT?

The inability to score well on the MCAT will doom your chances...as a med student, there are more standardized tests in your future, and med schools pick students who seem to have a knack for these tests...

 

[Murphy Brown]

Any question in your mind that the quality and rigor of the pre req courses you took was adequate?

How are peers from your college faring in this process?

Have you taken all of the pre-reqs?

How have you done on other standardized tests like the SAT?

The inability to score well on the MCAT will doom your chances...as a med student, there are more standardized tests in your future, and med schools pick students who seem to have a knack for these tests...

I have taken all the pre-reqs. I felt and still feel I got a good education. I rarely miss the straightforward questions, like discretes, but my problem is in the inference questions from passages and such in both the PS and BS section. I always narrow it down to two and most of the time, I go with the wrong one. I'm a poor test taker in these kinds of tests. My SAT score was just average, nothing to write home about but not an epic fail.

 

[Mr FES]

My GPA is high (3.8), but my MCAT is off the charts low. I'm retaking but my practice scores are still low. I'm just not that good a test taker. I'm applying MD and DO, but I don't want to go to the Carib. Is there any SMP I can do? Any advice.

Its a Specials Master's Program where you take the first year medical school classes to show you can withstand the academic rigor. Doing well usually gets you an acceptance. I'm not sure, but there may be programs that will take you as long as you reach a certain standard in the program.

Bachus is absolutely right. Check out the M.S. in medical sciences at UNT HSC. It's one year long and you take most of the classes the first year medical students at TCOM take. In fact, you even take gross anatomy together. Students who attain a certain GPA are admitted straight into TCOM (one of the best, if not THE best DO school in the country). Better yet, students that decide to apply for other allopathic schools in Texas usually have no trouble at all gaining acceptance. I am about to graduate in May and was accepted into my top choice medical school.
This program also includes scheduled shadowing, an MCAT preparatory course with Princeton review, application orientation and even mock interviews (with the real adcom). It is a great choice for anyone trying to improve either MCAT or GPA.
If it comes to the worst and you decide medicine is not for you after completing the program, there is the option of staying an extra 6 months and updating to a master's in clinical research management (a very good field as I understand it).

oh well, like I said, check it out. I think it could benefit you:

http://www.hsc.unt.edu/Education/gsbs/medicalsciences.cfm

 

[GoldShadow]

I feel like I know the information, but I have a habit of narrowing down to two questions and always picking the wrong one. The one I pick always makes sense to me and most of the time, it isn't blatantly wrong, it's just not right if that makes sense?

Narrow it down to two, then pick the opposite of what you'd normally pick.

 

[Just Joshin]

Bachus is absolutely right. Check out the M.S. in medical sciences at UNT HSC. It's one year long and you take most of the classes the first year medical students at TCOM take. In fact, you even take gross anatomy together. Students who attain a certain GPA are admitted straight into TCOM (one of the best, if not THE best DO school in the country). Better yet, students that decide to apply for other allopathic schools in Texas usually have no trouble at all gainning acceptance. I am about to graduate in May and was accepted into my top choice medical school.
This program also includes scheduled shaddowing, an MCAT preparatory course with Princeton review, application orientation and even mock interviews (with the real adcom). It wis a great choice for anyone trying to improve either MCAT or GPA.
If it comes to worse and you decide medicine is not for you after completing the program, there is the option of staying an extra 6 months and updating to a master's in clinical research management (a very good field as I understand it).

oh well, like I said, check it out. I think it could benefit you:

http://www.hsc.unt.edu/Education/gsbs/medicalsciences.cfm

Everyone else is saying SMP's are a waste of time with a 3.8. She said she already took Princeton so what's the point on doing it again through an SMP? What if she completes the program and still can't get the MCAT score up? If it's test taking skills, she needs to work on the test. In the time it takes to complete that program, she could have studied her butt off and get her test taking skills up to snuff.

 

[BrainBuff]

MurphyBrown, I am curious about something. How were your SATs or ACT scores?

I am trying to correlate if people who score well in these standardized tests, do well across the board or if the MCATs are really something completely different.

I am finding out so far Hi SATs, ACTs will translate into Hi MCAT. The GPA is a different ball game. I know of 4.0s with mid 20s MCATs

 

[Just Joshin]

MurphyBrown, I am curious about something. How were your SATs or ACT scores?

I am trying to correlate if people who score well in these standardized tests, do well across the board or if the MCATs are really something completely different.

I am finding out so far Hi SATs, ACTs will translate into Hi MCAT. The GPA is a different ball game. I know of 4.0s with mid 20s MCATs

Already answered. Scroll up.

 

[GoldShadow]

I am trying to correlate if people who score well in these standardized tests, do well across the board or if the MCATs are really something completely different.

A number of people have done this before, I'm sure you'll find their "results" if you do a quick search.

 

[BrainBuff]

Gotcha. It definitely seems to hold true.

 

[Kaustikos]

My GPA is high (3.8), but my MCAT is off the charts low. I'm retaking but my practice scores are still low. I'm just not that good a test taker. I'm applying MD and DO, but I don't want to go to the Carib. Is there any SMP I can do? Any advice.

My advice

Graduate and get a part-time job while keeping some EC's and focus on your MCAT. Without having to worry about your coursework, you can instead focus on the MCAT and work on getting it to the range that will land you acceptances/interviews.

Don't do SMPs or anything like that because you don't need to prove anything because your GPA isn't holding you back. Focus your efforts on getting that MCAT to a 27-30.👍

 

[ChichiMD]

My GPA is high (3.8), but my MCAT is off the charts low. I'm retaking but my practice scores are still low. I'm just not that good a test taker. I'm applying MD and DO, but I don't want to go to the Carib. Is there any SMP I can do? Any advice.

DO NOT listen to people who tell you that you have no chance. Thats the first most important advise I can render.

Now, EK saved my life!! Its so tiny but quite comprehensive. I took the MCAT as a junior and didnt do quite hot and I kept hearing that the average number of points I could go up in a re-take was 2 or 3.

I went up by 10 points!!!!! The biggest key is to realize that the MCAT is not quite a test of aptitude (in my humble opinion). It requires good test taking skills so maybe you need to polish that. I also think it is more conceptual than it is factual based.

Oh yea...I think PR is ridiculous volume wise. tres unncessary. Eww.

Goodluck and PM me if you need to 🙂

 

[Terpskins99]

SMPs are catered to students completely different from you. They usually favor higher MCAT/ Low GPA. There is absolutely no reason for you to take on the financial commitment of a SMP when you have a 3.8 GPA.

Not necessarily true. I attended the SMP at Boston University School of Medicine, and at least half of the students were of the high GPA/low MCAT variety. They all did extremely well and all advanced to medical school, though they all eventually repeated the MCAT (myself included). Virtually everyone improves.

I think people tend to miss the point of the relationship between the MCAT and admissions committees. The MCAT is supposed to project your ability to perform in a medical school environment. But if you do well in an SMP, then that effectively demonstrates to most programs that you WILL succeed regardless of how you do on the MCAT.

Anyhow, I think most medical school admissions committees are aware of how lousy the MCAT is able to predict future performance on the USMLE.

 

[Mr FES]

Everyone else is saying SMP's are a waste of time with a 3.8. She said she already took Princeton so what's the point on doing it again through an SMP? What if she completes the program and still can't get the MCAT score up? If it's test taking skills, she needs to work on the test. In the time it takes to complete that program, she could have studied her butt off and get her test taking skills up to snuff.

Originally Posted by Mr FES
Bachus is absolutely right. Check out the M.S. in medical sciences at UNT HSC. It's one year long and you take most of the classes the first year medical students at TCOM take. In fact, you even take gross anatomy together. Students who attain a certain GPA are admitted straight into TCOM (one of the best, if not THE best DO school in the country). Better yet, students that decide to apply for other allopathic schools in Texas usually have no trouble at all gainning acceptance. I am about to graduate in May and was accepted into my top choice medical school.
This program also includes scheduled shaddowing, an MCAT preparatory course with Princeton review, application orientation and even mock interviews (with the real adcom). It wis a great choice for anyone trying to improve either MCAT or GPA.
If it comes to worse and you decide medicine is not for you after completing the program, there is the option of staying an extra 6 months and updating to a master's in clinical research management (a very good field as I understand it).

oh well, like I said, check it out. I think it could benefit you:

http://www.hsc.unt.edu/Education/gsb...alsciences.cfm

 

[Decicco]

I considered an SMP when I got my first MCAT score (26, and like you I had a high GPA). I quickly found out that the only way to fix a low MCAT score is to get a better one. With a low MCAT, you can still get into Carib/DO schools. If you want to go to an MD school you will have to retake. It is a lot of work, and very trying, but if you put your mind to it I'm sure you can succeed. PM me if you want specific advice or if you have any quesitons.

 

[flip26]

Originally Posted by Mr FES
Bachus is absolutely right.

In the post you are referring to, Bacchus was simply explaining what an SMP is, not advocating that the OP attend one.

Your advice to the OP to attend an SMP is wrong. The OP needs to raise his MCAT, not attend an SMP.

 

[87138]

Bachus is absolutely right. Check out the M.S. in medical sciences at UNT HSC. It's one year long and you take most of the classes the first year medical students at TCOM take. In fact, you even take gross anatomy together. Students who attain a certain GPA are admitted straight into TCOM (one of the best, if not THE best DO school in the country). Better yet, students that decide to apply for other allopathic schools in Texas usually have no trouble at all gainning acceptance. I am about to graduate in May and was accepted into my top choice medical school.
This program also includes scheduled shaddowing, an MCAT preparatory course with Princeton review, application orientation and even mock interviews (with the real adcom). It wis a great choice for anyone trying to improve either MCAT or GPA.
If it comes to worse and you decide medicine is not for you after completing the program, there is the option of staying an extra 6 months and updating to a master's in clinical research management (a very good field as I understand it).

oh well, like I said, check it out. I think it could benefit you:

http://www.hsc.unt.edu/Education/gsbs/medicalsciences.cfm

This is how people end up with 4's on VR.

 

[MilkmanAl]

This is impossible to answer without knowing you MCAT score. If you go a 3 J, you may be in permanent danger. If you got a 25P like me, then you might get into a MD school. I did. In fact, I had 5 MD interview offers (no carrib schools. All were US allopathic schools).

Would you PLEASE quit saying things like this? Yours is an extremely unique case, and it is quite unlikely that anyone with a 25 on the MCAT would get any MD interviews at all, let alone 5. Stop using your rare exception to prove a made up rule.

All right, I admit I haven't gone through this entire thread, so if this has been said, forgive me. SMP's are more useful for people with bad GPA's because GPA's are often very hard to fix. Retaking the MCAT, however, is pretty easy now that it's computer-based. Retaking the MCAT also does't run the risk of irrevocably demolishing your chances at med school like SMP's do. Doing poorly in a SMP is proof positive that you're not cut out for med school, whereas another poor MCAT score is bad but not crippling.

 

[Decicco]

This is impossible to answer without knowing you MCAT score. If you go a 3 J, you may be in permanent danger. If you got a 25P like me, then you might get into a MD school. I did. In fact, I had 5 MD interview offers (no carrib schools. All were US allopathic schools).

This is a longshot. You made it, nice job, but its not a path to advise others to go down.

 

[Mr FES]

Your advice to the OP to attend an SMP is wrong. The OP needs to raise his MCAT, not attend an SMP.[/quote]

In the post you are referring to, Bacchus was simply explaining what an SMP is, not advocating that the OP attend one.

Your advice to the OP to attend an SMP is wrong. The OP needs to raise his MCAT, not attend an SMP.

I apologize. I didn't mean to give the impression that Bacchus was endorsing the SMP. What I meant to say is that, as Bacchus pointed, there are in fact some SMPs where students follow the medical school first year curriculum and gain admission upon completion if G.P.A. is high enough.

The possibility of guaranteed admission is the reason I think OP might benefit from the specific SMP program mentioned.
Of course there are no quick fixes for a low MCAT score (traditionally students attaining the guaranteed admissions have scores in the mid to high 20's anyways), but if OP is already going to wait one year to re-apply, I still think this SMP might be a valid option as it improves his overall application while he works on improving his test score.