So does an SMP automatically delay you two class years ?

[TheBatman]

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So if I do a 1 year SMP this upcoming August there's no way I'd matriculate the following summer right? My grades won't be in until the end of May and obviously by then the final acceptances will have already been mailed out. So my question is what would I do the following year when I'm out of school?

 

[ZedsDed]

Do you what you want with the last free year of your life.

 

[Goro]

I fowould really depend upon your having stellar grades (and the rest of the package) by, say, Dec, so if you interview in late winter/early spring, Adcoms have something to show that you can handle medical school. Will that be enough? I really can't say. At my school, we like to see how you do in the entire year.


So if I do a 1 year SMP this upcoming August there's no way I'd matriculate the following summer right?

That's easy. You work and save some money, and continue some service work on the side to show your commitment.


My grades won't be in until the end of May and obviously by then the final acceptances will have already been mailed out. So my question is what would I do the following year when I'm out of school?

 

[Pyoori]

As long as your SMP is over by the time your medical school term starts, you can still apply the same year you're attending. Some SMP's like Georgetown actually strongly encourage this, and you'd be giving schools updates on your tests + grades throughout the year.

 

[Catalystik]

So if I do a 1 year SMP this upcoming August there's no way I'd matriculate the following summer right?

We've seen a few SMPers get an acceptance in mid-cycle based on their fall-term grades, but these will generally be those who began their GPA resuscitation for at least a year before starting the SMP.

 

[Redpancreas]

My friend did an SMP at a satellite program of Georgetown (that works just like georgetown including linkage so it's only 10 students). For example, they interview 5 students (50% interview rate), take all the same classes, etc... I personally have no opinion on this but he was very upset when the program wasn't able to get his grades out immediately and currently he's looking at another year without medical school out of college. He did get interviews but was ultimately rejected. He went in with the mindset of getting in that very year. Now he's unsure of what to do.

So in answer to your question, yes it's definitely possible because my friend almost did it but it seems like you'd have to get very good SMP grades and have a decent application (minus the GPA) without it. This is probably why most SMPs recommend two years. Also, beware of Georgetown's deceptive stats. When they say 50% of students get into medical school the following year and 83% get in the year after, they're including DO schools (which was probably an option open to a majority of SMPers in the first place) and probably even Pod/Carribbean (DONT QUOTE ME ON THE LAST TWO, THAT'S MY GUESS). Call me snobby but I don't think a program that fails to get 17% of its applicants into atleast DO school after it's second year is very good. This is why I only recommend SMPs to applicants who have one problem and only one problem with their application: GPA. If they're low in some other category like the MCAT, retake! If you only have 100 hrs. of volunteering total, get some more! Also, clinical volunteering and shadowing are BOTH mandatory for the typical applicant. If you have no research, maybe look for some in a gap year. I see too many applicants resort to SMPs instead of retaking an MCAT or boosting their applications further.

 

[ZedsDed]

My friend did an SMP at a satellite program of Georgetown (that works just like georgetown including linkage so it's only 10 students). For example, they interview 5 students (50% interview rate), take all the same classes, etc... I personally have no opinion on this but he was very upset when the program wasn't able to get his grades out immediately and currently he's looking at another year without medical school out of college. He did get interviews but was ultimately rejected. He went in with the mindset of getting in that very year. Now he's unsure of what to do.

So in answer to your question, yes it's definitely possible because my friend almost did it but it seems like you'd have to get very good SMP grades and have a decent application (minus the GPA) without it. This is probably why most SMPs recommend two years. Also, beware of Georgetown's deceptive stats. When they say 50% of students get into medical school the following year and 83% get in the year after, they're including DO schools (which was probably an option open to a majority of SMPers in the first place) and probably even Pod/Carribbean (DONT QUOTE ME ON THE LAST TWO, THAT'S MY GUESS). Call me snobby but I don't think a program that fails to get 17% of its applicants into atleast DO school after it's second year is very good. This is why I only recommend SMPs to applicants who have one problem and only one problem with their application: GPA. If they're low in some other category like the MCAT, retake! If you only have 100 hrs. of volunteering total, get some more! Also, clinical volunteering and shadowing are BOTH mandatory for the typical applicant. If you have no research, maybe look for some in a gap year. I see too many applicants resort to SMPs instead of retaking an MCAT or boosting their applications further.

The part in bold is the only part of your statement I believe is incorrect (I know, it was a guess.) Everything else you said should be seared into the brain of every SMPer. SMP programs (including Georgetown) bear no responsibility for what happens to you after you finish the program. All of you who are doing an SMP to avoid DO, need to understand that DO may happen anyway.

 

[Redpancreas]

The part in bold is the only part of your statement I believe is incorrect (I know, it was a guess.) Everything else you said should be seared into the brain of every SMPer. SMP programs (including Georgetown) bear no responsibility for what happens to you after you finish the program. All of you who are doing an SMP to avoid DO, need to understand that DO may happen anyway.

I could not agree more and I totally could be wrong about the POD/Carribbean. I know this is anecdotal but all three friends I know who attempted SMP have all had to go the DO route. No one got further than an MD interview that I personally know.

 

[ZedsDed]

I could not agree more and I totally could be wrong about the POD/Carribbean. I know this is anecdotal but all three friends I know who attempted SMP have all had to go the DO route. No one got further than an MD interview that I personally know.

Well, if we look at Georgetown, the majority (I don't know what the exact number is), do end up going MD. But it is the most established SMP in the country. As for other, random, self-proclaimed "SMPs"? Applicants need to understand that universities are selling you a product, and will dress it up accordingly.

 

[TheBatman]

My friend did an SMP at a satellite program of Georgetown (that works just like georgetown including linkage so it's only 10 students). For example, they interview 5 students (50% interview rate), take all the same classes, etc... I personally have no opinion on this but he was very upset when the program wasn't able to get his grades out immediately and currently he's looking at another year without medical school out of college. He did get interviews but was ultimately rejected. He went in with the mindset of getting in that very year. Now he's unsure of what to do.

So in answer to your question, yes it's definitely possible because my friend almost did it but it seems like you'd have to get very good SMP grades and have a decent application (minus the GPA) without it. This is probably why most SMPs recommend two years. Also, beware of Georgetown's deceptive stats. When they say 50% of students get into medical school the following year and 83% get in the year after, they're including DO schools (which was probably an option open to a majority of SMPers in the first place) and probably even Pod/Carribbean (DONT QUOTE ME ON THE LAST TWO, THAT'S MY GUESS). Call me snobby but I don't think a program that fails to get 17% of its applicants into atleast DO school after it's second year is very good. This is why I only recommend SMPs to applicants who have one problem and only one problem with their application: GPA. If they're low in some other category like the MCAT, retake! If you only have 100 hrs. of volunteering total, get some more! Also, clinical volunteering and shadowing are BOTH mandatory for the typical applicant. If you have no research, maybe look for some in a gap year. I see too many applicants resort to SMPs instead of retaking an MCAT or boosting their applications further.

Thanks for the advice. For me it's my gpa I think everything else is good. If I'm taking the classes with first year med students, do I go into Med school with credits? (I know this is possibly a stupid question)

 

[ZedsDed]

Thanks for the advice. For me it's my gpa I think everything else is good. If I'm taking the classes with first year med students, do I go into Med school with credits? (I know this is possibly a stupid question)

It's a perfectly fine question. I believe for Georgetown, if you matriculate into GSOM, then the answer is partially yes. The majority of the time the answer is no. I don't know if there are any other exceptions like Georgetown, you have to do your own research.

 

[TheBatman]

It's a perfectly fine question. I believe for Georgetown, if you matriculate into GSOM, then the answer is partially yes. The majority of the time the answer is no. I don't know if there are any other exceptions like Georgetown, you have to do your own research.

Georgetown is my top 3. You seem to have lots knowledge about it. First thing that jumped out was how expensive it is compared to the others. My GPA is extremely low barely 3.0 when concerning allopathic schools. However when you take in to account grad replacement my GPA is over 3.5. I mention this because when SMP's look at your GPA do they look at the former or latter?

 

[ZedsDed]

My GPA is extremely low barely 3.0 when concerning allopathic schools. However when you take in to account grad replacement my GPA is over 3.5. I mention this because when SMP's look at your GPA do they look at the former or latter?

What is grad replacement? Your uGPA is separate from your gGPA. MD SMP's calculate your GPA as expected. A 3.0 is low for Georgetown, but SMPs are such a crapshoot I say apply anyway...assuming your MCAT is 30+. Don't count on being in the top 12% or so of SMPers at Georgetown that matriculate into the SOM, that is not a realistic plan.

You seem to have lots knowledge about it.

Not really. Everything I know is easily found on SDN/the internet/the school's website; nobody here holds any secret knowledge.

First thing that jumped out was how expensive it is compared to the others.

Damn straight. I'm not going to tell you not to take this gamble, but think long and hard before you invest 50K to possibly have a shot at MD schools. You could end up in massive debt when you take into account SMP tuition+private DO school tuition (god forbid OOS.) Not to mention the possibility that you might underperform at Georgetown, and be stuck with a completely useless masters degree and 50k in debt. If you decide to go DO, a 3.5 GPA is competitive just about everywhere.

 

[darkeon]

Georgetown is my top 3. You seem to have lots knowledge about it. First thing that jumped out was how expensive it is compared to the others. My GPA is extremely low barely 3.0 when concerning allopathic schools. However when you take in to account grad replacement my GPA is over 3.5. I mention this because when SMP's look at your GPA do they look at the former or latter?

grade replacement? That policy only applies to the app system for DO schools. If your gpa with grade replacement is indeed over a 3.5, D.O is in your realm. Do the SMP if hungry for a shot with MD

 

[TheBatman]

What is grad replacement? Your uGPA is separate from your gGPA. MD SMP's calculate your GPA as expected. A 3.0 is low for Georgetown, but SMPs are such a crapshoot I say apply anyway...assuming your MCAT is 30+. Don't count on being in the top 12% or so of SMPers at Georgetown that matriculate into the SOM, that is not a realistic plan.

Not really. Everything I know is easily found on SDN/the internet/the school's website; nobody here holds any secret knowledge.

Damn straight. I'm not going to tell you not to take this gamble, but think long and hard before you invest 50K to possibly have a shot at MD schools. You could end up in massive debt when you take into account SMP tuition+private DO school tuition (god forbid OOS.) Not to mention the possibility that you might underperform at Georgetown, and be stuck with a completely useless masters degree and 50k in debt. If you decide to go DO, a 3.5 GPA is competitive just about everywhere.

It was a typo I meant to say grade replacement. Ok, so what you're saying is Georgetown won't use my UG gpa that's on my UG transcript? Instead they'll average out all my retakes and failed courses just as an allopathic school does when making an admission decision for their SMP? I looked on the websites but the never mention a specific gpa.

 

[darkeon]

It was a typo I meant to say grade replacement. Ok, so what you're saying is Georgetown won't use my UG gpa that's on my UG transcript? Instead they'll average out all my retakes and failed courses just as an allopathic school does when making an admission decision for their SMP? I looked on the websites but the never mention a specific gpa.

Ah, you're asking how Georgetown SMP calculates the gpa. Well, I have no clue. Unless someone rings in here, you might want to try out the post-bacc forum specificlly threads relating to Georgetown SMP or call their office.

 

[ZedsDed]

It was a typo I meant to say grade replacement. Ok, so what you're saying is Georgetown won't use my UG gpa that's on my UG transcript? Instead they'll average out all my retakes and failed courses just as an allopathic school does when making an admission decision for their SMP? I looked on the websites but the never mention a specific gpa.

Yeah. Georgetown calculates your GPA like a traditional allopathic school; no grade replacement. Which is why I said DO is your best route.