**The Official Guide to Special Masters Programs**

[0Complications]

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Apparently..

"some Masters Programs offer an automatic medical school interview contingent upon grades as well. Again these vary from program to program."


Does anyone know which Masters Programs allow these interviews, depending on how you do w/ grades? As many as you can list, would be much appreciated. Thank you!!!

I've just started looking into these programs, but the ones that I've come across tonight that offered the option were Tufts (top 25% of the SMP class and then on a case by case) and there was one other school that offered all of their SMP students an interview, but I can't seem to recall which one it was (I'm getting pretty tired and I've been through about 10 different SMP websites [I think it was Tulane though]), but I will look into again and try to post it later today.


I was wondering if any of you guys would consider doing an SMP program not only to bolster your application, but also to fill your gap-year with a great education crammed into a short period of time?

I have to say that the idea of getting as MS in one year in my field of interest (physiology and all things related) is a tempting stand alone proposition. But the one concern that i have is the repeat effect - I don't want to take a number of courses that will just be retaken the year after in medical school. Are most of these courses direct mirror courses from medical school? Not that it would be horrible to get the leg up on some of these courses, but sitting through a Biochem course two times when you get it the first seems very counterproductive. Can you substitute coursework taken during the SMP (the ones that are taken with Med students) for other courses you're interested in during med school or do you have to retake them all again regardless of the school?

By the way, this is a great thread!

 

[0Complications]

I know there is another one (I can see the screen in mind), but I can't seem to locate it.

I did, however, find that Georgetown offers ~50% of their SMP students interviews, but this is merit based.

From the research I've done in the last few days I think it's fairly safe to assume that if you really excel in an SMP with an affiliated medical school, then your chances of an interview at that school (not to mention other unaffiliated schools) are dramatically increased. I've been looking at numbers that show ~85% matriculation rate within one year of graduation of SMP's (The year immediately following the SMP is a little lower ~50%).

It's not an exhaustive list, but now you know there are at least 3 schools that preferentially select students from their programs.

Hope it helps.

 

[NJD519]

Would anyone know how to go about shadowing a physician. I'm looking to get some hours clocked in, however, I'm not sure how to go about it. Any information would bhe great! Thanks...

 

[smd09]

Does the SMP essay resemble a medical school personal statement? I was planning on writing my medical school personal statement and using the same to apply to medical school later (and make some additions based on SMP experiences later).

 

[MedSchBound]

I did the Barry University 1 year - track one SMP program, so if anyone has any questions just ask me on here or PM me.


J

DrZeke, how did you find the Barry University 1 year program? Did it help you to get into medical school?

 

[THEChris137]

So i have a 32M and a 3.28 undergrad and 3.0 science but my only C is in calculus that I took over the summer (worst decision ever). Would an SMP be a good idea for me. I don't know if I would have a good shot for getting in and am a little worried on spending that much money without knowing how good my shot would be to get into an MD program afterwords. I have applied to about 12 or 13 MD schools now and haven't made up my mind about DO.

How much time do I have to decide and would it really help if i got into one? Does anyone have a link to a list of the programs and what they are like?

 

[twinnie]

just to let you all know, this thread has been EXTREMELY helpful to me! I didn't even know about SMPs before I ran across mention of them on SDN. Anyways, I need some advice.

I have a 3.7GPA, 3.3science, 29R MCAT (8PS, 11V, 10B) and am a senior biomajor at a liberal arts school. I am an Ohio resident, and applied to around 10 schools in the area, but I really think I will NOT get in this time around. (Lack of clinical experience, low MCAT, science GPA).

Am I a good candidate for an SMP? I can't make up my mind whether I want to attend Toledo (and do the Toledo SMP), or try to shoot higher for OSU, Cincy, etc. with going to a higher tier SMP like Georgetown.

Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated! Good luck to you all😀

 

[Day man]

Hello sdners,
First time post, just wanted an opinion of some people who are/were in my position.

So I am a senior BME major at GaTech, graduating this December in 4.5, with 2 semesters of co-op experience. My GPA overal is a 3.3 and my science GPA is ~3.5.

I scored a 33R on my mcat, and have a good amount of volunteer/research/clinical experience. I have applied to 22 schools, and so far it looks like I would be going to a school like drexel, robert wood johnson, or UMDNJ.

I was wondering what thoughts were on me applying to one of the upper tier SMP to boost my overall application, and reapply next matriculation to get into some good schools or even get financial aid. Does anyone think this would be worth it, or even possible? Thanks,

 

[NutCracker2021]

um...honestly you got in..why not just go to medical school right now?? Personally the tier of a medical school doesnt mean anything..you have to pass the boards (which compares you to everyone) and then from there you get into a good residency..its about where you finish..

also with that being said..what if you get into an SMP and do not do well..thats a huge risk..

 

[chucktown]

I have a question re: SMPs, specifically Georgetown...If you apply to an SMP in january and then apply to medical schools while attending the SMP, if you are accepted during the first semester can you opt out of completing the program?

 

[DrMidlife]

I have a question re: SMPs, specifically Georgetown...If you apply to an SMP in january and then apply to medical schools while attending the SMP, if you are accepted during the first semester can you opt out of completing the program?

A med school that accepts you is HIGHLY likely to require you to complete any program that you've started. If you opt out of completing an SMP without your med school's permission, you do so at your peril.

 

[halekulani]

Hello sdners,
First time post, just wanted an opinion of some people who are/were in my position.

So I am a senior BME major at GaTech, graduating this December in 4.5, with 2 semesters of co-op experience. My GPA overal is a 3.3 and my science GPA is ~3.5.

I scored a 33R on my mcat, and have a good amount of volunteer/research/clinical experience. I have applied to 22 schools, and so far it looks like I would be going to a school like drexel, robert wood johnson, or UMDNJ.

I was wondering what thoughts were on me applying to one of the upper tier SMP to boost my overall application, and reapply next matriculation to get into some good schools or even get financial aid. Does anyone think this would be worth it, or even possible? Thanks,

SMPs aren't designed to get you into a better med school
they're there to get you into ANY medical school.

 

[hung]

ppl have used it (ie. Gtown) to get into better schools. it is possible, but who knows of the success rate of it happening and worth the effort, money, and time. you also take a major risk if you don't excel in the program.

 

[halekulani]

there's no guarantee or inclination that it will

like i said, it's there to get you into medical school. getting to the upper tier is about you, not them.

 

[dxoxcx]

Hey everyone,

so i've been using the break to figure out what im doing with my life after i graduate. I currently have a 3.4 (maybe i can get it to a 3.5 by the end of the year) and a 30S MCAT. My EC's are definitely good, i'd say (2 yrs research, MS clinic, OR shadowing, Dance team, underprivileged mentoring, etc) Is it a good idea to apply to SMP programs, or should I just apply normally and get a job for a year instead? I cant decide, especially since medical school decisions are often so random!!!

 

[KiwiBruin]

Question for you guys:

If we get accepted into a SMP, and we do exceptionally well (3.8-4.0 ish) and they have merit based acceptances, do you think our undergrad GPAs will matter much getting into the medical school of the SMPs? (around 2.8)

Thanks in advance.

 

[Diddy1684]

This is an awesome thread!!!

First, I want to make sure I know the differences between non pre-health Post-bac (upper level science courses) programs and SMP's. Post-bac's are mainly undergraduate classes and SMP's graduate classes, right? Therefore, they would only count towards their respective GPA's?

Now, I am not sure which one I should do. I applied to medical schools VERY late this year (think November/December), so I do not think that I will be getting any interviews. However, I do not think the late submission is the sole reason for this. Here are my stats:

MCAT (taken 4 times, oldest score expired/will expire for med schools next year)
August 2005 – 7P 6V 10B – 23M
April 2007 – 7P 8V 8B – 23O
August 2007 – 6P 7V 10B – 23M
August 2008 – 8P 6V 12B – 26M


Graduated from a top 50 university with a BS in Bioengineering in '06 with GPA's…
BCPM = 3.09 (fr 2.46, sp 3.67, jr 3.57, sr 2.86)
AO = 3.03 (2.6, 3.33, 2.68, 3.1)
Cumulative = 3.06 (2.51, 3.5, 3.07, 3.02

The reason for the low verbal scores is that I moved to the US at the age of 12 and literature/language was never my forte. However, I can speak/read/talk English and spanish fluently and also have a modest knowledge of french.

I am working at a well known hospital as a research study coordinator (interacted with physicians, patients, families) for two years, I am a co-author in 1 journal publication and 5 abstracts (which will be published within the next year), volunteered during college at a hospital for 7 months (10 hrs/wk) and plan to start volunteering again in the spring as well as taking 2 undergrad science courses as part-time in a non-degree granting post-bac program at an ivy league .

So my questions are,

1) Should I apply to Post-Bac or Special Master programs?
2) Should I retake the MCAT (and hope to get a higher score?) to apply to SMP's? Plan to retake it when reapplying to med schools either way.
3) I read in an older post that it was recommended to attend a Post-bac and then a SMP, has anyone actually done this?
4) I have applied to the medical schools as an URM and financially disadvantaged. Do SMP's/Post-bac's take this into consideration?
5) Which Post-bac's and/or SMP's should I apply to?

Sorry for the long post, but any input will by much appreciated!

 

[hopefool]

Hey All,

I was just here looking for some advice. I graduated from Cornell undergrad almost 3 years ago and since last year have been taking my pre-reqs + some at Stony Brook University. I have a 3.6 gpa, in my courses thus far with physics 2 and orgo 2 yet to go. I should have a 3.6 + by the end of the spring.

I had planned on taking an MCAT course this summer and taking the MCAT in teh fall or winter sometime. My undergrad gpa from Cornell is low, like a 2.6. Do you think I could apply and get in for the 2010 class at an SMP, with my current grades, if I took an MCAT next year? Ill have a total of 60 + credits, all science and math, at a 3.6+.

Thanks!

 

[arcanin]

Let's say for example, you get into SMP in Boston university, would you have a bigger chance in admission to Boston university medical school, despite the fact of a low undergraduate GPA?

Would they look at the SMP more than the undergraduate GPA?

 

[dwc929]

Let's say for example, you get into SMP in Boston university, would you have a bigger chance in admission to Boston university medical school, despite the fact of a low undergraduate GPA?

Would they look at the SMP more than the undergraduate GPA?

BU has designated slots for their GMS students but I would not go as far as to say they would look at your graduate GPA more than your undergraduate GPA. But by that alone, you have an advantage over regular applicants assuming you stack up well against your classmates.

From experience, I know for a fact that if you take a certain number of grad units (I think it's 30 but don't quote me), Wayne State will primarily look at your grad GPA over your UG GPA.

 

[hopefool]

I would say yes and no. I know at Gtown, they say they interview the top 50% of the class but only about 20-30 students actually make it in their med school from each year's of SMP students. That's what I gathered from their website. it would still depend on your other stuff but to a degree I'd gather it would help. I suppose it would depend on how low low is for you.

Well I suppose first things first...What are the odds of even getting into an SMP for someone like me. UG GPA, 2.6, post-bac gpa through ~80 credits 3.6/7, 30+ MCAT?

 

[morgan19]

Random SMP question: I'm looking through the Georgetown SMP app. They are doing something I haven't seen before under the evaluation letters, where you provide the email addresses of your writers and Gtown writes them and asks them to upload your LOEs. I'm worried that my profs won't upload my letters quickly, erased my letters from their computer, and just the hassle of bothering them to go through all that work. My letters are in my school's database and also on Interfolio - does Gtown allow those 2 options??

 

[DrMidlife]

Random SMP question: I'm looking through the Georgetown SMP app. They are doing something I haven't seen before under the evaluation letters, where you provide the email addresses of your writers and Gtown writes them and asks them to upload your LOEs. I'm worried that my profs won't upload my letters quickly, erased my letters from their computer, and just the hassle of bothering them to go through all that work. My letters are in my school's database and also on Interfolio - does Gtown allow those 2 options??

List the reviewer's name, and put a made-up email address for Interfolio down. There are at least a dozen messages in the Yahoo Gtown group from the program director that say this is what to do. (The Yahoo group is called "physio" and you can read all 3724 posts since 2000 if you want...)

 

[morgan19]

Wow, this is going to make my life so much easier. I looked at the SMP applications for several other schools - they also have this email-the-writer system. Do you think they will also be doing what Gtown does and accept Interfolio?

 

[Daedalus]

^ yeah a lot of applications have that type of "send this request to your letter writer" business... no one (to my knowledge) does it that way. I just had my school's letter service send them. Interfolio will be fine.

 

[DrMidlife]

Wow, this is going to make my life so much easier. I looked at the SMP applications for several other schools - they also have this email-the-writer system. Do you think they will also be doing what Gtown does and accept Interfolio?

These schools want the letters you used (or will use) to apply to med school. Which means that you have Interfolio or some other service. Any expectation that you're going to go back to a recommender and ask for some new form/process to be done is ludicrous.

 

[halekulani]

Hey everyone,

so i've been using the break to figure out what im doing with my life after i graduate. I currently have a 3.4 (maybe i can get it to a 3.5 by the end of the year) and a 30S MCAT. My EC's are definitely good, i'd say (2 yrs research, MS clinic, OR shadowing, Dance team, underprivileged mentoring, etc) Is it a good idea to apply to SMP programs, or should I just apply normally and get a job for a year instead? I cant decide, especially since medical school decisions are often so random!!!

i would hold off on the SMP and just apply

 

[0Complications]

These schools want the letters you used (or will use) to apply to med school. Which means that you have Interfolio or some other service. Any expectation that you're going to go back to a recommender and ask for some new form/process to be done is ludicrous.

So just the standard LOR will work via interfolio?

Don't the letter forms have specific rating scales that the schools want the reviewers to complete?

Any ideas as to which schools don't accept interfolio? I have only found one school thus far that states interfolio is ok to use on it's application website. This LOR thing has been driving me crazy.

I actually asked for 2 separate letters from my LOR writers, one for the SMP and one for the Med, if I could tell them they only need to fill out one I'm sure they would greatly appreciate that.

 

[DrMidlife]

So just the standard LOR will work via interfolio?

Don't the letter forms have specific rating scales that the schools want the reviewers to complete?

Any ideas as to which schools don't accept interfolio? I have only found one school thus far that states interfolio is ok to use on it's application website. This LOR thing has been driving me crazy.

I actually asked for 2 separate letters from my LOR writers, one for the SMP and one for the Med, if I could tell them they only need to fill out one I'm sure they would greatly appreciate that.

The letter forms provided by schools are great if you are dealing with a fresh recommender who has no idea what to do for you - it's always good to provide a template or an example if one is asked for. You should be asking for one good letter for med school admissions from a recommender, and you should expect them to balk at requests for additional work.

To require your recommenders to jump through school-specific hoops is not reasonable. Get med school recommendations from your recommenders - don't set yourself up to need fresh ones next year. Why am I so confident about this? What I'm going on, specifically, is at least a dozen comments, over multiple app years, by Georgetown's director, all saying "ignore the form, send us Interfolio" in the physios group. (The other SMPs don't have message boards.) I'm also going on the six med school interview invites I got last year by ignoring schools' provided forms and sending Interfolio. SMPs want to see that you're med school material, so they want to see your med school recommendations, which means they need to speak Interfolio or similar.

In summary, don't let some secretary tell you what an SMP director needs from you, when it goes against common sense. Edit: that said, don't ever piss off a secretary. Be nice and polite.

 

[0Complications]

The letter forms provided by schools are great if you are dealing with a fresh recommender who has no idea what to do for you - it's always good to provide a template or an example if one is asked for. You should be asking for one good letter for med school admissions from a recommender, and you should expect them to balk at requests for additional work.

To require your recommenders to jump through school-specific hoops is not reasonable. Get med school recommendations from your recommenders - don't set yourself up to need fresh ones next year. Why am I so confident about this? What I'm going on, specifically, is at least a dozen comments, over multiple app years, by Georgetown's director, all saying "ignore the form, send us Interfolio" in the physios group. (The other SMPs don't have message boards.) I'm also going on the six med school interview invites I got last year by ignoring schools' provided forms and sending Interfolio. SMPs want to see that you're med school material, so they want to see your med school recommendations, which means they need to speak Interfolio or similar.

In summary, don't let some secretary tell you what an SMP director needs from you, when it goes against common sense. Edit: that said, don't ever piss off a secretary. Be nice and polite.

I appreciate the follow-up. I'm thinking I'll call the schools just to verify. I will definitely just send a med letter to Georgetown, but I'll see what the other schools want. I have 3 writers for my SMP and 5 for my med school application, the 3 that I asked for BOTH didn't seem to have any issues with the request, but if you are correct (which I'm sure you are), then it will make it much easier on everyone involved if one letter is all that is needed for both programs.

I'll be sure to post a follow-up as to the responses I get from the SMP programs.

 

[KiwiBruin]

I appreciate the follow-up. I'm thinking I'll call the schools just to verify. I will definitely just send a med letter to Georgetown, but I'll see what the other schools want. I have 3 writers for my SMP and 5 for my med school application, the 3 that I asked for BOTH didn't seem to have any issues with the request, but if you are correct (which I'm sure you are), then it will make it much easier on everyone involved if one letter is all that is needed for both programs.

I'll be sure to post a follow-up as to the responses I get from the SMP programs.

If you don't mind, can you post the answers you hear? Thanks~ =]

 

[movemntofja]

After reading a bunch of these posts, it seems pretty clear to me that enrolling in an SMP is the way to go for me. I graduated from Vanderbilt with a 3.0 GPA (3.44 science GPA) and got a 26 MCAT despite scoring in the low 30s on numerous practice tests. I plan on retaking the MCAT but i know i still have to improve my GPA.

The thing is, I owe a ton of loans for my undergrad education and am having trouble stomaching the prospect of having to pay around 50k (most SMPs tuition average around 30k then with the added costs of living) just for the opportunity to improve my chances of getting into med school. I live in MA where there's only one state school which means unless I get in there or somewhere in Canada (I'm a dual citizen) I'll likely be paying back undergrad, SMP, and med school loans till I'm like 50. Any advice??

Also, this might be a long shot, but has anyone heard of any programs similar to SMPs that are offered in Canada? Thanks!

 

[0Complications]

Thus far these schools listed will allow Interfolio:

Georgetown (per previous poster)

Univ of Cincinnati

Loyola

EVMS

Tufts

CSU

I will post more as I continue to verify.


(Note: CSU is not verified, but they don't email the apps to the LOR writers, so it is assumed that interfolio is ok to use)

 

[badgpadoc]

Hi guys,

I was set to apply to SMPs to boost my med school chances and then I read through this thread and realized it may not help me.

I have a low GPA (overall 2.8, just sciences 2.5) and expect to score in the low 30s on the MCAT. I do have significant research experience with a few publications to go with it.

Since my ug GPA is so low, is there no point of doing the SMP?

I've already wasted two years post college just working full time while I tried to figure out how to recover from the poor choices I made in college.

Should I just hold off on taking the MCAT since even if I ace an SMP, my ug GPA would destroy my app?

 

[baldrick15]

Hi everyone, is a SMP or a post-bacc a good program for me to try to get into any US medical school. Right now:

-3.2 gpa (2.7 in breadth, 3.2 in physical science, and 3.5 in engineering)
-29 MCAT (retaking in march, practice tests so far range from 29-34)
-Published in geophysical journal after 2 years of payed research (nothing to do with medicine but it's a 15 hour a week commitment)
-Shadowed gastroenterologist over a winter break, and an adolescent immunologist in Turkey for 2 weeks
-Worked part time at Target, Veterinary testing lab (Antech), and as a middle school tutor (needed money)


Many of my grades are C's so is taking an extra quarter or two to retake them an option. Also I'm very deficient in clinical and volunteering hours, should i focus on that until i graduate at the end of summer.

 

[raresearchgirl]

Hey everyone,

So I'm thoroughly confused about what program is the right one for me. I'm a senior in college right now with a bio major. My school is kinda weird with the way they count credits but by the end of this term my major gpa will be about 3.5, my BCMP about 3.2, and overall about 3.35 and I have a MCAT score of 32 (GPA will be higher by graduation). I know these are on the lower end for med school apps but I have a crazy list of extra-curriculars and my own research lab. Also my gpa is really only low becuz I screwed up my freshman year, so I show a really good trend. Nonetheless, I'm applying to post-bacs as another application raiser/just-in case kinda thing.

I was wondering if anyone knew how good the following programs are in their rate of acceptance of postbac students to their own medical schools that same year following graduation from program:

Loyola MAMs
Georgetown
East Virgina Medical School
Tuft's Masters in Biomedical Science
NYCM accelerated masters
Boston University
Rosalind Franklin U
UPenn Special Sciences Program w/ Robert Wood Johnson Med

Any input or comments would be extremely helpful and appreciated at this program. 🙂

 

[raresearchgirl]

oh ok yea I noticed definite linkages with programs designed for minority students; unfortunately, I shortly learned after a few phone calls to these schools that being Asian did not count amoung medical minorities...

Are the Georgetown students accepted for the fall of the same year they finish the SMP?

 

[Daedalus]

oh ok yea I noticed definite linkages with programs designed for minority students; unfortunately, I shortly learned after a few phone calls to these schools that being Asian did not count amoung medical minorities...

Are the Georgetown students accepted for the fall of the same year they finish the SMP?

Yes, those students that get in during the SMP year would matriculate that fall. But 20 or so out of 180+ isn't the best odds.

EVMS is very good about accepting students who do well in their program, accepting 85% or so of their Medical Masters class (which I am a part of this year) to matriculate immediately after the masters year. The only other program I know of that takes the majority of its masters program class is UCinci.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=273697 - if you haven't yet, read through this thread about EVMS (I know its long), and if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them.

 

[OLYWA]

Im looking at the programs at Temple...probly the basic program as i think id have more of a shot at the 3.5 gpa automatic admission thing...but where, why, how come...the programs from Temple aren't talked about on over 11 pages of posts?

are they brand new...horrible...or does noone just apply there?

anyone...anyone....Bueller?

OlyWA

 

[DrMidlife]

Im looking at the programs at Temple...probly the basic program as i think id have more of a shot at the 3.5 gpa automatic admission thing...but where, why, how come...the programs from Temple aren't talked about on over 11 pages of posts?

are they brand new...horrible...or does noone just apply there?

anyone...anyone....Bueller?

OlyWA

Temple's brand new as of Fall '08. Minimum GPA to get in is 3.3. There's minimal discussion of the program in the SMP list threads.

 

[wannabesrgn]

Just wondering if it's a bad idea to travel abroad after applying to SMPs? Is it necessary to be available the next few months after applying? Are there deadlines for things like submitting letters of intent after getting acceptances?

 

[NutCracker2021]

Just wondering if it's a bad idea to travel abroad after applying to SMPs? Is it necessary to be available the next few months after applying? Are there deadlines for things like submitting letters of intent after getting acceptances?

depends if your school wants to do interviews or whatnot, your best bet would be to call each school and let them know of your situation...that you wont be in town for a few..hopefully they will be reasonable about it..
g'luck!

 

[Perrotfish]

Just wondering if it's a bad idea to travel abroad after applying to SMPs? Is it necessary to be available the next few months after applying? Are there deadlines for things like submitting letters of intent after getting acceptances?

Shouldn't be a problem. Yes some of them have deadlines for submitting a letter of intent after an acceptance, but if you just have them forward the mail to your parents (who can open iit and forge your signature if you're accepted) you shouldn't have an issue there. I don't know of any that would require you to be there in person after applying (for an interview, for example).

Just make sure you are completely squared away in terms of your Med School applications before leaving. You should not be starting an SMP with application essays left to write.

 

[SilentSoldier]

Since I've decided to do either a SMP or a Post Bac, I would like some more info on the whole SMP process. Are there any California schools that offer SMPs, I plan on applying to all of the standard post-bac programs in California. But I don't think it would be in my best interest financially to attend one out of state if these programs are only one year, especially if I do get into a medical school in the following year.

 

[SilentSoldier]

what are your stats and what is your purpose of postbac? Needing the prereqs or needing a grade enhancement? What is your MCAT like or have you taken it yet? This will allow us to better advise you what is the best option.

I'm doing it for the grade enhancement since I'll be getting my BS in biology this June (3.3-3.4 overall with but I don't know about the science GPA since some of the grades are spread out over two other schools, but its not good) . I haven't taken the MCAT yet, but I will be taking the MCAT in June so I can get at least one full month of studying in without having to worry about classes as well (I'll be taking a Princeton Review MCAT class shortly before that as well).

 

[JPanda]

hey guys, i have a 33q mcat score with a 3.26 cgpa, and a 3.2 sgpa. do i have any shot at any smp?

 

[SilentSoldier]

Do you suspect that your sci gpa is at least 3.0?? With that and a 28 or above on the MCAT you might stand a shot at SMPs but if not then a normal postbac might be necessary.

It might be since there were a lot more As before I transferred. So for the SMP, I need to take the MCAT. Should I have taken it before I apply or can I state that I'll be taking the MCAT in June when I apply. I know post bacs don't require MCAT scores for first timers, but this SMP thing sounds better as far as my chances of getting in afterwards.

 

[0Complications]

How do you shorten a 919 word essay down to 500 words with also adding a line or two of why the SMP?? I don't know what to do. I'm stuck. that's the only thing holding me up from finishing EVMS and Cincy's SMP apps.

Anyone has any takes if they'd be able to help out???

I'm writing mine tomorrow... Good times!!!

If you want though, I would be happy to review yours and see if I can cut some fat for you. Then it would be nice if you would be willing to do the same. 🙂

 

[DrJD]

Agreed! Also we don't know if those 20 of 180 are those that got in solely that year or the total number of those that got in that year and eventually in the year following after taking a gap year. That you'd have to email the gtown people about.

I've heard the EVMS has a high degree of linkage. I've also noticed quite a big percent of Loyola students get into Loyola but not sure of the numbers.

I think this last year 32 previous SMP students got into the med program, but I am pretty sure at least 7 of those were from the year previous. Not bad, definitely the highest percentage of our class stays at Georgetown.

From the stats I've seen 55 to 60% get into medical school somewhere the year they are in the program, and between 85 and 90% are in medical school somewhere by the end of the year after that. Of those 10% who don't get in, some decide to get their PhD, some go to Law, some dentistry and some just decide on something completely different. By the numbers if you come to G-town, work hard you will end up in medical school!

In terms of linkage, you truly can't beat EVMS. When I was applying there the saying was, "you have a seat in the first you medical school class the following year that is yours to lose." So if you don't mind the idea of going to EVMS and you are admitted to the SMP their, seriously consider going!

 

[Dr Acula94]

I've been reading this thread trying to find some good SMPs/Post-bacs and I'm applying to Tulane's Human Genetics program but I've also heard of something called ACP? I tried googling it but I couldn't find it. Does anyone know what it is?