Third world country vs SMP. Thoughts?

[MedSchool28]

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[johnnyscans]

Focus on getting a 4.0 your last two years of undergrad.

Get a 32+ on your MCAT.

Skip SMP all together. You have a defeatist attitude, lose it. How did you do in your premedical coursework? How are the rest of your ECs?

 

[MedSchool28]

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[ynwa0817]

It sounds like your real passion is international work. However, the path toward a medical school acceptance will likely involve years of work here in the states. Realistically, you probably can't have it both ways. I would recommend choosing between medicine or some other career that will allow you to work abroad in the immediate future (i.e. public health).

 

[JSReed]

Thanks for your response. Well the reason for my defeatist attitude could be due to the fact that my grades suck. I have a 3.0 (cumulative) and so far I have only taken bio 1 and 2 and chem 1 so I guess I still have time to do well in chem 2, orgo 1 and 2, physics 1 and 2, and biochem. But I did so bad in chem 1 that I have to retake it. Also, I didn't get A's in bio (the easiest premed course!) so I feel like I'm kinda screwed right now. I'd say my ECs are pretty typical, not horrible, but not amazing either. I've done benevolence work abroad in Haiti at a free clinic there, I've shadowed, I had one research position (no publications), I've mentored underprivileged children for the past two years, and I volunteer in a free clinic.

Ok you're at a 3.0 and you still have 2 years left. If you play your cards right, you could end up somewhere near a 3.6 by the time you finish. I really don't see why you're looking into postbaccs/SMPs at all. Your ECs sound decent enough. If you want to keep doing this "benevolence" IH stuff, go ahead and do that as an EC on its own. Don't try and combine taking classes and living down there and working down there and whatever else you have planned. Plus, taking classes at a Haitian med school (a country with a shambolic medical system) is not going to help you get into an american medical school because they're going to see at as an international school.

Seriously, just put your head down and go to work. There are people in much worse situations than yours who have gotten into med school, i'm sure you'll be fine.

 

[MedSchool28]

It sounds like your real passion is international work. However, the path toward a medical school acceptance will likely involve years of work here in the states. Realistically, you probably can't have it both ways. I would recommend choosing between medicine or some other career that will allow you to work abroad in the immediate future (i.e. public health).

I would love to do an MD/MPH program (interested in the program at UM), but my main goal is to be a physician. I am more than willing to stay here in the states for now, if it means acceptance. After all I can always travel when I finish med school. I just need to know what my best move would be for my gap year. Thanks for the input.

 

[MedSchool28]

Ok you're at a 3.0 and you still have 2 years left. If you play your cards right, you could end up somewhere near a 3.6 by the time you finish. I really don't see why you're looking into postbaccs/SMPs at all. Your ECs sound decent enough. If you want to keep doing this "benevolence" IH stuff, go ahead and do that as an EC on its own. Don't try and combine taking classes and living down there and working down there and whatever else you have planned. Plus, taking classes at a Haitian med school (a country with a shambolic medical system) is not going to help you get into an american medical school because they're going to see at as an international school.

Seriously, just put your head down and go to work. There are people in much worse situations than yours who have gotten into med school, i'm sure you'll be fine.

Thanks for the motivation. You made a lot of valid points. I think I will take your advice and look into SMPs only if my GPA is low by the time I'm about to graduate. Appreciate your input.