URM(Under Represented Minority) Summer Program, Anyone????

[hellodoc]

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Has anyone applied to the SMDEP(Summer Medical and Dental Program) or formally known as MMEOP summer program as a freshman?
What was your GPA, volunteer experiences, and SAT scores?
Was it really worth it and also does it matter what school you go to?
Im thinking of applying for next summer, if anyone can give me any tips it would be highly appreciated 🙂

These programs are offered at Nebraska Medical School, Virginia Medical School, etc.

Please Respond,
Thank you

 

[Bluntman]

It might help if you throw in what those random acronyms stand for, and what institution the programs are offered at.

 

[docjg17]

Has anyone applied to the SMDEP or formally known as MMEOP summer program as a freshman?
What was your GPA, volunteer experiences, and SAT scores?
Was it really worth it and also does it matter what school you go to?
Im thinking of applying for next summer, if anyone can give me any tips it would be highly appreciated 🙂

Please Respond,
Thank you

hey hellodoc,
I did the Yale SMEP/SMDEP in 2004. I applied between my freshmen and Sophmore years. At the time my GPA was a bit on the low side (3.3) but then again I go to Hopkins and I was a Chemical Engineering Major at the time - - avg. Engingeering major at Hopkins has a 2.7. At the time I had NO volunteer experience . I applied at the end of my first semester so I wasn't that involved so I put down some of the things I did in high school. I didn't take the SATs, I took the ACT (I'm from the south, I had 31/36)..which cooresponds to like a ~1400/1600. Btw, I'm a black male if that helps. I think my academic stats were strong for URM. I don't usually depend on this, but given this was a minority program I think I stood out.

Regarding your other questions...

(1) No, it DOES NOT matter what undergrad you attend. In fact, at Yale SMDEP out of the 100 students there I met one kid from Harvard, 4 kids from Duke, 1 girl from Rice, 1 girl from Stanford and everyone else was from state schools. So, it doesn't matter..
(2) My number one tip is apply early, apply early, apply early. I can't stress how important this is. The program accepts students on a rolling basis. The earlier you apply the higher your chances of being accepted. Don't worry if you GPA isn't a 4.0 or what not, just apply as soon as your grades are available first semester.
(3) The program was wonderful. I still keep in contact with the people I met . It is well worth it. The sites I recommend are Yale, Columbia, Case Western, and UAB.

I hope this helps. Best of luck and if you have any other questoins please post.

 

[hellodoc]

hey hellodoc,
I did the Yale SMEP/SMDEP in 2004. I applied between my freshmen and Sophmore years. At the time my GPA was a bit on the low side (3.3) but then again I go to Hopkins and I was a Chemical Engineering Major at the time - - avg. Engingeering major at Hopkins has a 2.7. At the time I had NO volunteer experience . I applied at the end of my first semester so I wasn't that involved so I put down some of the things I did in high school. I didn't take the SATs, I took the ACT (I'm from the south, I had 31/36)..which cooresponds to like a ~1400/1600. Btw, I'm a black male if that helps. I think my academic stats were strong for URM. I don't usually depend on this, but given this was a minority program I think I stood out.

Regarding your other questions...

(1) No, it DOES NOT matter what undergrad you attend. In fact, at Yale SMDEP out of the 100 students there I met one kid from Harvard, 4 kids from Duke, 1 girl from Rice, 1 girl from Stanford and everyone else was from state schools. So, it doesn't matter..
(2) My number one tip is apply early, apply early, apply early. I can't stress how important this is. The program accepts students on a rolling basis. The earlier you apply the higher your chances of being accepted. Don't worry if you GPA isn't a 4.0 or what not, just apply as soon as your grades are available first semester.
(3) The program was wonderful. I still keep in contact with the people I met . It is well worth it. The sites I recommend are Yale, Columbia, Case Western, and UAB.

I hope this helps. Best of luck and if you have any other questoins please post.

Thank you docjg17, I would like to know what courses did you take your freshman year,what kinds of LOR's did you send in, and what do you think I should do to make sure that I get accepted into the program(besides applying early)?

Thanks again 🙂

 

[hellodoc]

bump

 

[Bluntman]

Bumping threads after only 40min (when they are still on the front page no less) is not necessary and will probably piss people (me) off.

 

[kevster2001]

Hellodoc, are you a foreign student?

 

[Sangstar]

Has anyone applied to the SMDEP(Summer Medical and Dental Program) or formally known as MMEOP summer program as a freshman?
What was your GPA, volunteer experiences, and SAT scores?
Was it really worth it and also does it matter what school you go to?
Im thinking of applying for next summer, if anyone can give me any tips it would be highly appreciated 🙂

These programs are offered at Nebraska Medical School, Virginia Medical School, etc.

Please Respond,
Thank you

I was in the program last summer, in between my Sophmore and Junior year, at Duke when it was called SMEP. My GPA was around a 3.4 and I had one volunteer experience at a hospital. I don't really remember what my SAT score was lol, I think it was around 1280. I got my recommedation letter from my advisor.
The program is definitely worth it, but the days are verrrrrrry long, at least at Duke. You have classes that they assign you depending on what courses you have taken already, which are basically to prepare you for future courses. They also had MCAT prep, mock interviews, doctor shadowing, and seminars. You are also free, at times, to just roam the hospital and maybe get to watch surgeries.
I would recommend to apply no matter what your stats are, you should get in, as long as you apply early like someone already mentioned. Also, btw I don't think the program is only for URMs, I think that as long as you are from a community that is medically underserved you can apply.

 

[annamoo]

Also, btw I don't think the program is only for URMs, I think that as long as you are from a community that is medically underserved you can apply.[/QUOTE]

I am not a URM and not from a medically underserved community, I did the one at Rice/Baylor in Houston and it was outstanding, I did think the Med Comm class at Rice was ridiculous, although it was pretty easy. We got university credit (9 hours) and the tuition for that was waived/absorbed by Rice and Baylor, which was about a million $$ of tuition for all of us, which was really nice. I did it bw the 4th and 5th years of college, so i was one of the oldest people there, we had very long days, and had to take classes for real, but it was a great experience, I would really recommend it.

I had good grades in high school and college, a ton of research experience, etc, and there were few of us there who were not URM, but the program is federally funded partially, so it is illegal to outright exclude anyone.

I found it to be very helpful and the first real exposure I had to the OR and the entire Texas Med Center world....I think Baylor uses it as a chance to drive up their app numbers, and advertise their program, and I think they like to see people from it apply there, but I don't think it gives you any 'special advantage" there, although it does let you get to know their admissions dean Dr. Phillips through campus interactions and dinners at his house, etc, which is good if you want to go to Baylor...

 

[PurpleHaze]

There's been several threads about MMEP, SMEP, SMDEP, etc. this semester. If you search you should find some more information.

I attended the Yale program back in 2003, it was a lot of fun and a good educational experience as well.

 

[MrDreamWeaver]

I tried applying to one of those things. I applied with a 3.9 and some prett darn good ECs. Too bad I didn't know that since I'm white I had no chance before applying. My buddies got in though, they are URM. I think one had like a 3.4 and the other had a 3.2, if that helps. It may not be worth your time to apply if you're not URM. Good Luck

 

[Dr.Andrews]

I tried applying to one of those things. I applied with a 3.9 and some prett darn good ECs. Too bad I didn't know that since I'm white I had no chance before applying. My buddies got in though, they are URM. I think one had like a 3.4 and the other had a 3.2, if that helps. It may not be worth your time to apply if you're not URM. Good Luck

🙁

Sometimes being a white man is tough. 🙁

 

[Thundrstorm]

🙁

Sometimes being a white man is tough. 🙁

Wanna trade?

 

[mustangsally65]

I'm doing the summer MED program at UNC-Chapel Hill this summer. There are about 80 of us and I'm one of maybe 7 or 8 whites who got into the program. I have no idea how I was accepted because they're all talking about how competitive it was and I'm not an outstanding applicant by any means (3.5 gpa, 3.7 bcpm, and 25R MCAT).

Don't lose hope, you never know until you apply.

 

[plainolerichie]

I wish I had done it at Columbia 🙁, but now it's too late.

 

[rkirsch]

Hey,

I went to the Yale MMEP too in 2004 and I loved it. Best Pre-med experience of my life!!!

Which section were you in?

Roselyn 🙂

hey hellodoc,
I did the Yale SMEP/SMDEP in 2004. I applied between my freshmen and Sophmore years. At the time my GPA was a bit on the low side (3.3) but then again I go to Hopkins and I was a Chemical Engineering Major at the time - - avg. Engingeering major at Hopkins has a 2.7. At the time I had NO volunteer experience . I applied at the end of my first semester so I wasn't that involved so I put down some of the things I did in high school. I didn't take the SATs, I took the ACT (I'm from the south, I had 31/36)..which cooresponds to like a ~1400/1600. Btw, I'm a black male if that helps. I think my academic stats were strong for URM. I don't usually depend on this, but given this was a minority program I think I stood out.

Regarding your other questions...

(1) No, it DOES NOT matter what undergrad you attend. In fact, at Yale SMDEP out of the 100 students there I met one kid from Harvard, 4 kids from Duke, 1 girl from Rice, 1 girl from Stanford and everyone else was from state schools. So, it doesn't matter..
(2) My number one tip is apply early, apply early, apply early. I can't stress how important this is. The program accepts students on a rolling basis. The earlier you apply the higher your chances of being accepted. Don't worry if you GPA isn't a 4.0 or what not, just apply as soon as your grades are available first semester.
(3) The program was wonderful. I still keep in contact with the people I met . It is well worth it. The sites I recommend are Yale, Columbia, Case Western, and UAB.

I hope this helps. Best of luck and if you have any other questoins please post.

 

[Rzarecta]

🙁

Sometimes being a white man is tough. 🙁

Try being a South Asian one.

 

[Dr.Andrews]

Try being a South Asian one.

We both have it tough. 😳

 

[Thundrstorm]

We both have it tough. 😳

What exactly is so tough about it? Seriously, would you like to trade? Not just for admissions stuff, but for LIFE?

 

[infiniti]

Thundrstorm, I don't know why you respond to these idiots.

 

[Thundrstorm]

Thundrstorm, I don't know why you respond to these idiots.

I don't either. Whether it makes a difference or not, I'm just wired to speak up when I hear idiotic things like that. I guess you could say it's a personal conviction. If you had walked in my shoes, you'd probably understand. I made a choice a long time ago to respond to ignorance and hatred with education, and I just can't turn that off, not even for sdn. 🙂

 

[riceman04]

Being that I graduated from Rice and also attended the MMEP at the Rice/Baylor site (2003), I must give a disclaimer that that sorry ass Med. and tech. communications is not even offered as a normal class during the school year. That class was poorly organized and many of those grad stud. english teachers would only be allowed to teach freshman english (as their requirement for their degree)

But, yes, the program overall was amazing!!!!! Discussed my shadowing experience in my primary app (but in story form)

Also, btw I don't think the program is only for URMs, I think that as long as you are from a community that is medically underserved you can apply.

I am not a URM and not from a medically underserved community, I did the one at Rice/Baylor in Houston and it was outstanding, I did think the Med Comm class at Rice was ridiculous, although it was pretty easy. We got university credit (9 hours) and the tuition for that was waived/absorbed by Rice and Baylor, which was about a million $$ of tuition for all of us, which was really nice. I did it bw the 4th and 5th years of college, so i was one of the oldest people there, we had very long days, and had to take classes for real, but it was a great experience, I would really recommend it.

I had good grades in high school and college, a ton of research experience, etc, and there were few of us there who were not URM, but the program is federally funded partially, so it is illegal to outright exclude anyone.

I found it to be very helpful and the first real exposure I had to the OR and the entire Texas Med Center world....I think Baylor uses it as a chance to drive up their app numbers, and advertise their program, and I think they like to see people from it apply there, but I don't think it gives you any 'special advantage" there, although it does let you get to know their admissions dean Dr. Phillips through campus interactions and dinners at his house, etc, which is good if you want to go to Baylor...[/QUOTE]

 

[cuyegs]

I got in this year at UCLA (doing it this june-aug and im pretty excited) i have no research experience, have some volunteer work at a hospital, no extracurriculars except those in highschool and my sat was a 1360? im not sure... and my gpa is a 4.0 but thats bec im from a community college in cali so i guess they chose me at ucla for the extra "diverse/underrepresented" student factor. I think i got in bec im here in the US without my family, am a girl and considered a minority (ethnic background). 😀

 

[eastsidaz]

I am not a URM and not from a medically underserved community,

[/QUOTE]


You aren't a URM, riceman? I was sure you had said you were, at one point. Ah, must've misread.

 

[riceman04]

You aren't a URM, riceman? I was sure you had said you were, at one point. Ah, must've misread.[/QUOTE]



No I am afr. amer and proud of it!!!! I think when I copied that post somehow that whole post became part of mine...except for the part that is in the blue.


I'm definitely a URM

look back up at annamoo's orginal posting

 

[MarzMD]

I did SMEP at UAB. It was a really good experience, and something I would definitely repeat. I promise you, it will def. give you a leg up during application time. It used to be called MMEP(Minority Medical Education Program) nationally because it was geared towards minorities. They have since changed the names of the programs to SMEP(Summer Medical Education Program) to incorporate anyone who wishes to participate in the program. What are they looking for in an applicant? Who knows, just contact any of the specific sites you are interested in and ask them. Not really sure what relevance your other questions have.


*I feel you Thunderstorm, but trust me....pick your battles carefully. Some just end up being a waste of time. I would only do it on SDN if it was personally entertianing to you.*

 

[baylormed]

I was in the program last summer, in between my Sophmore and Junior year, at Duke when it was called SMEP. My GPA was around a 3.4 and I had one volunteer experience at a hospital. I don't really remember what my SAT score was lol, I think it was around 1280. I got my recommedation letter from my advisor.
The program is definitely worth it, but the days are verrrrrrry long, at least at Duke. You have classes that they assign you depending on what courses you have taken already, which are basically to prepare you for future courses. They also had MCAT prep, mock interviews, doctor shadowing, and seminars. You are also free, at times, to just roam the hospital and maybe get to watch surgeries.
I would recommend to apply no matter what your stats are, you should get in, as long as you apply early like someone already mentioned. Also, btw I don't think the program is only for URMs, I think that as long as you are from a community that is medically underserved you can apply.

I am very bitter toward these kinds of programs, because I applied several times to several of them and NEVER got a single acceptance. By the way, my stats were better than yours (not boasting, just saying stats aren't everything, I guess), I had lots of volunteering, etc.
I don't know why I never got to do one of them, maybe just plain bad luck.
I hate to think plain bad luck was all there was to it, but I can't figure it out. 😡

 

[MarzMD]

I am very bitter toward these kinds of programs, because I applied several times to several of them and NEVER got a single acceptance. By the way, my stats were better than yours (not boasting, just saying stats aren't everything, I guess), I had lots of volunteering, etc.
I don't know why I never got to do one of them, maybe just plain bad luck.
I hate to think plain bad luck was all there was to it, but I can't figure it out. 😡

Not trying to overgeneralize, but the lady that picked the students for the UAB program told me that it wasnt all about numbers. I mean, the program is really supposed to help those out that havent had much of a chance to build their EC's or have a lot of mentoring on the medical profession. It wouldnt make sense to admit everyone with a high GPA and 20 medically related EC's. That would defeat the whole purpose of the program.

 

[SexyLexie729]

I believe they changed the name from MMEP (Minority Medical Education Program) to SMEP (Summer Medical Education Program) to allow all students, reguardless of background, to participate.

Two of my friends that went to the program last year were not URMs. One was an Asian male, he went to the Colombia one and he loved it. The other was a white male, he went to the one at University of Washington, and loved it too. Both guys had GPAs in the 3.5/3.6 range.


I haven't done it but I hear that it is such a great opportunity.

 

[MrDreamWeaver]

The battle between non-urm and urm, LOL.

I think we all know that the current system is out-of-whack, since it doesn't consider whites who are disadvantaged (broken homes, poverty) or live in an underdeserved population. Or maybe it does, but just a little but (and certainly not equal to minority URM status).

I used to be kind of apathetic about Affirmative Action. Yes, I thought the system was a bit whacky but I wasn't very emotional about it. However, when you are a victim of this stupid system, you get extremely emotional. Case in point: I got rejected from one of these programs. I've spent a bit of time volunteering, I have an awesome GPA, excellent LORs, parents are of very low income, etc. I got flat our rejected... they said I needed to "raise my GPA" (from a 3.8 to a 4.0 I presume? HA). No biggie I thought. Yeah, I put a bunch of time into the spiel but I'm sure someone more deserving got it. I went to class the next day and saw a bunch of people boasting about their acceptances, while the other portion of class was devastated (we all had applied).

Well it turns out that 11 out of the 12 seats were filled by "URMs" -- what a load of crap. That's downright discrimination. Why the hell should the rest of us get punished for something we aren't even responsible for. I put hours into that application and I damn well know I am more qualified than 90% of the people who were accepted. These people aren't even disadvantaged. They live in the nicest neighborhoods, drive the sweetest cars, and pretty much have the best things all-around. Meanwhile, I'm sitting here in my piece of crap apartment struggling to scrap up pennis for next month's rent. Why? Because the system is ******ed.

Although I disagree with the entire URM bull****, I certainly don't attack the URM INDIVIDIUALS. Why? Because it isn't necessarily THEIR fault. It's the damn system that needs to be fixed. Attacking the URMs instead of the system is like attacking USA Soldiers in Iraq instead of the Government.

Just remember that things change when the system victimizes you.

 

[Elastase]

I got rejected from one of these programs. I've spent a bit of time volunteering, I have an awesome GPA, excellent LORs, parents are of very low income, etc. I got flat our rejected... they said I needed to "raise my GPA" (from a 3.8 to a 4.0 I presume? HA). No biggie I thought. Yeah, I put a bunch of time into the spiel but I'm sure someone more deserving got it.

Aren't these programs made for ppl to get motivation/enthusiasm for medicine, as well as helping you academically? You sound like you were already a great applicant...I don't understand why you would even need this...

Let me bring this out of the context of med school...and into mentoring kids from underserved backgrounds (and you have limited mentors)...you take the kids that do not have the best grades, the kids that need motivation, and you accept those kids, because they have potential and need a little extra push to start really applying themselves to school...

You reject kids that have very nice applications (where maybe their parents helped them) because you know that they will already kick ass at school w/o mentoring. These kids either already have the support at home or the motivation within...

 

[Sanctuary]

Bumping threads after only 40min (when they are still on the front page no less) is not necessary and will probably piss people (me) off.

You know, you don't have to click on every thread that shows up on the list right? Especially if it is one that you don't want to read. Or, you can select the thread and post irrelevant messages about how you don't like to see threads bumped after only 40 minutes, which by the way, re-bumps the thread back to the top. But then again, what the hell do I know?

 

[Elastase]

You know, you don't have to click on every thread that shows up on the list right? Especially if it is one that you don't want to read. Or, you can select the thread and post irrelevant messages about how you don't like to see threads bumped after only 40 minutes, which by the way, re-bumps the thread back to the top. But then again, what the hell do I know?

I agree w/bluntman, it doesn't make sense to bump it...It can be annoying b/c you might think that it is new information on the thread (new post), which you would expect if it were on the first page, and not a "bump" msg b/c someone is impatiently waiting for an answer.

 

[MrDreamWeaver]

Elastase - I'm not sure exactly what the program goals are, so I cannot speculate on that (Anyone know EXACTLY?). I just wanted to point out that it seemed odd that 11 of 12 seats were filled by URM. About 100 people in my class applied (all different backgrounds, all different GPA, all different motivation, etc, etc etc). Of the 100, maybe 70 are white/asian, 20% other and 5-10% URM. Considering the 5-10% URM filled 90%+ of the seats, it's pretty easy to draw a conclusion. These kids aren't of low-income either, they all have some nice things and are great people. I'm proud of them. I hate to generalize and stereotype, but I just wanted to point out that it sucks being a victim of this, that's all. I'll continue to tread on though 🙂

 

[Elastase]

Elastase - I'm not sure exactly what the program goals are, so I cannot speculate on that (Anyone know EXACTLY?). I just wanted to point out that it seemed odd that 11 of 12 seats were filled by URM. About 100 people in my class applied (all different backgrounds, all different GPA, all different motivation, etc, etc etc). Of the 100, maybe 70 are white/asian, 20% other and 5-10% URM. Considering the 5-10% URM filled 90%+ of the seats, it's pretty easy to draw a conclusion. These kids aren't of low-income either, they all have some nice things and are great people. I'm proud of them. I hate to generalize and stereotype, but I just wanted to point out that it sucks being a victim of this, that's all. I'll continue to tread on though 🙂

Yeah that does seem wrong...if the everything else is the same (stats, income, life conditions, etc.) and the URM wins because of ethnicity, then thats wrong. However, I highly doubt that everything lines up exactly the same...and that the background (low income, disadvantaged, motivations maybe to work with underserved communities, etc.) comes into play for these programs more so than stats...The mission statement of these programs might help figure out exactly whom they are trying to recruit/accept. I would guess that they adhere to their mission statement as much as possible...

 

[8744]

🙁

Sometimes being a white man is tough. 🙁

Oh no. Reading through all of the threads dedicated to quantifying one's race or the ones that get somewhat anal about the exact degree of one's ethnicity or disdavantaged status I can say without reservation that I am glad to be a white guy.

No chip on our shoulders, you understand.

 

[8744]

....Aren't these programs made for ppl to get motivation/enthusiasm for medicine, as well as helping you academically? ...

Now wait jest a goddam minit' here: If they're not motivated what do they accomplish at these camps? Is it Khmer Rouge style re-education?

I always thought they had these things to bring dumb kids from crappy colleges up to speed so they don't fail out of medical school and embarrass the administrators who swore up and down that affirmative action was a great idea.

I'd be kind of insulted to be expected to go to one of those things.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

I did SMEP last year at UVa. Virginia has the best SMEP site! Apply to that one. I guarauntee it has unique and outstanding components. I was exposed to TONS of things (I did a patient-history, went to an autopsy, shadowed in the ER, watched a live thoracic surgery), it wasn't just boring-ass classroom stuff. We also got a lot of great guest lectures from some amazing people in the medical field.

It was an awesome experience. BTW I am neither URM nor am I from an underserved community. There was a very healthy mix of races/ethnicities in the program (yes, we had white people, so stop whining all you haters 😛 ), and everyone got along and had a great time.

At the time when I applied I had a 3.4 with 1390 SAT and good EC's / volunteering. Def. apply early, I was lucky to get in after applying so damn late (like late February, when the deadline was March last year!)

 

[Elastase]

Now wait jest a goddam minit' here: If they're not motivated what do they accomplish at these camps? Is it Khmer Rouge style re-education?

I always thought they had these things to bring dumb kids from crappy colleges up to speed so they don't fail out of medical school and embarrass the administrators who swore up and down that affirmative action was a great idea.

I'd be kind of insulted to be expected to go to one of those things.

Many ppl can can get excited about medicine, but sometimes they need an extra push to get them full speed into being competative (i.e. studying harder, or getting better extracurriculars to explore medicine better).

These program provide academic help and positive medically-related experiences. It would be a shame if ppl would decide to not get outside help (insulted), which would suck because then there would be less applicants, maybe even less URM applicants (since most, but definitley not all are geared towards URM). These programs are great and beneficial, please don't knock them...

 

[aliziry]

Now wait jest a goddam minit' here: If they're not motivated what do they accomplish at these camps? Is it Khmer Rouge style re-education?

I always thought they had these things to bring dumb kids from crappy colleges up to speed so they don't fail out of medical school and embarrass the administrators who swore up and down that affirmative action was a great idea.

I'd be kind of insulted to be expected to go to one of those things.

Panda what took you so long. I expected you to be on this thread earlier. Your losing your touch mate.

 

[8744]

Panda what took you so long. I expected you to be on this thread earlier. Your losing your touch mate.

Naw. The thrill is gone. I really don't care about affirmative action either way.

 

[Doctor&Geek]

wow, man, wow.

good luck in lansing.

 

[aliziry]

Naw. The thrill is gone. I really don't care about affirmative action either way.

The thrill is gone...damn it all to hell. Besides I dont think most people on this site would need it anyway. Go England. Beat the Nazi's.

 

[8744]

The thrill is gone...damn it all to hell. Besides I dont think most people on this site would need it anyway. Go England. Beat the Nazi's.

Hey, be sure to check out my blog for a post-mortem of the death of Duke Family Medicine Residency program.

 

[aliziry]

Hey, be sure to check out my blog for a post-mortem of the death of Duke Family Medicine Residency program.

Already read it mate. True true.