Utter Confusion

[Icantplayspades]

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I applied to medical school last cycle and I did not get an acceptance to any school. In trying to plan my next move, I've received a wealth of advice but it has also varied. I was told to get a second bachelors, volunteer/shadow/get a "clinical" job, retake MCAT and reapply, do a masters/SMP and apply for an NIH IRTA postbacc. My GPA is not great (3.3C and 3.0S) and I need to improve my MCAT(500) but I'm not entirely sure what I should be doing. I'm seeing an advisor today to help me hash some things out but I thought I'd ask a great source-SDN.

Thanks in advance!

 

[kamakazi5]

If you're shooting for MD then you're definitely not going to make it past the cut with that GPA and MCAT combo. Even DO would be difficult outside of a couple schools. You need to take classes to get that GPA up (SMP or DIY post-bacc) and retake the MCAT.

 

[HomeSkool]

I agree with the above: you need to retake the MCAT and get your GPA up. The latter can be accomplished via a post-bacc, either formal or DIY, but a second bachelor's is overkill. In your post-bacc, you need to apply yourself 110% and ace the coursework -- you need to show adcoms you're capable of handling the workload of med school.

I'm unable you advise you about other steps to take with the info you've provided. Can you share your ECs and school list from this past cycle?

 

[curbsideconsult]

Under the umbrella of improving numbers:

• Second bachelor's
• SMP
• DIY
  
• Retake MCAT (maybe take a Princeton Review/Kaplan/etc. course?)

Under the umbrella of well-rounded applicant (necessary!):

• Volunteer (in service to those in need)
• Shadow
  
• Clinical experience

Yes, the advice you received is varied, but none of it conflicts with each other. You can improve your numbers in a variety of ways as listed in the first category. It's up to you to decide which route is best for you.

You absolutely need everything in the second category. Again, how you go about it is up to you.

 

[Icantplayspades]

I agree with the above: you need to retake the MCAT and get your GPA up. The latter can be accomplished via a post-bacc, either formal or DIY, but a second bachelor's is overkill. In your post-bacc, you need to apply yourself 110% and ace the coursework -- you need to show adcoms you're capable of handling the workload of med school.

I'm unable you advise you about other steps to take with the info you've provided. Can you share your ECs and school list from this past cycle?

The second Bachelors would only be about 60 credits. I had pretty good ECs and research and I primarily applied in FL, the southeast and HBCUs.

 

[HomeSkool]

The second Bachelors would only be about 60 credits. I had pretty good ECs and research and I primarily applied in FL, the southeast and HBCUs.

I still day the second bachelor's is overkill. Adcoms won't care about the second degree; what will impress them, whether it leads to a degree or not, is doing med school-preparatory coursework and excelling at it.

Here's the info that would be helpful if you want truly useful advice:

• Clinical volunteering: what activities, and for how many hours?
• Nonclinical volunteering: what activities, and for how many hours?
• Shadowing: which specialties, and for how many hours?
• Research: what kind of research, how many hours, any publications?
• School list: which schools specifically did you apply to, when were your applications complete, and what is your state of residence?

If you share those with us, we can give you individualized advice that will help improve your odds of success when you reply.

 

[Mr. Babe]

I hope you didn't apply all MD because those stats won't get you anywhere. You might have a chance at some DO schools if the rest of your application is great. It might be a long road for you before you get into med school, but if you want this then go get it.

 

[Icantplayspades]

I still day the second bachelor's is overkill. Adcoms won't care about the second degree; what will impress them, whether it leads to a degree or not, is doing med school-preparatory coursework and excelling at it.

Here's the info that would be helpful if you want truly useful advice:

• Clinical volunteering: what activities, and for how many hours?
• Nonclinical volunteering: what activities, and for how many hours?
• Shadowing: which specialties, and for how many hours?
• Research: what kind of research, how many hours, any publications?
• School list: which schools specifically did you apply to, when were your applications complete, and what is your state of residence?

If you share those with us, we can give you individualized advice that will help improve your odds of success when you reply.

I'm confused- everyone is saying that all that matters is UGPA (I've been told this several times on this forum). I can do an SMP but this won't address my UGPA. I could also do a post-bacc at the NIH but everyone said this is just glorified research work.

Clinical volunteering: Hospice (very little- I couldn't give hours)
Nonclinical volunteering: Community center (a lot), Tutoring pre-college students (a lot)
Shadowing: EM (months) and IM (months)
Research: One summer program + 3 years at school (synthesis of anti-cancer therapeutics)

FL Residency

School List:
Howard
Meharry
Morehouse
(All MD schools in Florida)
Johns Hopkins
Georgetown
NYMC
George Washington
Emory
Drexel
Tulane
Rosalind Franklin
UAB
USA
(I know these selections, hell any selections, were stupid).

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

To clarify something that might be causing you some confusion - the NIH IRTA Postbacc programs are 100% research work, which is very different from an academic postbacc where you take classes to pull up your GPA or fill in missing prereqs. They are both "post baccalaureate" in that they occur after graduation from undergrad, but they are very different things. The NIH program is great for people interested in research, but would not be helpful in your position.

 

[Icantplayspades]

To clarify something that might be causing you some confusion - the NIH IRTA Postbacc programs are 100% research work, which is very different from an academic postbacc where you take classes to pull up your GPA or fill in missing prereqs. They are both "post baccalaureate" in that they occur after graduation from undergrad, but they are very different things. The NIH program is great for people interested in research, but would not be helpful in your position.

I was already aware of this and I stated it earlier.
Thanks for the input, I know you were being helpful.

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

I was already aware of this and I stated it earlier.
Thanks for the input, I know you were being helpful.

Sure, I just mentioned this because you seemed to be glossing over other people's suggestions of academic post bacc programs and focusing only on SMP, second bachelors, or NIH as your only options. An academic post bacc (through a formal program or DIY) could help with the uGPA issues without doing a full second bachelors. I can't say if it's the right option for you specifically. but the NIH post bacc won't touch a uGPA which is why I think it can be ruled out of your options - you've got plenty of research already it appears. Apologies if you knew all this already, it just wasn't apparent from your posts and I was hoping to help alleviate some of your confusion.

 

[Icantplayspades]

Sure, I just mentioned this because you seemed to be glossing over other people's suggestions of academic post bacc programs and focusing only on SMP, second bachelors, or NIH as your only options. An academic post bacc (through a formal program or DIY) could help with the uGPA issues without doing a full second bachelors. I can't say if it's the right option for you specifically. but the NIH post bacc won't touch a uGPA which is why I think it can be ruled out of your options - you've got plenty of research already it appears. Apologies if you knew all this already, it just wasn't apparent from your posts and I was hoping to help alleviate some of your confusion.

Yes, as I've mentioned many times on this forum, a post-bacc seemes useless to me; I'm very interested in SMPs.

I am most interested in Drexel DPMS and Temple's SMP- does anyone have any "insider" info on either of these programs?

 

[mydogmolly]

I can do an SMP but this won't address my UGPA

SMPs are called "Special Masters Programs" because they will do a lot of work to effectively replace your uGPA. Most regular masters programs are inflated by cupcake classes that are easy As; but SMPs are extremely rigorous, most of them emulating a M1 schedule. Adcoms realize this and give SMPs a lot of weight. Since your GPAs are above the cut offs for many schools, crushing a SMP would serve you well, but SMP vs. postbacc is fully up to you.

 

[LizzyM]

Would you be willing to bet $50K that you could outscore 75% of MD students in the M1 curriculum? Basically, a SMP is making that bet. If you win the bet, you get admitted to medical school. If you lose the bet, you are standing there with a transcript that shows that you could not do well in medical school classes.

Applying to Hopkins with a 3.3/500 demonstrated hubris. Don't make the SMP the same song, second verse.

 

[Goro]

I applied to medical school last cycle and I did not get an acceptance to any school. In you've been told enough more than once what you need to do. Stop coming and posting trying to plan my next move, I've received a wealth of advice but it has also varied. I was told to get a second bachelors, volunteer/shadow/get a "clinical" job, but I thought I'd ask a great source-SDN.

Thanks in advance!

You've been told plenty of times what to do.

Stop posting and asking for what you want to hear, and do what you need to do.

Because all you're going to get is what you need to hear.

 

[Icantplayspades]

Would you be willing to bet $50K that you could outscore 75% of MD students in the M1 curriculum? Basically, a SMP is making that bet. If you win the bet, you get admitted to medical school. If you lose the bet, you are standing there with a transcript that shows that you could not do well in medical school classes.

Applying to Hopkins with a 3.3/500 demonstrated hubris. Don't make the SMP the same song, second verse.

I threw a Hail Mary, is that so horrible?

I’m sure I can perform well in an SMP given that I’m not working under the life stressors I had in undergrad. I’ve grown a great deal and will demonstrate this.

Thank you for your clarification.

 

[Icantplayspades]

You've been told plenty of times what to do.

Stop posting and asking for what you want to hear, and do what you need to do.

Because all you're going to get is what you need to hear.

I don’t expect any outcome on this forum. I only posted so I could get a variety of advice so I can plan my next move.

 

[Goro]

I don’t expect any outcome on this forum. I only posted so I could get a variety of advice so I can plan my next move.

No need to be snippy and condescending.

Go re-read my post on guide to reinvention.

Retake the MCAT.

It's no longer about raising your GPA , but showing that the you of now is not the you of then.

 

[Icantplayspades]

Go re-read my post on guide to reinvention.

Retake the MCAT.

It's no longer about raising your GPA , but showing that the you of now is not the you of then.

So I need to retake the MCAT ( and aim for 513+), do a wealth of clinical volunteering, do an SMP and, when ready, construct a better school list? I need to show continued progress and improvement in some form.

Thank you sir/madam( I meant no disrespect).

 

[21Rush12]

You should be getting a killer MCAT score and doing an SMP (or postbacc, although I’d lean toward SMP in this situation) to make up for the poor GPA, and you should be applying to MD and DO schools if and when you get the score you need.

 

[Goro]

So I need to retake the MCAT ( and aim for 513+), do a wealth of clinical volunteering, do an SMP and, when ready, construct a better school list? I need to show continued progress and improvement in some form.

Thank you sir/madam( I meant no disrespect).

Yes.

 

[MareNostrummm]

I threw a Hail Mary, is that so horrible?

I’m sure I can perform well in an SMP given that I’m not working under the life stressors I had in undergrad. I’ve grown a great deal and will demonstrate this.

Thank you for your clarification.

DIY post bacc is a safer, cheaper bet than a SMP, where you would be up against med students. However it's not as organized and probably less likely to impress mid-high tier MD schools.

 

[Goro]

So I need to retake the MCAT ( and aim for 513+), do a wealth of clinical volunteering, do an SMP and, when ready, construct a better school list? I need to show continued progress and improvement in some form.

Thank you sir/madam( I meant no disrespect).

Marathon now, not sprint. Medical schools are not going anywhere, and by the time you're ready to apply and the more we'll have open their doors.

 

[DubbiDoctor]

So I need to retake the MCAT ( and aim for 513+), do a wealth of clinical volunteering, do an SMP and, when ready, construct a better school list? I need to show continued progress and improvement in some form.

Thank you sir/madam( I meant no disrespect).

You'll need to retake your 500 but you don't need a 513+, although it would be helpful and people do make such improvements. Since you will be applying DO also (MDs can be unforgiving, and nothing is guaranteed), aim for 505+. IMO the only SMPs you should apply to are Drexel's DPMS and Temple's SMP, since they offer linkage. I don't believe that doing an SMP at a school that doesn't offer linkage is a good bet - if you pass but don't do particularly well, that may harm you. If you don't get into one of those, do a post-bac to raise your GPA (to at least a 3.4, 3.2), retake the MCAT after your meeting your target on practice exams, get more clinical volunteering, and reapply. You don't need to keep making new threads asking the same questions, though I can understand that you want feedback and guidance for a difficult path ahead.

 

[Icantplayspades]

So, here’s my plan:

1. Take about 12 credits this Fall
2. Begin studying for MCAT retake and take September 19th
3. Apply to three SMPS (Drexel DPMS, Georgetown and EVMS).
a.If three fails, do DIY post-bacc or second bachelors and reapply when ready.

Thanks guys!