V low GPA, High MCAT. Next Steps...

[GPF]

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Hi Everyone. First Post, appreciate any advice or comments, and apologize if incorrect section
Stats:
Undergrad cGPA: 2.8, sGPA: 2.7. No trends, D in Orgo
Informal Post-Bac (24 Hrs): c/sGPA: 4.0 (includes retake of Orgo)
Overall: cGPA: 3.05, sGPA: 2.92
MCAT 1: 29
MCAT 2: 520
7 Clinical Publications (1 1st authors, rest 2nd or 3rd). Two or three more expected in this calendar year
>1000 hrs shadowing
280 hrs volunteer
3yrs work in direct patient contact
Not URM
VA resident
5 years out from graduation

Aiming for US Allopathic
Fully aware of the challenge getting accepted to any school, but its what I want to do and have no reservations about what steps or time it will require
My work ethic, study skills, and ability to succeed has massively flipped since undergrad. No issues putting in the effort to make the grades needed, and was one of the better performing students in my post-bac courses

Questions:

1. I applied and was accepted to 3 SMPs. Hearing conflicting advice whether this is the best next step or if I should instead continue with post-bac classes and research work, which would be much easier financially. I am feeling an SMP is best option, but what is typically recommended in my situation?
2. If I go SMP, my decision is between Tufts and Georgetown. I am leaning towards GTown as I like the number of classes shared with the med students, and it seems to have a better reputation among medical schools as well as stronger advisement. Is that a somewhat accurate representation, or am I off? And is there any advice anyone could provide me to make the decision?

 

[LuluLovesMe]

If you ace the SMP you have a good shot at MD. You could definitely go DO with your current stats if you don't want to spend extra years + 50k on a SMP.

 

[summergirl]

When did you take your MCAT and how long is the post-bacc program? If you do the post-bacc you may run into the problem with your MCAT expiring by the time you apply for the first time, or reapply. Either way it's a very stressful thing to deal with on top of the possibility of not getting accepted. It happened to me this year and I absolutely loath having to retake my MCAT.

 

[GrapesofRath]

More post-bacc work isnt really going to get it done for you to generate serious MD interest. Your GPA just is too low.

So I would say do the SMP. Tufts has various programs but they definitely have an SMP where you take classes with med students. If that's the one you got into both it and G'town are good options that will get you where you want if you take care of what you need to. If G'town is the only SMP you got into where you take classes with med students, do that one.

SMPs are tough and grueling. Try and reach out and talk to people whove done the program youll attend(you can find them on here). But at the end of the day the majority of G'towns SMP grads will end up at MD schools: do what you need to, itll probably work out even if the road isnt pretty and leads to some self doubt along the way. A 520 is a higher score than about 90% of the people at Georgetown's med school and Georgetown's SMP who youll be competing with got which highlights you are capable of doing well in a program like this. The "risk" SDN likes to hype up about them is largely overblown if you know what you get yourself into and give it all you got next year.

 

[GPF]

Thank you all for your through responses.

When did you take your MCAT and how long is the post-bacc program? If you do the post-bacc you may run into the problem with your MCAT expiring by the time you apply for the first time, or reapply. Either way it's a very stressful thing to deal with on top of the possibility of not getting accepted. It happened to me this year and I absolutely loath having to retake my MCAT.

MCAT was June last summer so pretty sure it is valid for this cycle and next. Yeah, I can imagine the frustration of having to retake it and would rather avoid that. A pro for SMP
Have you taken it yet? If not, I wish you the best of luck.

More post-bacc work isnt really going to get it done for you to generate serious MD interest. Your GPA just is too low.

So I would say do the SMP. Tufts has various programs but they definitely have an SMP where you take classes with med students. If that's the one you got into both it and G'town are good options that will get you where you want if you take care of what you need to. If G'town is the only SMP you got into where you take classes with med students, do that one.

SMPs are tough and grueling. Try and reach out and talk to people whove done the program youll attend(you can find them on here). But at the end of the day the majority of G'towns SMP grads will end up at MD schools: do what you need to, itll probably work out even if the road isnt pretty and leads to some self doubt along the way. A 520 is a higher score than about 90% of the people at Georgetown's med school and Georgetown's SMP who youll be competing with got which highlights you are capable of doing well in a program like this. The "risk" SDN likes to hype up about them is largely overblown if you know what you get yourself into and give it all you got next year.

"Do what you need to". Honestly some of the most solid advice I've received in this process. I've been about just doing the current step as best I can and putting all focus on that goal, rather than looking 20 steps ahead and wasting time/energy thinking through different situations. Made a big difference
And your comment on the 'risk' is appreciated as it is something that has come up. Good insight. Definitely expecting my hardest year yet but don't personally see it as a risk exactly. Realistically, if I cant get my act together and perform at my highest level yet for one year when the pressure's on, that's a bad sign on its own regardless of how it looks to med school committees. My confidence in being able to do so, however, is significantly higher after the post-bac classes. I'm a much better student now than I was as an undergad, and will need to keep the progression going even further. Difficult, but not impossible
As far as the SMPs, yeah the Tufts one I got into is the MBS program. I originally thought based on their website that you did not physically sit in the classes with med students, but that might not be correct. Honestly, I'm very much splitting hairs on that point and other criteria to select between the two. Having trouble finding many legit points to push me one direction or the other, and am probably just going to pick GTown because they post the SMP students' matriculation list.
Will definitely reach out to those who have gone through the programs. If anyone has any comments or opinions to share, I'd gladly welcome them here