WAMC (2.8 sgpa, 524 MCAT)? Delay cycle for SMP?

[redbullsugarfree]

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[Faha]

Is it possible that your sGPA will be 3.0 after you finish taking your current science courses ? You need to increase your sGPA to 3.0 before you submit your application to avoid being screened out at some schools. A DIY post bacc is fine and take enough undergraduate level science courses to increase your sGPA to 3.0 . You may need to delay your application for a year.

 

[redbullsugarfree]

Is it possible that your sGPA will be 3.0 after you finish taking your current science courses ? You need to increase your sGPA to 3.0 before you submit your application to avoid being screened out at some schools. A DIY post bacc is fine and take enough undergraduate level science courses to increase your sGPA to 3.0 . You may need to delay your application for a year.

Unfortunately, It would take 27 more science credits to get my sGPA up to a 3.0. Is it non-negotiable to get it up to a 3.0? I was thinking about doing an SMP instead given that its gonna take a lot of credits to raise my sgpa.

 

[Faha]

Unfortunately, It would take 27 more science credits to get my sGPA up to a 3.0. Is it non-negotiable to get it up to a 3.0? I was thinking about doing an SMP instead given that its gonna take a lot of credits to raise my sgpa.

A SMP would be fine. You would apply then in June 2026. Apply to all your instate MD schools and consider these OOS MD schools:
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
St. Louis
Creighton
TCU
Iowa
Indiana
Tulane
Miami
USF Morsani
Wake Forest
Belmont
Alice Walton
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Georgetown
George Washington
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Pittsburgh
Hofstra
Mount Sinai
New York Medical College
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
UMass
Methodist (when it opens)
Roseman (when it opens)

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Assuming your calculated GPAs are correct (use multiple "calculators" if you don't know how to do it yourself, including your last 45-60 credits), you should reach out to SMP directors. Spring semester is the busy application period for postbac programs, and you need to know if you will be excluded solely because of your overall graded sGPA or if some allowance is given with your most recent courses (since we don't have your transcript).

Read

How to Choose a Postbaccalaureate or Special Masters Program (SMP) | SDN

Access free resources, expert advice, and tools to advance your medical career.

www.studentdoctor.net

Change your strategy to find the best community support with linkage to the schools where you want to attend. You should not send an application in 2025-2026 without knowing your SMP linkage interview criteria and whether you can reach them. The biggest mistake I have seen are people who submit an application while starting an SMP, arguing that they "anticipate" a strong performance in the SMP. We don't believe in anticipated hours, and we presume you are in an SMP for the same reason we would not interview you.

 

[redbullsugarfree]

Assuming your calculated GPAs are correct (use multiple "calculators" if you don't know how to do it yourself, including your last 45-60 credits), you should reach out to SMP directors. Spring semester is the busy application period for postbac programs, and you need to know if you will be excluded solely because of your overall graded sGPA or if some allowance is given with your most recent courses (since we don't have your transcript).

Read

How to Choose a Postbaccalaureate or Special Masters Program (SMP) | SDN

Access free resources, expert advice, and tools to advance your medical career.

www.studentdoctor.net

Change your strategy to find the best community support with linkage to the schools where you want to attend. You should not send an application in 2025-2026 without knowing your SMP linkage interview criteria and whether you can reach them. The biggest mistake I have seen are people who submit an application while starting an SMP, arguing that they "anticipate" a strong performance in the SMP. We don't believe in anticipated hours, and we presume you are in an SMP for the same reason we would not interview you.

Hypothetically, say the conversation with SMP directors doesn't bode too well. Would I be a fool to shoot my shot in the 25-26 cycle for mid/low tier MD schools still as a URM with a 524, americorps service, several pubs, a 3.9 in the last 55 credits, and a fulbright research grant? Would I still be DOA for schools that don't screen even with my sub 3.0 sgpa?

 

[redbullsugarfree]

A SMP would be fine. You would apply then in June 2026. Apply to all your instate MD schools and consider these OOS MD schools:
Medical College Wisconsin
Rosalind Franklin
St. Louis
Creighton
TCU
Iowa
Indiana
Tulane
Miami
USF Morsani
Wake Forest
Belmont
Alice Walton
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Georgetown
George Washington
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Pittsburgh
Hofstra
Mount Sinai
New York Medical College
Albany
Vermont
Quinnipiac
UMass
Methodist (when it opens)
Roseman (when it opens)

Would it be a bad idea to apply before having my SMP grades in? Would my 3.9 over the last 55 credits not be enough for schools that do not screen, I guess is the crux of my question.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hypothetically, say the conversation with SMP directors doesn't bode too well. Would I be a fool to shoot my shot in the 25-26 cycle for mid/low tier MD schools still as a URM with a 524, americorps service, several pubs, a 3.9 in the last 55 credits, and a fulbright research grant? Would I still be DOA for schools that don't screen even with my sub 3.0 sgpa?

The feedback from the SMP directors is important for you to gauge the consensus opinion on your application. However, SMP directors want their programs to be known for getting people into medical school, and they should be able to give you some confidence they have worked with students with similar academic profiles.

Not knowing anything about your background and journey to medicine, you could ask admissions recruiters at in-state schools. You have many options in Michigan, so you likely would get some attention but I don't know how they would view your sub-3.0 science GPA off-hand. See what they say.

 

[Faha]

Would it be a bad idea to apply before having my SMP grades in? Would my 3.9 over the last 55 credits not be enough for schools that do not screen, I guess is the crux of my question.

Yes. The whole point of doing well in a SMP is to show medical schools that you are a not the same student from years ago when you had poor grades.

 

[thorntonjr]

holy cow 2.8 but a 524 lol never seen that before