WAMC + Should I Do an SMP First, Then Retake MCAT? | 3.47 GPA, 494 MCAT (x4), Strong Clinical/Research/Leadership

[sushilover0987654321]

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1. Stats

• cGPA: 3.47
• sGPA: 3.38
• MCAT: 494 (most recent; 4th attempt)
  • Previous: 494, 496, 497
  • Most recent should have been voided — experienced a full-blown anxiety attack during the exam. I’m now working with a therapist for testing anxiety. Practice test scores were above 500.
• Residency: North Carolina
• Not URM
• Strong ties to Ohio (grew up there, moved after graduating HS)

2. Education & Coursework

• Undergrad: Private university in Florida - Graduated in Spring 2022
• Major: Exercise Physiology
• Internship: The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
• Got C’s in Physics 1 and Orgo 1 → retook and earned A’s
• Took Orgo 1&2, Physics 1&2, and Biochem post-grad to finish premed requirements

3. Clinical Experience (Full-Time)

• ~5000 hours in spinal cord injury research at a T10 medical school
  • Longitudinal patient and care-giver relationships with individuals with spinal cord injuries, EPIC documentation, sensory/motor testing, patient education, stimulator programming, observing in the OR etc.

4. Shadowing

• ~300 hours: Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine, and PM&R - clinic and OR

5. Research

• 1000+ hours
• 3rd author publication
• PI is a T10 MD/PhD physician

6. Non-Clinical Volunteering

• ~500 hours (3 different organizations)
  • Wound care and overdose prevention for the unhoused
  • Distributing baby formula, diapers, wipes, and period products to underserved neighborhoods
  • Housing support program

7. Leadership & Campus Involvement

• D1 Collegiate Athlete — Team Captain senior year
• Facility Manager at university wellness center
• Volunteer youth sports coach
• Campus tour guide (in-person and virtual)
• E-board member of major-specific student organization

8. Other Employment (current, part-time)

• 6 years in retail: leadership, mentorship, and high-volume customer engagement

9. Letters of Recommendation (Committee Letter)

• Exercise Physiology professor (major)
• Organic Chemistry professor (post-grad course)
• Non-science professor
• MD/PhD physician (PI at T10 institution)
• DO physician at a T10 institution — specifically writing for DO schools
• Coach
• Manager at university wellness center

10. School List (Tentative)

MD Schools:

• All NC schools (Duke, UNC, ECU, Wake Forest)
• All OH schools (e.g., OSU, CWRU, Cincinnati, NEOMED, Toledo, Wright State)
• GW, Georgetown, Drexel, Temple, University of Miami
• Chicago-based MD schools (e.g., Loyola, Rush, Rosalind Franklin, UIC)
• Any other holistic MD programs that value extensive clinical and research experience

DO Schools:

• NOVA
• PCOM
• OUHCOM
• MSU-COM
• Campbell

11. Question I'm Facing Now:
I know I need to retake the MCAT. That’s not in question. What I’m trying to decide is:

Should I do an SMP or certificate program first to boost my academic credentials and then retake the MCAT with a stronger foundation and structured time?​

In all 4 of my MCAT attempts, I was working full-time, and I now understand I wasn't setting myself up for success. I'm actively addressing test anxiety and want to apply as a strong candidate.


12. SMP/Certificate Programs I'm Considering that are still accepting applications:

• Tufts MBS
• Georgetown SMP
• George Squared
• GW GCATS
• Loyola MAMS
• USF Morsani MS in Medical Sciences

13. Specific Questions:

1. Would doing an SMP and then retaking the MCAT afterward give me the best shot at MD schools?
2. Do any of the SMPs listed above stand out as a good fit for someone with my background?
3. With my strong clinical, research, and leadership profile, could a solid MCAT + SMP performance realistically get me into MD? Or should I prioritize DO?
4. Is there any strategic benefit to applying during the SMP year vs. waiting until after it’s complete with a new MCAT?

Thanks so much for reading — I’d really appreciate any honest feedback or next-step advice!

 

[LunaOri]

I think you should focus on DO schools. Any MD school will see that series of MCAT scores as a red flag.

 

[Faha]

You could receive interviews at some of the newer DO schools with your MCAT scores of 494, 496 and 497 with your cGPA of 3.47 and sGPA of 3.38. I suggest these DO schools with your stats:
OU-HCOM
VCOM (all 4 schools)
WVSOM
UP-KYCOM
LMU-DCOM (all schools)
WCU-COM
OCOM
BCOM (both schools)
LECOM (all schools)
DUQCOM
ILLINOIS-COM (new school)
BUCOM
NYIT-AR
ARCOM
UIWSOM
KHSC-COM
NOORDA-COM
ICOM
MERITUS
RVU-MONTANA
TOURO-MONTANA
Also add Northern Colorado and D'Youville when they open.
Apply in July and submit all your secondaries by August.

 

[sushilover0987654321]

You could receive interviews at some of the newer DO schools with your MCAT scores of 494, 496 and 497 with your cGPA of 3.47 and sGPA of 3.38. I suggest these DO schools with your stats:
OU-HCOM
VCOM (all 4 schools)
WVSOM
UP-KYCOM
LMU-DCOM (all schools)
WCU-COM
OCOM
BCOM (both schools)
LECOM (all schools)
DUQCOM
ILLINOIS-COM (new school)
BUCOM
NYIT-AR
ARCOM
UIWSOM
KHSC-COM
NOORDA-COM
ICOM
MERITUS
RVU-MONTANA
TOURO-MONTANA
Also add Northern Colorado and D'Youville when they open.
Apply in July and submit all your secondaries by August.

Thank you for responding! So you don't think I should do an SMP to boost my GPA / gain knowledge base to retake my MCAT? I understand I would have to forego this application cycle if I went that route. Additionally, is MSU-COM a long-shot since I have low stats and no geographical ties? The DO that wrote me a LOR for DO schools went there. Thank you!!

 

[polymerization]

Just my 2c as a student: I do not see ANY benefit to taking on the effort of applying to an SMP through a competitive process only to run the risk of completing the program and not having a guaranteed acceptance.

Some of the programs with linkage you listed, like Loyola, require that you meet an MCAT >509 for special consideration, which is really extremely far off from your baseline.

There are a couple invisible thresholds in scores that imply with some accuracy where your issues are—and with scores not breaking 500 it is usually not just content but also general test-taking strategies like not being able to use process of elimination or picking apart the differences in the meanings of words across answer choices.

Just exposing yourself to the material again won't be enough to materially raise your score, and worse, you open yourself to performing poorly in the SMP if you're trying to do both, either of which (I think) could be a final nail on the coffin. It's a lot of pressure to execute flawlessly in both areas at a level higher than you are likely comfortable.

Faha thinks you can get into a school, so I think your effort is better directed toward composing quality secondaries and getting them in, like, yesterday.

 

[Faha]

Thank you for responding! So you don't think I should do an SMP to boost my GPA / gain knowledge base to retake my MCAT? I understand I would have to forego this application cycle if I went that route. Additionally, is MSU-COM a long-shot since I have low stats and no geographical ties? The DO that wrote me a LOR for DO schools went there. Thank you!!

Your weakness is not your GPA so you do not need a SMP. Your weakness is your MCAT scores. Scoring a little higher does not help you since many schools average scores.