What should I do?

[centralline]

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I've seen other people post similar things, and I was wondering what people think I should do?
I graduated 2005 from college (a UC) with a 3.8 GPA, got a 37 on the MCAT, and have lots of clinical experience. I worked for the last year in the ER as a scribe (great clinical experience). I haven't done any research, but I'm not really interested in it. My dilema is this, I'm on 4 waiting lists (Albany Med., Dartmouth, Wash U, and GW), and I'm accepted into Georgetown's SMP and BU's Master of Medical Sciences. If I don't get in to one of those medical colleges what should I do? Should I go to one of the masters programs or take some time to travel? I'm worried that I will have to come back for interviews and wouldn't be able to travel anyway. I think that if I apply to a broader range of medical schools next year that I will get in, but I think that I may be able to get into a better school (Georgetown for example) if I go through one of the masters programs. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[kelli]

Your current undergrad GPA & MCAT score combination is already very competitive. Stop freaking out. 😛 If you dont' happen to get in this year, just reapply again next year. I really don't see the point in doing an SMP in your situation. From my understanding, an SMP is generally reserved for students working towards erasing the stigma of a poor UG GPA. Plus if you dont do as well in the SMP, it could be seen as a negative. I've heard that people have completed SMPs with a worse chance of getting into med schools than they did before. So just continue to work/volunteer, make sure your LORs & PS are all really strong, and just reapply again next year (if you don't get in off the waitlists) to a wider range of schools. Also be sure to keep your interviewing skills sharp. Just my $.02.

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

You need to be looking at your interview skills. Your stats should have gotten you in, there is something that you arent telling or there is some blemish in your record that the adcoms saw, and didnt like.

 

[centralline]

Thanks Kelli and Buckeye.
I'm not sure if I agree with you Kelli about the the masters programs. I think that I will do well in them if I take them, and I think that they may help me to score better on the board exams later on. I understand what you are saying, though, but I'm not that worried about performing poorly. Do you think I won't be able to get any early interviews if they are waiting for coursework from the masters program?
Buckeye - I don't think I have any blemmishes on my record, but there may be some weaknesses. I don't think my letters of rec from undergrad are very good (kind of generic ones, I think), and I didn't get involved until late in my college career. I have some new ones from my employers that are very good. I also feel like I applied to too many top tier schools. I thought my MCAT score would do most of the work (which is stupid and rather arrogant in retrospect). I think that if I work on my interview skills a little bit more that I should be able to get in to a good school.
Thanks for both of the responses. Keep them coming.

 

[kelli]

Thanks Kelli and Buckeye.
I'm not sure if I agree with you Kelli about the the masters programs. I think that I will do well in them if I take them, and I think that they may help me to score better on the board exams later on. I understand what you are saying, though, but I'm not that worried about performing poorly. Do you think I won't be able to get any early interviews if they are waiting for coursework from the masters program?

I'm not trying to dissuade you from doing the SMP because I think that you'll do poorly. I'm saying it's more effort than it's worth because you already have a great GPA & MCAT score. What you should do from this point forward is improve other aspects of your application -- your LOR, PS, & extracurricular activities and make sure that you're great at selling yourself in interviews. Doing well in an SMP will just reaffirm to the adcoms that you're a strong academic candidate. But that's something they already know from looking at your UG record.

 

[jebus]

I agree with the previous posters regarding the masters programs.
You don't need to do one. Your stats are phenomenal. You say you have a lot of clinical experience. Maybe you are not a good interviewer, maybe you have a bad LOR, maybe your personal statements weren't good, maybe they thought you were too young/immature; maybe they saw you as one-dimensional. None of us know. If you don't get off any of those waiting lists, you should definitely ask those schools where your application fell short. I don't think an SMP will help you on the boards. I don't think you'll have any problems with the boards.
The only thing I can tell you to do is ask medical schools where your deficiencies are and how you can address them. I'm sure if you do that you will be a shoo-in. Your numbers are outstanding - you've already taken care of the big things, now clean up the little things.

 

[red dot]

i seriously don't think an smp is necessary. i'd kill for those stats! just wait it out. you'll get in. don't forget to keep calling the adcoms. do that long enough they'll remember your voice/name. 👍