When to apply?

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EAPoetic

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Trying to figure out when to apply to medschool and postbacc/smp's

Right now I'm at...
cGPA 3.00
sGPA 2.75
MCAT 499. Retook, will know second score within the next week


Only about 16 hours before graduation. Should I apply to post bacc/smp right now with these stats? Some of the applications have already opened for Summer/Fall 2018 start date. Or should I wait until January (when Fall 2017 grades have posted)? I have a lot of hours so this semester won't budge my gpa too much.

And then when should I put in a medschool app? Do people generally apply during postbacc/smp or after? Just kind of confused.
 
Apply to a graduate program and finish that. Definitely, hold off applying right now. You are not very competitive for DO schools. Raise your GPA by .2-.3 points and Your MCAT by at least 4 points and then apply to at least 15-20 DO schools.
 
EAPoetic said:
Trying to figure out when to apply to medschool and postbacc/smp's

Right now I'm at...
cGPA 3.00
sGPA 2.75
MCAT 499. Retook, will know second score within the next week


Only about 16 hours before graduation. Should I apply to post bacc/smp right now with these stats? Some of the applications have already opened for Summer/Fall 2018 start date. Or should I wait until January (when Fall 2017 grades have posted)? I have a lot of hours so this semester won't budge my gpa too much.

And then when should I put in a medschool app? Do people generally apply during postbacc/smp or after? Just kind of confused.
Click to expand...
You are no where near ready to apply to any Med school. Your sGPA is too low. So forget about doing that for now. How many hours do you have? I'm not even sure if you'd get into a SMP. Let us know how your retake scores and in the meantime plan on getting all As from now on. You for sure you need many semesters of 3.7+ in advanced science courses before any Med school will even consider you!
 
You'll have to do the SMP first and hope that this MCAT is good. I wouldn't say you're sunk but I don't know much personally about SMPs and their GOA norms/requirements. Nail these last 16 hours at the very least and look into your competetiveness for the SMP programs in the meantime
 
Maybe my question was worded poorly. I know that I'm not in a great position to apply to med school right now. I was wondering about when to apply to both post bacc (right now vs. january) and med school (general timeline).

candbgirl said:
You are no where near ready to apply to any Med school. Your sGPA is too low. So forget about doing that for now. How many hours do you have? I'm not even sure if you'd get into a SMP. Let us know how your retake scores and in the meantime plan on getting all As from now on. You for sure you need many semesters of 3.7+ in advanced science courses before any Med school will even consider you!
Click to expand...

I think I could get into some reputable postbacc/smp's. I know some that list a 3.0/3.0 cutoff, but some list a 3.0/2.7 cutoff, while others only show a 3.0 oGPA on their website. I know a my 3.0/2.75 is pretty low but isn't the point of postbacc/smp's to improve one's academic record?
 
EAPoetic said:
Maybe my question was worded poorly. I know that I'm not in a great position to apply to med school right now. I was wondering about when to apply to both post bacc (right now vs. january) and med school (general timeline).



I think I could get into some reputable postbacc/smp's. I know some that list a 3.0/3.0 cutoff, but some list a 3.0/2.7 cutoff, while others only show a 3.0 oGPA on their website. I know a my 3.0/2.75 is pretty low but isn't the point of postbacc/smp's to improve one's academic record?
Click to expand...

yes but SMP's in particular have an incentive to take only those they think will be successful in matriculating to medical school which is why they have 3.0 cut offs. a <3.0 gpa is a gamble to them because they know they are not looked at kindly by medical schools.

i feel like your best bet would be to do a post bacc to get your science gpa above a 3.0 and then do an SMP. i say this because its going to take a ton of classes to get that to a competitive GPA. at least a >3.0 will prevent you from being screened out of consideration by most medical schools
 
Do you have an upward trend?

What are the last few prereqs you've taken and what were the grades?

Why would you retake the mcat before postbacc or SMP??

If you did a postbacc at a local school, what courses would you take?

Let us know what the new score is when it's released.
 
PreMedMissteps said:
Do you have an upward trend?

What are the last few prereqs you've taken and what were the grades?

Why would you retake the mcat before postbacc or SMP??

If you did a postbacc at a local school, what courses would you take?

Let us know what the new score is when it's released.
Click to expand...

No real trend, kinda just scattered.

I took the MCAT again because the 499 was very disappointing. Got my retake MCAT back today. 507. Not great but not terrible either.

And I was thinking about doing a more structured program rather than a DIY postbac. Leaning more towards SMP at this point.
 
EAPoetic said:
No real trend, kinda just scattered.

I took the MCAT again because the 499 was very disappointing. Got my retake MCAT back today. 507. Not great but not terrible either.

And I was thinking about doing a more structured program rather than a DIY postbac. Leaning more towards SMP at this point.
Click to expand...
Aceing an SMp is required if you're serious about wanting to be a doctor. With a 499+507, I'd rule out MD schools, unless you live in a very lucky state.
 
Goro said:
Aceing an SMp is required if you're serious about wanting to be a doctor. With a 499+507, I'd rule out MD schools, unless you live in a very lucky state.
Click to expand...

Is Texas considered a lucky state?
URM too, if that means anything.
 
Goro said:
What ethnic group do you represent?
TX is lucky, but they like high GPAs, and I still don't have a good read on how they view reinvention, except at UT-SA.
Click to expand...

Mexican American. I have a good amount of volunteering in a historically Hispanic part out town, in addition to a local children's hospital.
 
EAPoetic said:
Mexican American. I have a good amount of volunteering in a historically Hispanic part out town, in addition to a local children's hospital.
Click to expand...
Ace a DIY post-bac or SMP. No med school will be doing you any favors by admitting you where you're at such a high risk for failing out.
 
Goro said:
Ace a DIY post-bac or SMP. No med school will be doing you any favors by admitting you where you're at such a high risk for failing out.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I've been eyeing the smp at UNT but I know they don't have any type of linkage.
Would I have any shot at getting into the LECOM postbac?
 
EAPoetic said:
Trying to figure out when to apply to medschool and postbacc/smp's

Right now I'm at...
cGPA 3.00
sGPA 2.75
MCAT 499. Retook, will know second score within the next week


Only about 16 hours before graduation. Should I apply to post bacc/smp right now with these stats? Some of the applications have already opened for Summer/Fall 2018 start date. Or should I wait until January (when Fall 2017 grades have posted)?

I have a lot of hours so this semester won't budge my gpa too much.

And then when should I put in a medschool app? Do people generally apply during postbacc/smp or after? Just kind of confused.
Click to expand...

EAPoetic said:
No real trend, kinda just scattered.

I took the MCAT again because the 499 was very disappointing. Got my retake MCAT back today. 507. Not great but not terrible either.

And I was thinking about doing a more structured program rather than a DIY postbac. Leaning more towards SMP at this point.
Click to expand...

EAPoetic said:
Thanks. I've been eyeing the smp at UNT but I know they don't have any type of linkage.
Would I have any shot at getting into the LECOM postbac?
Click to expand...


Since you're a tx resident, it would be best if you positioned yourself for a tx med...low cost, and lucky state. A Tx MD med would have a much lower COA than a DO school, correct? It's going to take some time.

What are your grades in:

Bio I and II
Chem I and II
Ochem I and II
Physics I and II
BioChem
And other BCPM classes?

What courses are you taking this semester and what grades do you expect?

What courses will you be taking next semester?

Since there won't be grants for a post-bacc or SMP, it would seem that the most economical route would be UNT or another Tx public. Is UNT near your home?
 
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PreMedMissteps said:
Since you're a tx resident, it would be best if you positioned yourself for a tx med...low cost, and lucky state. A Tx MD med would have a much lower COA than a DO school, correct? It's going to take some time.

What are your grades in:

Bio I and II
Chem I and II
Ochem I and II
Physics I and II
BioChem
And other BCPM classes?

What courses are you taking this semester and what grades do you expect?

What courses will you be taking next semester?

Since there won't be grants for a post-bacc or SMP, it would seem that the most economical route would be UNT or another Tx public. Is UNT near your home?
Click to expand...


Staying in Texas would be wonderful, but if I were to get into an out of state program that offers guaranteed acceptance/interview it would be hard to pass up. I'm not really in a position to be picky. To keep some form of anonymity let's just say that my oGPA in Texas is 3.0 and BCPM gpa in Texas is an abysmal 2.75

16 BCPM hours left before graduation that should go fairly well, but with the amount of hours under my belt it won't really change my gpa much.

And no UNT isn't near my home. There aren't any smps near my home but I'm fine with relocating. Biggest fear is doing an SMP but then getting auto screened because of my 2.75
 
EAPoetic said:
Biggest fear is doing an SMP but then getting auto screened because of my 2.75
Click to expand...

Many (most?) schools will not kill you with autoscreen if you have graduate work. Just apply to as many SMPs as you can, take the best one you get, and come back to the process when you are wiser and have a stronger academic record. Med school is tough, it's not a question of looking like you're ready, it's a question of actually being ready.
 
Some schools don't pre-screen and give secondaries to everyone. But, in my opinion, that's just a business scheme to get money from the applicants. You'll probably get rejected the instant you send in your secondaries to those schools.
 
EAPoetic said:
Staying in Texas would be wonderful, but if I were to get into an out of state program that offers guaranteed acceptance/interview it would be hard to pass up. I'm not really in a position to be picky. To keep some form of anonymity let's just say that my oGPA in Texas is 3.0 and BCPM gpa in Texas is an abysmal 2.75

16 BCPM hours left before graduation that should go fairly well, but with the amount of hours under my belt it won't really change my gpa much.

And no UNT isn't near my home. There aren't any smps near my home but I'm fine with relocating. Biggest fear is doing an SMP but then getting auto screened because of my 2.75
Click to expand...


It sounds like your concern is that SMPs will autoscreen you for the 2.75. Is that correct?

Is your plan to graduate in May? Would you have aid if you delayed graduation to pad your GPA?

I asked for your grades to get an idea if there is an area that's a problem....such as low Ochem grades or low Physics grades. If so, can you retake them?

There's no quick fix to your situation. And time costs money and can have painful results if it's all done on big loans.

If you wouldn't have adequate aid to delay graduation, what self-created post-bacc options do you have where you could live at home and commute...so just paying instate rates at a CC or nearby state school.
 
Med Ed said:
Many (most?) schools will not kill you with autoscreen if you have graduate work. Just apply to as many SMPs as you can, take the best one you get, and come back to the process when you are wiser and have a stronger academic record. Med school is tough, it's not a question of looking like you're ready, it's a question of actually being ready.
Click to expand...

infectiousdisease101 said:
Some schools don't pre-screen and give secondaries to everyone. But, in my opinion, that's just a business scheme to get money from the applicants. You'll probably get rejected the instant you send in your secondaries to those schools.
Click to expand...


Is the OP asking if he'll be autoscreened by med schools for his GPA or is he asking if SMP programs won't consider him with his GPA?
 
^^Thanks, I misread.

The best thing is always to put TIME between low grades and top grades. Without an upward trend, it's going to take longer for you to put time between low grades and top grades. And at this point, are you really prepared to ONLY get top grades in a SMP? If so, what can you tell us now that demonstrates that?

Will you get any C's this school year? Did you get any C's during your junior year?
 
PreMedMissteps said:
^^Thanks, I misread.

The best thing is always to put TIME between low grades and top grades. Without an upward trend, it's going to take longer for you to put time between low grades and top grades. And at this point, are you really prepared to ONLY get top grades in a SMP? If so, what can you tell us now that demonstrates that?

Will you get any C's this school year? Did you get any C's during your junior year?
Click to expand...


I feel prepared to succeed in an SMP. I would certainly bet on myself, just hoping an ADCOM will take a chance on me...
No C's last semester, but the semester before I had a C and my only D ever. Retaking the D right now, and it's early but I'm on track to make an A. Same prof, and hoping he'll write me a strong letter about my growth as a student.
 
There are several posters on this thread with much more knowledge and experience than I have, but I am personally not sure about simultaneously applying to MD schools and SMP/postbacc. As @Goro said, you're not in a really good position right now for medical schools, and I wonder if it's worth making yourself a reapplicant with your GPA when you could work hard at the SMP and then put together the best possible application you have.
 
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