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- Jan 27, 2016
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Been reading as many threads as possible about different SMPs and low-gpa threads and have decided on going to an SMP next year. SDN friends - need your help in assessing which SMP is best for me
Some info about me:
I've been accepted to Georgetown SMP and EVMS MM and frankly cannot decide. Been researching both schools for the past few months and I feel like I'm still sitting right in the middle. I would definitely pick Cinci SMP but am waitlisted (so just sending updates for now; going to be frustrating waiting until June to see where I stand on the waitlist).
I have friends in both GT and EVMS who successfully matriculated to med school the following fall (GT MD for my friend at GT SMP and another allopathic MD for my friend at EVMS MM)
Georgetown:
Pros - well known/ respected program so maybe some schools will hold off on rejecting me right away and wait for 1st semester grades, seems to be well organized (as opposed to the certificate program I completed last year) .. basically my biggest "pro" for GT would be that it is well known so maybe certain schools that are receptive to GT SMPers will hold off on my application, I really like that it is block schedule (comulative final for physio was NOT the business at my certificate program)
Cons - large class (200), ultra competitive, entire class seems very qualified - I heard that while a certain GPA in the GT SMP program will help you get an interview, once you are interviewed, acceptance is based upon your entire application (as it should be) so I'm afraid I'll fall short to students who have done big things in cancer research or whatever else these ivy league kids seem to have under their belt
EVMS
Pros - smaller class size than GT, friend of mine who is graduating this spring says that the faculty is extremely supportive of students/ sending update letters to schools you are applying to (but with it being much less known than GT, would it even hold any merit?), the admin were very helpful in looking over my application and even asked why i was completing this program - said I should just apply to med school (yet EVMS sent me a rejection bleh)
Cons - not the same "feeder" program it used to be *dammit*. this upcoming fall, class is expected to be 70-80 students still competing for the same approx 30 seats that are historically given to MM (although NOT guaranteed), in addition, EVMS introduced a 2 year program to their med masters (around 20) and they will also be competing for the same seats so it seems like now the competition is about 100 for 30 seats, have heard on several forums that EVMS's MM admin are not the most transparent, heard that there is a possibility of them changing their curriculum which worries me - always problems arise first few years after curriculum changes
Always grateful to the SDN community.. I appreciate all input, comments, and suggestions. Don't forget to vote!!
Some info about me:
- CA resident, graduated from undergrad about 3 years ago with a low ugrad/sgpa 3.3 for both
- 31 on MCAT (expiring next year .. yikes!)
- Went to a certificate premed program last year and did not kill it as I hoped I would - bad first semester, 4.0 second (overall gpa 3.4) -- would really like the chance to demonstrate that my first semester at the program was not representive of the student I am now and that I can definitely cut it in medical school. Learned a lot about myself and my study habits unfortunately too late in the first semester. Definitely understand the amount of hard work that is required in the SMPs and am willing to put 110% in
- Decent EC - 400+ clinical hours, abstracts presented at national conferences, good leadership experiences, decent amount of volunteering
- Applied this year and got 0 interviews
I've been accepted to Georgetown SMP and EVMS MM and frankly cannot decide. Been researching both schools for the past few months and I feel like I'm still sitting right in the middle. I would definitely pick Cinci SMP but am waitlisted (so just sending updates for now; going to be frustrating waiting until June to see where I stand on the waitlist).
I have friends in both GT and EVMS who successfully matriculated to med school the following fall (GT MD for my friend at GT SMP and another allopathic MD for my friend at EVMS MM)
Georgetown:
Pros - well known/ respected program so maybe some schools will hold off on rejecting me right away and wait for 1st semester grades, seems to be well organized (as opposed to the certificate program I completed last year) .. basically my biggest "pro" for GT would be that it is well known so maybe certain schools that are receptive to GT SMPers will hold off on my application, I really like that it is block schedule (comulative final for physio was NOT the business at my certificate program)
Cons - large class (200), ultra competitive, entire class seems very qualified - I heard that while a certain GPA in the GT SMP program will help you get an interview, once you are interviewed, acceptance is based upon your entire application (as it should be) so I'm afraid I'll fall short to students who have done big things in cancer research or whatever else these ivy league kids seem to have under their belt
EVMS
Pros - smaller class size than GT, friend of mine who is graduating this spring says that the faculty is extremely supportive of students/ sending update letters to schools you are applying to (but with it being much less known than GT, would it even hold any merit?), the admin were very helpful in looking over my application and even asked why i was completing this program - said I should just apply to med school (yet EVMS sent me a rejection bleh)
Cons - not the same "feeder" program it used to be *dammit*. this upcoming fall, class is expected to be 70-80 students still competing for the same approx 30 seats that are historically given to MM (although NOT guaranteed), in addition, EVMS introduced a 2 year program to their med masters (around 20) and they will also be competing for the same seats so it seems like now the competition is about 100 for 30 seats, have heard on several forums that EVMS's MM admin are not the most transparent, heard that there is a possibility of them changing their curriculum which worries me - always problems arise first few years after curriculum changes
Always grateful to the SDN community.. I appreciate all input, comments, and suggestions. Don't forget to vote!!