Hey everyone
So I’m currently a rising senior at Villanova University. I’m getting anxious because as I’m approaching my final year, my gpa is not where I need it to be. My grades for this final semester are not in yet, but I have a 3.15 gpa overall which is terrible. My senior year classes are very easy with the exception of biochem and physics. Here’s what I’ve gotten in my classes
Bio 1 - B+
Bio 2 - B
Chem 1 - B- Lab - B+
Chem 2 - B- Lab - A-
Orgo 1 - C Lab - B
Physics 1 - C Lab - A
Calc 1 - B
Calc 2 - A
I also took biopsychology and got a C+, am currently taking orgo 2 and I’m expecting a C at minimum and a B+ in lab. I am a Psychology major but I’m getting a BS instead of a BA. I volunteered at a hospice this entire year and have shadowed numerous doctors as well as multiple volunteer activities such as tutoring and helping the underprivileged around Philly. My summers are spent working my ass off and I don’t have my own car to go do much clinical or volunteer work over the summer. I’ve been working to save for a car and support myself while I live at school. I’m extremely anxious about my gpa because I know it sucks but I’ve devoted the last 3 years of my life to being a doctor. I am taking a gap year and am studying for the MCATs next year. By the end of this year I’ll have about 102 credits I believe and I’m taking 32 total next year. What can I do to help increase my chance of getting accepted (except for MCATs because I know what I need to do already) and what should I do in my gap year? I need all the help I can get because I can’t see myself doing anything except medicine.
Your current sGPA is below 3.0.
This mean you essentially have no chance right now to get a med school acceptance. You will get screened out immediately.
You need to improve your GPA and especially your sGPA. You need to demonstrate that you are academically able to handle the difficult material that you will have thrown at you in med school.
The way to do this is is take at least 7-8 challenging, upper-level elective bio classes… classes like anatomy & physiology, immunology, genetics, cellular & molecular biology, biophysics, biochemistry, biological neuroscience, endocrinology, embryology, etc You must ace ALL of them.
I would strongly suggest postponing your MCAT until you have improved your sGPA. Otherwise you’re just wasting your time.
If you want to see your odds of gaining an acceptance based upon your GPA and MCAT scores–AAMC posts a data grid every year. https://www.aamc.org/download/321508/data/factstablea23.pdf
Even if you get all As in your last 32 credit courses, your GPA(some thing like 3.35) is not going to be medical school worthy, not even for DO schools. You need to take a GAP year, concentrate on your Mcat first to make sure you get a High Mcat and enough medical ECs. Secondly, you need to apply for a SMP program such as the one at Drexel, if you get a high score both in Mcat and at the SMP program, you may be able get in a MD or DO program. That will probably take two years and it is highly risky.
A less risky route is a PA or PT program, but I don’t know you will be competitive enough right now.
I would say you definitely need an SMP.
My Dd’s exroomate had an 3.3 Gpa and an old 31 Mcat spent two years to polish his EC and went to gwu Smp, graduated top 25% got into FIUcom as oos, the only admission offer he got. Had he missed just one step his $100,000 investment would go down the drain.
What would be more useful and beneficial for me? Post bacc program or SMP? Should I go into that right after graduation or should I take a gap year, focus on mcat and And ECs, and then go I to a program after that year?
You need a good Mcat to apply for Smp program.
The best SMPs are those offered by medical schools themselves. Many SMPs have a minimum GPA/sGPA in the 3.0- 3.25+ range. (Varies by program so check requirements at those you are interested in.) You may need to do a post bacc (formal or informal) just to raise your sGPA high enough to be eligible for a SMP.
A SMP also requires a med school or near med school level MCAT score plus the full spread of med school ECs and 3-4 LORs. Basically applying to SMPs is very similar to applying to med schools.
DO school Smp is lot easier to get in, you may want try that. I can not remember the specifics but one DO school Smp specialize to polish your Mcat and if you do well you maybe able to get in with only one year. Check with AACOM web site.
I’ve not heard the term SMP before. Googling barely helped…special master’s program?
@fragbot
A Special Master’s Program is basically an audition for medical school. The best and strongest programs are offered at medical schools/universities associated with medical schools. It’s a high risk-high reward option.
During a SMP, you’ll take coursework that is typical of the first year of med school, often alongside actual med students in the same classroom. In many cases you’ll be competing directly against the med students for grades.
Do well in the SMP–and by well I mean top 25% of the class and a GPA better than 3.75–and you’ve significantly improved your chances for gaining an acceptance to med school. (Note: improved not guaranteed.) Finish outside the top 25% or get a GPA lower than 3.75 and you can kiss any chance of going to med school goodbye forever.
At the end of the SMP you still have to apply to medical schools and get accepted on your merits. (MCAT, LORs, ECs, etc) There are no guarantees of admission–though a few SMP programs promise interview to their own top 5 or so students.
SMPs are expensive-- tuition is in the $35-60K range. No financial aid except loans.
If you’ve completed a certain percentage of the pre-med pre-reqs (and you’ve completed a pretty large amount) you can’t really do a true “post-bacc” which is a non-degree granting program that allows one to complete the pre-reqs. You either have to do a traditional masters or an SMP.
I’ve seen SMP’s that are billed as “MCAT boosting” and thus wouldn’t require a good MCAT score, but if the MCAT is really all that is keeping you out of med school you’d be much better off getting a job and taking an evening MCAT class or whatever. Way cheaper (and probably better looking on an app) than an MCAT boosting SMP.
What are your opinions on declaring a second major in biology and taking a 5th year to graduate?
Before committing to a 5th year of college that may not significantly improve your chances for med school, I suggest that you take your pre-reqs–Ochem 2, physics 2 and biochem–next fall.
If you get As in all of them, then and only then consider adding a 5th year to take nothing but upper level bio classes to raise your sGPA.
But if you earn anything other than all As in your remaining pre-reqs–it’s time for Plan B.
Well I just finished OChem 2 I just haven’t gotten my grade posted yet. I’m already registered for biochem, and physics 2 isn’t offered in the fall if have to wait until the spring.
How would you pay for that 5th year? Your parents? If you’re getting FA, then the school may not permit a 5th year and get more FA.