POST BACC or Special Masters Program for MEDICAL SCHOOL | Which one should YOU do?

[@Drift1]

Hi Michael. Recently got a 500 MCAT score, non traditional with a 3.09 overall gpa and 3.31 science GPA. Science GPA is higher due to a strong upward GPA trend. Had 2 D's and 2 F's my first two years of undergraduate so it lowers my overall GPA calculated from AMCAS application. Freshman -2.51 Sophmore - 2.73 Junior - 3.84 Senior 3.90 Got accepted into Mid Westerns Masters of Arts biomedical sciences and some interviews. All scheduled interviews are DO schools except one from an MD. I was originally hell bent on going to an MD school, but because of my statistics and MCAT score, I've accepted the possibility of only getitng into a DO school. I was accepted into CA Northstate's Post bac program which is from an MD, BUT.. it's the limitited pathway which does NOT come with a guranteed interview for the schools MD program. What would you recomend as someone who applied for a MSP and got into DO school successfully? Hope you can help, this has been a dream and I won't give up.

[@ERdoctorMike]

You can speak with me via my Facebook page Med School Mentor

[@msjennipher]

Would you suggest doing an smp as a career changer? My BA is in psych and I don’t have the science pre requisite yet. My cumulative gpa and is about a 2.8 I do have a upward trend for my last year of college. I feel like a post will not raise my overall gpa to a number that will competitive enough so I am leaning towards an smp. However I’m thinking not having a strong enough science background because I’m missing the pre requisites will work against me? Any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[@ERdoctorMike]

You need to have completed the premed courses before doing an SMP.

[@emmaconklin4101]

Hello, If I have a 3.5 cumulative uGPA but strong upward trajectory but most of my premed classes I took were in freshmen/sophomore year, would it be worth applying to an SMP in the hopes of an guaranteed interview at the med school I want to go to and taking the MCAT during that time? or should I take a gap year, mcat, then apply? I also have strong clinical and volunteer experience. Not sure what to do here.

[@ERdoctorMike]

SMP does not offer “guaranteed” interviews. I offer advising if you would like to chat more about your situation. Med school mentor on Facebook

[@cey4505]

What can be done for someone with 2.2 gpa?

[@ERdoctorMike]

You need to retake any classes with a C- or below and then apply to an SMP. Come talk to me on Facebook and I’ll help you out.

[@nessa956]

What are a few SMP in the states? I’ve tried doing research, but i feel my search isn’t refined enough.

[@ERdoctorMike]

KCU, ARCOM, midwestern, rocky vista..... most are located at DO medical schools

[@iqradamji2433]

Hello Michael, I recently came across this video and it has been extremely helpful in planning my medical school journey. I have a 3.5 cumulative gpa and 3.2 science gpa. Would you recommend a post-bac or SMP? Any advice would be helpful. Thank you.

[@ERdoctorMike]

Depends on your mcat.

[@iqradamji2433]

@@ERdoctorMike I have my MCAT scheduled in 2 weeks, if I do end up with a low score which program would you recommend? Would you advise applying to med schools directly with the current gpa I have?

[@Chriss703]

What if you want to do a SMP at a medical school but don’t want to go that medical school? For ex: let’s say you want to go to a medical school that doesn’t offer a SMP so you apply elsewhere & get accepted for a SMP of another Med school but you still want to go the other medical school of your choice. How would that work out?

[@ERdoctorMike]

Your best shot is going to the medical school where you do your SMP. You can still apply and are encouraged to apply to others medical schools but your chances are much lower.

[@Chriss703]

@@ERdoctorMike I see, I will keep that in mind. Thank you very much :).

[@iuniao.5350]

I thought that if you have a undergrad sub 3.0 gpa you should do a post bacc to reach the 3.0 and then apply to SMP/Med school because many automatically reject applicants with a sub 3.0 GPA. Most say "Must have a 3.0 gpa" to apply.

[@ERdoctorMike]

SMP are not very competitive to get in to. Most say a “competitive” applicant has a 3.0 but I can tell you a lot of people have below a 3.0.

[@chelseajohnson9736]

Hi!! I have a 3.41 science gpa and 3.43 cumulative gpa should I do post bacc or SMP?? Also is it true that Medical school recalculate your GPA I received a C- IN gen chemistry and retook the course and received a C, will that C- count toward my sGPA?

[@ERdoctorMike]

I think your grades are good enough to get into medical school. If you want to try and improve it a little then a post bacc is your best option, not an SMP

[@jaslynlin6455]

Michael, thanks for sharing the information. If you don't mind please bear with me and let me share the condition I am facing right now. I don't have any science class during my undergraduate, and my GPA is 2.97. so I am thinking to take premed class in community college instead of going to master or posbac. and apply med-school after community college. What do you think about this idea, I appreciate if any advice from you.

[@ERdoctorMike]

You can certainly take a few of the premed classes from a community college but I would recommend taking most of them from a 4 year college. Many Med schools look at community college classes as “easier”.

[@deedeee6271]

3.0 overall and 2.99 sci gpa. What would you recommend?

[@ERdoctorMike]

Possibly could depend on your mcat and some other factors.

[@ERdoctorMike]

I’m leaning more towards SMP though

[@deedeee6271]

@@ERdoctorMike Thanks! Been going back and forth on it.

[@srikargarapati7353]

What if I get a 3.5 in the SMP

[@ERdoctorMike]

Depends on the school you’re at.

[@srikargarapati7353]

@@ERdoctorMike Tulane School of medicine for Masters in molecular biology

[@ERdoctorMike]

Sorry what I mean is each school has some sort of gpa requirement during their SMP which will determine if they offer you a Med school interview.

[@kimberlystigall5436]

Hey Michael, I had a question. I am looking at GWU's GCAT program vs a special masters sense it is more affordable and shorter in time. Right now my undergrad GPA is 3.35 which is very low for the average applicant. And wanted to see if I should just take a loan out and do the Masters vs the 11 month Cert? or should I just do the 2 year masters? I feel really conflicted in my route.

[@ERdoctorMike]

I’d honestly need to know more about that program. Feel free to reach out on my Facebook page Med School Mentor.

[@arqumabdulah2796]

what would you consider as a low cGPA/sGPA? im sitting around a 3.2/3.5 and dont know if I should consider a SMP since im going into junior year. Would love to hear your thoughts

[@ERdoctorMike]

No you are doing great. I’d only consider an SMP if your science gpa is below a 3.1 or so. And for those students, I’d still recommend applying to Med schools but also apply to SMP programs as a back up.

[@arqumabdullah2462]

I’ve heard that 3.5 is a sGPA to shoot for for the majority of medical schools applicants. in your experience, would you say that is a good benchmark to set?

[@ERdoctorMike]

Absolutely

[@niyofrancis1]

⁠@@ERdoctorMikeI have 3.19 GPA would you recommend SMP?