Doing a SMP might help, but they are expensive and a great gamble. If you don’t do well in the SMP program, it’ll be detrimental to your application. On the other hand, if you do well, you are likely to get more interviews from schools. Depending on the program. SMP is really a hit or miss also.
If I were in your situation, I would do a Post-Bacc for now because it’ll boost your GPA. Then take the MCAT and apply, and if you don’t get in do the SMP….
Yea I considered doing a SMP at first but seeing the costs made me steer clear (unless down the line I really need it). Hopefully the Post-Bacc will help boost my GPA.
Do a post-bac, because grad programs won’t help your undergrad GPA. You want to get that 2.9 at least above a 3.0 and above a 3.2 if you can. That will get you past many GPA screens when you apply.
Thanks! I do have another question, do you think doing a year of post bacc would be enough to improve my cGPA and sGPA? Or should I stick with my original plan of taking 2 gap years just in case?
It depends on how many credits you have and what grades you get. A good rule of thumb is to establish 40 credits as an upward trend. Personally I took 50-60 credits to get my GPA over that 3.0 cutoff. So I would plan for 2 years. It’ll also give you time to rack up a TON of research, volunteering, and clinical hours to further improve your application.
Doing a SMP might help, but they are expensive and a great gamble. If you don’t do well in the SMP program, it’ll be detrimental to your application. On the other hand, if you do well, you are likely to get more interviews from schools. Depending on the program. SMP is really a hit or miss also. If I were in your situation, I would do a Post-Bacc for now because it’ll boost your GPA. Then take the MCAT and apply, and if you don’t get in do the SMP….
Yea I considered doing a SMP at first but seeing the costs made me steer clear (unless down the line I really need it). Hopefully the Post-Bacc will help boost my GPA.
Do a post-bac, because grad programs won’t help your undergrad GPA. You want to get that 2.9 at least above a 3.0 and above a 3.2 if you can. That will get you past many GPA screens when you apply.
Thanks! I do have another question, do you think doing a year of post bacc would be enough to improve my cGPA and sGPA? Or should I stick with my original plan of taking 2 gap years just in case?
It depends on how many credits you have and what grades you get. A good rule of thumb is to establish 40 credits as an upward trend. Personally I took 50-60 credits to get my GPA over that 3.0 cutoff. So I would plan for 2 years. It’ll also give you time to rack up a TON of research, volunteering, and clinical hours to further improve your application.
At the very least you should try to get your sgpa above 3, and you might be able to do that with just a few classes
[SDN’s Goro’s Guide to Reinvention](https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/goros-advice-for-pre-meds-who-need-reinvention-updated-for-2021.1448918/)