why do people at Gtown want to apply while they are taking the master's? doesn't that mean that they would've gotten in without it anyway?
Yes, and if you look at their admissions statistics/read SDN posts on Gtown, you'll notice that most of the people in that program are borderline for med admissions. Meaning, they generally have 3.3+ and 30+ MCATs. It's unique among SMPs because it has staggered grades and has a system in place to update all med schools you've applied to, with fresh grades as they come in. If you're borderline stats (3.3/30+mcat) then these med school grades might tip the scales in your favor.
Of course, if you're looking into SMPs, this generally should indicate that you need work on your GPA. Thus, programs like BU, Tufts, Drexel, etc. encourage you to apply after 1 full year of grades to really prove to medical schools that you've given your pound of flesh.
is it a disadvantage to take the master's in 1 year then? do most people do 1 or 2?
when do you guys end up studying for the mcat?
I have no real way to answer this question since I don't know what your stats are like. "Advantage" or "disadvantage" is entirely dependent on what your stats/extracurriculars are like. I looked at your question as a "should I do an SMP?" Length of time doesn't matter. It depends on whether you can handle the SMP workload and get a good GPA, whether you need to polish up other section of your application (MCAT, research, volunteering), etc. In other words, what length of time do
you need to be a successful medical applicant? If you just need 1 year of grades, then there's your answer. If you need 1 year of grades + other things, then you have another answer.
Studying for the MCAT, well... depends on your program. Have you taken it before? If so, you should know how much time you need to study for it (unique to each individual, again). So, once you decide you're doing an SMP, look at your calendar for the next 1-2 years, compare it with the SMP schedule, and fit it in. Some people take it before the SMP (there's a whole summer there) or after it (since you learn a lot in SMP and should theoretically ace the Biological Sciences section of the MCAT, but it's in the middle of applying for med school). Again, up to you.
i'm just gona repost some questions from my other thread since no one really replied...
1. they keep saying they will review it once they have received all credentials. however, if i apply in, say, january, i wouldn't have had my senior grades in yet. how does that work?
2. the application that is available now- will that change (the essays) in december or is it the same? i.e. can i start it now
3. I still need to take one summer course after may 2011 (when I was supposed to graduate) so I believe that I will not "officially" receive my degree until September 2011. Will this be a problem?
4. just a random question: let's say hypothetically that I would like to attend columbia med school. would it make more sense to do that through the columbia post bac? or just stick with the SMPs? I've heard of someone getting into columbia med through their post bac.
thankss!
1. You can submit your grades as early as January. But you can submit them later, until July or something. This kind of pertains to answer I gave above - what makes you the best applicant? If you need your senior fall semester grades, then wait the extra few weeks. It certainly won't hurt if you have stellar fall grades. There's no umbrella answer for everyone - gauging your own strengths and limitations is a useful skill to pick up.
2. Start your essays whenever you're ready. I don't think the topic changes - from what I remember, basically all programs ask you why you want to do an SMP at their school/why it pertains to your future. You can also submit your AAMC med school essay, so I'd say it's really never too early unless you wrote it in middle school.
3. You have to have completed your premed requirements, I think. As for timing - Check with the school(s) you're applying to, in order to see whether they want you to have completed it by the time you submit your application, or before the program starts. All programs require you to submit a transcript by the first week(s) of school to prove you've graduated, though.
4. My only answer to that is: No one can give you a guarantee with med admissions. Even if it's a linkage program, it's dangerous to get complacent and think it's easy to attain a 4.0. Stick with a program that you like, and think you can perform well in. "I've heard..." is not entirely reliable - trust the websites and admissions people - call 'em up and ask them if they have a formal linkage -if not, don't hold your breath with an informal link - it's just a carrot on a stick that, again, has no guarantees.
Good luck!
P.S. If you have free time, read the other 11 pages
There's actually a significant amount of info on this particular thread about BU MAMS than any other one before it! (As an applicant last year, I found it really useful.)
