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[deleted910838]

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[Kirby Smart]

Last year the avg matriculant cGPA was 3.72 and sGPA 3.65, so I'd hardly say that a 3.7/3.5 are considered "very low". That being said, often the research-heavy schools that I assume you're referring to have higher avg stats, but that doesn't mean your research experience won't be valuable when applying to more mid-tier schools. If you're set on going to a T20 school you may need to take more time to bring up the GPA and destroy the MCAT but otherwise I see no reason why you'd need to only target "low tiers & DO".

 

[paimei42]

I think with like 517+ and your gpa and upword trend you should be competitive for t20, so sprinkle a few of those in there.

Overall I'd say you're competitive for midtier schools with like 512+ assuming you keep up the good work senior year.

 

[mmchick]

You’re kidding about “very low” right?

 

[Moko]

You're right that research experience does not fully make up for poor grades, but your grades are not so low that you would only be competitive for DOs and low tier MDs.

If you are applying this year, apply to schools where you would be competitive based on matriculant averages, and also apply to a few reaches as well.

 

[Goro]

cgpa/sgpa
Freshman: 3.66/3.49
Sophomore: 3.40/3.00
Junior: 4.0/4.0 (phys 1, anatomy, phys 2, biochem)
10 summer credits after junior year: 4.0/4.0 (just another upper level bio)

If your SR year can match your JR year, Harvard and Stanford may pass on you, but Vandy, Pitt, Mayo, Duke, Columbia, Case, Keck (maybe) should show you some love.

V-shaped GPA trends are very common.
Forget about making a school list until you have your MCAT score.

 

[mmchick]

I meant very low for the research schools specifically. I don't think it's very low overall, but my science gpa is def very low for many schools

I think you misunderstand the process of determining what schools you're competitive for. No, your sGPA is not "very low". This idea is either wildly naive or aggravatingly arrogant. sGPA 3.5 is practically median for tons of schools. You dipped down halfway through school then came up for only a year afterwards. Your GPAs are not the issue - your trend is. It would be more difficult to decipher your current capabilities for an adcom based on the parabolic shape of your trend vs having a competitive set of GPAs (for many schools). Use MSAR. I think your viewpoint will change radically.

Also at the end of the day, you're within swinging distance of many mid to low MD schools, which like gonnif mentioned, all have some research aspect to them. It's unclear what your goal really is.. if you're looking for T20 powerhouses, then stay for the extra senior year and take on the debt. Won't really matter if you're aiming for being a Hahvard docteur