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Are there specific reasons you're set on a T20 school? Are you working on EC to make yourself attractive to those schools? People with a 3.9 and a sky high mcat are not rare and that's not enough to get an acceptance from a T20.
 
butterflysquash said:
Currently I am a 1st semester sophomore with a 3.65 GPA (will go down after this grade). Basically what the title says. I'm really sad because I don't think I'll be able to graduate with a 3.9+ GPA (even after getting all As). I want to apply to T20 schools after grad and I am not sure if I am doomed. I understand that students who get Cs can still get accepted but in the case of T20 schools, will they be unforgiving? I'm also freaking out bc I currently have a downward GPA trend.

3.75-> 3.53-> 3.25 (most likely)
For some context, I switched to pre- med track after freshman year. If I maintain an upward trend from now till grad, will adcoms overlook the current downward trend from freshman- sophomore year? Let me know your thoughts.
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It's not a good idea to think that your UG career ends after this semester.

U-shaped GPA trends are very common, and plenty of med schools reward reinvention.

Rising GPA trends are always good.

Just some friendly advice: Get over the obsession with T20 schools (of which there are probably 30+ schools that would qualify) ...you're in no position right now to be even think about them.
 
butterflysquash said:
that's the thing. having a 3.9+ and 520+ gpa is not rare. that's why i am concerned due to my downward trend and ending up with a "mediocre GPA" after grad. im not sure how much stellar ECs and a good mcat can make up a mediocre GPA (3.7-3.8) (note: i don't believe 3.7-3.8 is mediocre but in context of t20s im not sure)
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Are you not going to try to go to medical school if it’s not a top 20? I hope the answer is “hell no.” You took a good gpa hit and it’ll be much harder to stand out from all the high stat kids unless you have some other unique part of your application. I recommend you get rid of this unhealthy mindset of “I need a top 20” and focus on “I need to get into med school.” And if you find yourself in the position to apply to top 20s when it’s time to apply then that’s great! But a downward trend can hurt you just as much at “low tier” schools so focus on that
 
During a particularly tough junior year, I got Cs in two basic science courses in one semester and thought it was the end of the world. Even with good grades afterwards, my cumulative science gpa ended up under a 3.6. (I'm also ORM for further context). I took a couple gap years, got cool experiences, and am applying this cycle. So far I've gotten accepted to a top 30 school, another top 30 interview, and a top 10 interview coming up. The point is, it isn't the end of the world. Just continue to work hard and don't give up.

Also, like everyone else has said, don't be so set on top 20s. It's better to have the mindset that you would be grateful for any med school acceptance (most people don't even get this, and you'll still get a great education at a below top-20) and be pleasantly surprised if your cycle ends up even better than you thought.
 
terrace_house1 said:
During a particularly tough junior year, I got Cs in two basic science courses in one semester and thought it was the end of the world. Even with good grades afterwards, my cumulative science gpa ended up under a 3.6. (I'm also ORM for further context). I took a couple gap years, got cool experiences, and am applying this cycle. So far I've gotten accepted to a top 30 school, another top 30 interview, and a top 10 interview coming up. The point is, it isn't the end of the world. Just continue to work hard and don't give up.

Also, like everyone else has said, don't be so set on top 20s. It's better to have the mindset that you would be grateful for any med school acceptance (most people don't even get this, and you'll still get a great education at a below top-20) and be pleasantly surprised if your cycle ends up even better than you thought.
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Did you have a high MCAT score to offset the 2 Cs?
 
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