2.5 cGPA 2.4 sCGPA 522 MCAT, 4.0 postbac GPA ORM

[UnderDog000]

Those are my stats. A horrifyingly low undergrad performance and a good MCAT and post bac performance. As an ORM, I know that US MD schools are out of the question. The only question is have is DO or Caribbean?

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[Member1115]

I would still apply to your state MD schools. I think you have a good chance at DO schools given your 4.0 post bac and killer MCAT. I personally wouldn't apply to Caribbean schools as I have heard it puts you at a major disadvantage when applying to residency programs.

 

[UnderDog000]

I would still apply to your state MD schools. I think you have a good chance at DO schools given your 4.0 post bac and killer MCAT. I personally wouldn't apply to Caribbean schools as I have heard it puts you at a major disadvantage when applying to residency programs.

Uh seriously? Apply to US MD schools with that GPA? I'm South Asian and everyone else from my community has at least a 3.6. I feel like applying to US MD schools would just be a huge waste of time and money and they'd probably end using my application as toilet paper.

 

[Member1115]

Uh seriously? Apply to US MD schools with that GPA? I'm South Asian and everyone else from my community has at least a 3.6. I feel like applying to US MD schools would just be a huge waste of time and money and they'd probably end using my application as toilet paper.

No I'm saying only apply to your public state schools. What state are you from?

 

[el_duderino]

Hmm. Curious to see how this turned out. What was the post-bacc?

 

[y123]

Those are my stats. A horrifyingly low undergrad performance and a good MCAT and post bac performance. As an ORM, I know that US MD schools are out of the question. The only question is have is DO or Caribbean?

How many credits did u take as a postbac?
What is your cGPA after grade replacement?

 

[UnderDog000]

No I'm saying only apply to your public state schools. What state are you from?

NY. Those schools are pretty competitive too.

 

[UnderDog000]

Hmm. Curious to see how this turned out. What was the post-bacc?

4.0

 

[UnderDog000]

How many credits did u take as a postbac?
What is your cGPA after grade replacement?

30 credits, and I don't know the exact value, probably only marginally higher at best.

 

[y123]

Don't go to the carribean.
Retake C/D/F and reach 3.0. You will be really competitive for DO. Not sure about MD since it's hard to raise that GPA without grade replacement.
ECs?

 

[el_duderino]

4.0

Not your post-bacc GPA. You already told us that.

What did you do for a "post-bacc"? Second BS? Formal premed post-bacc/SMP? Master's program? Public health? MBA? Ad hoc?

 

[UnderDog000]

Not your post-bacc GPA. You already told us that.

What did you do for a "post-bacc"? Second BS? Formal premed post-bacc/SMP? Master's program? Public health? MBA? Ad hoc?

Formal post-back

Don't go to the carribean.
Retake C/D/F and reach 3.0. You will be really competitive for DO. Not sure about MD since it's hard to raise that GPA without grade replacement.
ECs?

So basically redo undergrad lol? So the MCAT and post bacc GPA doesn't matter is what your saying.

 

[y123]

Does your postbac have some linkage to med schools

 

[y123]

If your current cGPA is 2.5, you only need to retake a few courses to raise it above 3.0 with grade replacement. Especially if u had Fs. DO schools will only consider the higher grades and ignore the previous lower ones.

 

[candbgirl]

Are your GPAs with your post bac averaged in? If not do that and come back and let us know what your GPAs really are.

 

[el_duderino]

You need to work with us, man.

 

[darkeon]

If your current cGPA is 2.5, you only need to retake a few courses to raise it above 3.0 with grade replacement. Especially if u had Fs. DO schools will only consider the higher grades and ignore the previous lower ones.

DO schools use the grade of the most recent attempt, regardless if it's the highest or not. I'm sure y123 is well aware of this and it is only natural to think that the subsequent attempt of a course results in a higher grade. I just want to be technical.

 

[UnderDog000]

Are your GPAs with your post bac averaged in? If not do that and come back and let us know what your GPAs really are.

My understanding is that undergrad GPA and postbac GPA are viewed separately and not combined, unless I'm wrong about that.

Does your postbac have some linkage to med schools

Unfortunately not.

If your current cGPA is 2.5, you only need to retake a few courses to raise it above 3.0 with grade replacement. Especially if u had Fs. DO schools will only consider the higher grades and ignore the previous lower ones.

So basically my MCAT and post bac GPA are meaningless then, as in, I'll still have to raise my undergrad GPA before I attempt applying.

 

[Cawolf]

My understanding is that undergrad GPA and postbac GPA are viewed separately and not combined, unless I'm wrong about that.

Calculate your cumulative GPA which is all courses, undergrad and post-bac.

 

[Goro]

That's a helluva turnaround and there are MD schools that reward reinvention.

I suggest the following:

Case
Vandy
Duke (if you have research experience)
Columbia
UCSF
BU
Tufts
Your state schools
GWU
Albany
Drexel
NYMC
Rosy F
U Miami
Tulane
Dartmouth
Any DO school

Do even think about Carib unless you like the idea of being unemployed and deeply in debt.

Those are my stats. A horrifyingly low undergrad performance and a good MCAT and post bac performance. As an ORM, I know that US MD schools are out of the question. The only question is have is DO or Caribbean?

 

[UnderDog000]

That's a helluva turnaround and there are MD schools that reward reinvention.

I suggest the following:

Case
Vandy
Duke (if you have research experience)
Columbia
UCSF
BU
Tufts
Your state schools
GWU
Albany
Drexel
NYMC
Rosy F
U Miami
Tulane
Dartmouth
Any DO school

Do even think about Carib unless you like the idea of being unemployed and deeply in debt.

Im sorry, I don't mean to be rude. But Duke? Columbia? Vandy? UCSF? Seriously? As for the state schools, I guess I could give Albany a shot (currently working there as a research technician doing cardiology research), NYMC, and Drexel I guess. But those three are like Harvard Med for me so its a little hard for me to envision my application even getting looked at by Columbia or Duke. My 2.5 GPA with Cs Ds Fs and Ws on it.

 

[el_duderino]

Where did you do your post-bacc, and what was the program?

BTW, it was unclear from your post if you thought Albany, NYMC, and Drexel were state schools but they're all private (and Drexel is in PA).

 

[candbgirl]

We've asked this a couple of times. Are the 2.4/2.5 GPAs with or without the post bac 4.0 figured in?

 

[GrapesofRath]

With all due respect but this shouldn't be that complicated what is your GPA including the post-bacc work? Post-bacc work is not a separate GPA, it gets included with the UG GPA even though it will get a separate area of mention on your application.


The thing is some of these lower tier schools might view someone with a 522 MCAT as "low yield" which is why your chances may perhaps be best at some of the traditionally more competitive schools or those with higher MCAT medians like Boston U that Goro listed than the low yield schools with millions of apps like GW or Drexel.

 

[UnderDog000]

We've asked this a couple of times. Are the 2.4/2.5 GPAs with or without the post bac 4.0 figured in?

With the post bac, its around a 2.8 since my post bac was only 30 credits.

 

[el_duderino]

With the post bac, its around a 2.8 since my post bac was only 30 credits.

What was your post-bacc program?

 

[UnderDog000]

With all due respect but this shouldn't be that complicated what is your GPA including the post-bacc work? Post-bacc work is not a separate GPA, it gets included with the UG GPA even though it will get a separate area of mention on your application.


The thing is some of these lower tier schools might view someone with a 522 MCAT as "low yield" which is why your chances may perhaps be best at some of the traditionally more competitive schools or those with higher MCAT medians like Boston U that Goro listed than the low yield schools with millions of apps like GW or Drexel.

I understand your point however, you have to forgive me for being a little skeptical here. I seriously doubt any ORM has been accepted to these competitive schools with a 2.8 cumulative GPA and a transcript littered with Cs Ds, Fs, and Ws. Even though I have a decent MCAT and a decent post-bac GPA, I really fail to see how a school such as BU, or frankly most of the schools on that list, are going to look past that. Are they not interested in keeping the incoming class GPA average as high as possible?

What was your post-bacc program?

For anonymity I don't wish to disclose the particular program name as some people from my program frequent this site (which is how I found out about it), however, it is at a fairly well known university. Not an Ivy, but not a terrible school either.

 

[el_duderino]

Then you might want to edit your previous post because I think I might already know who you are.

 

[WedgeDawg]

I understand your point however, you have to forgive me for being a little skeptical here. I seriously doubt any ORM has been accepted to these competitive schools with a 2.8 cumulative GPA and a transcript littered with Cs Ds, Fs, and Ws. Even though I have a decent MCAT and a decent post-bac GPA, I really fail to see how a school such as BU, or frankly most of the schools on that list, are going to look past that. Are they not interested in keeping the incoming class GPA average as high as possible?

1. ORM means literally nothing in medical school admissions, so don't think that's what's going to keep you out (if you look at the data, Asian and White have nearly identical rates of acceptance).

2. Many people at my school completed postbac work. I do not know anything about their undergraduate GPA. I think that given your MCAT and postbac work, you may have a shot at some more competitive schools, but I would add them as afterthoughts, not as the bulk of your application. You should be targeting schools like Hofstra and VA Tech that seem to favor MCAT over GPA, and definitely applying to several DO schools.

3. Class "average" GPA doesn't matter, it's median that does (at least to USNews and other ranking bodies). Median is not influenced by outliers, so admitting someone with a 3.1 will look the same as admitting someone with a 3.7 if the median is 3.8.

 

[el_duderino]

1. ORM means literally nothing in medical school admissions, so don't think that's what's going to keep you out (if you look at the data, Asian and White have nearly identical rates of acceptance).

Uh. No. Google MCAT Table 25. Big differences between whites and Asians.

 

[WedgeDawg]

Uh. No. Google MCAT Table 25. Big differences between whites and Asians.

Acceptance rates by MCAT range (White vs Asian):

39-45: 87.6% vs 87.4% (+0.2 to White)
36-38: 81.7% vs 78.7% (+3 to White)
33-35: 72.9% vs 67.9% (+5 to White)
30-32: 58.5% vs 51.1% (+7.4 to White)

by GPA (White vs Asian):

3.8-4.0: 69.9% vs 71.3% (+1.4 to Asian)
3.6-3.8: 51.9% vs 51.7% (+0.2 to White)
3.4-3.6: 36.1% vs 32.6% (+3.5 to White)

for OPs stats (~2.6, 38) (White vs Asian)

35.7% vs 25% (n is like 14 and 8 though, so this isn't really helpful)

You see the biggest differences as you go down in MCAT, which isn't the case here, and the differences aren't that large until you get into the 27-29 range (where the difference finally hits 10% and at that point you're comparing 30% vs 40% acceptance rates overall). At the top, they're very comparable.

So I wouldn't say "big difference". Maybe not nonexistent, but nothing that will substantially affect your admissions chances.

Sorry to derail.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Uh. No. Google MCAT Table 25. Big differences between whites and Asians.

You have to ask and look at why there's a difference and what accounts for it rather than just blindly looking at tables.

a) Asians tend to be clustered in the U.S. in very competitive states like CA and a lot of other not so lucky states b) the success rate of internationals is low like 15% for admission. You'll have many many Asians in this group which can skew stats for overall Asian applicants. Likewise there are very few Asians in the south whoch is where a ton of lucky states are. All these factors add up

I do think Asians are at a bit of disadvantage in the process. However the effect is definitely overblown on this site for many GPA/MCAT categories be difference is about 5-7% and I'm willing to bet you can account for a decent amount of that variance on those two factors

Bottom line its a minor disadvantage at best. It's not anything for OP to worry about

 

[UnderDog000]

While I do appreciate the possibility of applying to competitive schools, I don't think it's something that is truly realistic given my undergrad GPA. I've struggled a lot and worked my behind off to get to where I am. At 27 years and being Indian, I am constantly surrounded by younger family and friends who, at 24, are getting their MDs from school like BU and Tufts. It is my fault that I fell so far behind them but I paid my dues, worked hard and I think I somewhat redeemed myself.

Point is that schools such as BU or Tufts or Columbia (lol) wouldn't even give me the time of day as soon as they saw my undergrad transcript despite everything else I've done to turn myself around. That ship sailed long ago when I decided to fool around in undergrad instead of working hard. It would be my greatest dream to attend a med school of that caliber, but frankly, it's not going to happen when you have 100,000 other Indian pre-meds with a 3.8 and a 37 MCAT. Instead of wasting time and money to get a rejection letter from those schools, I feel like my limited resources would gain a more effective outcome from DO schools and other less competitive schools.

 

[Lawpy]

Those are my stats. A horrifyingly low undergrad performance and a good MCAT and post bac performance. As an ORM, I know that US MD schools are out of the question. The only question is have is DO or Caribbean?

While I do appreciate the possibility of applying to competitive schools, I don't think it's something that is truly realistic given my undergrad GPA. I've struggled a lot and worked my behind off to get to where I am. At 27 years and being Indian, I am constantly surrounded by younger family and friends who, at 24, are getting their MDs from school like BU and Tufts. It is my fault that I fell so far behind them but I paid my dues, worked hard and I think I somewhat redeemed myself.

Point is that schools such as BU or Tufts or Columbia (lol) wouldn't even give me the time of day as soon as they saw my undergrad transcript despite everything else I've done to turn myself around. That ship sailed long ago when I decided to fool around in undergrad instead of working hard. It would be my greatest dream to attend a med school of that caliber, but frankly, it's not going to happen when you have 100,000 other Indian pre-meds with a 3.8 and a 37 MCAT. Instead of wasting time and money to get a rejection letter from those schools, I feel like my limited resources would gain a more effective outcome from DO schools and other less competitive schools.

The Asian slant has to do with the Chinese/Korean rather than Indians. While both do well in academics, the fomer generally does substantially better than the latter as attested in many reports here on SDN, the AAMC and research studies (on my phone and can't readily link studies). If anything, the Indian demographics is a lot closer to white than to East Asian, both culturally/ethnically and academically, but the differences among overall Asian and white are generally insignificant.

Your GPA is obviously bad so yes, your aim is to retake any bad classes and score A's (retakes can take place at other universities) and apply DO. Make sure your GPA is above a 3.0 threshold and you should be fine.

 

[goldy490]

While I do appreciate the possibility of applying to competitive schools, I don't think it's something that is truly realistic given my undergrad GPA. I've struggled a lot and worked my behind off to get to where I am. At 27 years and being Indian, I am constantly surrounded by younger family and friends who, at 24, are getting their MDs from school like BU and Tufts. It is my fault that I fell so far behind them but I paid my dues, worked hard and I think I somewhat redeemed myself.

Point is that schools such as BU or Tufts or Columbia (lol) wouldn't even give me the time of day as soon as they saw my undergrad transcript despite everything else I've done to turn myself around. That ship sailed long ago when I decided to fool around in undergrad instead of working hard. It would be my greatest dream to attend a med school of that caliber, but frankly, it's not going to happen when you have 100,000 other Indian pre-meds with a 3.8 and a 37 MCAT. Instead of wasting time and money to get a rejection letter from those schools, I feel like my limited resources would gain a more effective outcome from DO schools and other less competitive schools.

You'd be surprised man. Despite the people on SDN, a 38 MCAT is gonna turn heads at every school you apply to. Being non-trad helps a lot. Also, as you make it sound, you took your pre-req science classes in your post bacc which you aced. Given that, what is your BCPM GPA? If it's good and your bad grades are in non-BCPM classes, then yes, you would actually have a shot at many US MD schools. Obviously apply DO as well, but you should ($ permitting), fire a broad range of apps any many US MD programs. New MD schools would kill to matriculate someone with a 522. I was a low gap/high MCAT applicant (although not as low and not as high as yours), and got some surprising IIs from MD schools. You'd probably have luck with DO admissions as well. Just write a thoughtful PS and maybe retake a couple of your F's if you've got the time. You can take them at a local college for pretty cheap, and DO's will replace the grade.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Uh bro you have people trying to tell you to apply to a number of MD schools that reward reinvention, such as what you have done, and yes a number of them are competative schools. Why are you trying to fight it again? Your MCAT is ungodly and will pull more weight than you think. Especially coupled with a 4.0 post-bac. I can promise you WILL NEVER KNOW unless you try. It's completely useless to post a thread and ask for help and then tell everyone who responds that they are wrong and that you really have no chance.... And you could apply today and get some love from DO schools IMO.

 

[Teioh]

Those are my stats. A horrifyingly low undergrad performance and a good MCAT and post bac performance. As an ORM, I know that US MD schools are out of the question. The only question is have is DO or Caribbean?

You say you did a formal PB? How did you even get in? A vast majority screen at 3.0 with most of the lower end ones going as low as a 2.5....

 

[UnderDog000]

You'd be surprised man. Despite the people on SDN, a 38 MCAT is gonna turn heads at every school you apply to. Being non-trad helps a lot. Also, as you make it sound, you took your pre-req science classes in your post bacc which you aced. Given that, what is your BCPM GPA? If it's good and your bad grades are in non-BCPM classes, then yes, you would actually have a shot at many US MD schools. Obviously apply DO as well, but you should ($ permitting), fire a broad range of apps any many US MD programs. New MD schools would kill to matriculate someone with a 522. I was a low gap/high MCAT applicant (although not as low and not as high as yours), and got some surprising IIs from MD schools. You'd probably have luck with DO admissions as well. Just write a thoughtful PS and maybe retake a couple of your F's if you've got the time. You can take them at a local college for pretty cheap, and DO's will replace the grade.

My dream med school is Ichan. My MCAT is certainly at their average, however my GPA is far far far far far.....did I mention far? below their average. Idk is it still worth applying?

You say you did a formal PB? How did you even get in? A vast majority screen at 3.0 with most of the lower end ones going as low as a 2.5....

I took some classes before entering the post bac and got As, also had some excellent recommendations so I suppose that did it for me, however it is impossible to say with absolute certainty.