2.78 cGPA, 2.62 sGPA, is there any hope?

[marcdagr8]

I have not taken the MCAT but plan to in April. For the sake of argument I will assume that I will be getting a 33. I assume this because I usually am in the 90% or above on standardized tests (most recent was a 165 on the LSAT) and it seems 33 is about the 90% for the MCAT. I realize this may be presumptions of me, but I would appreciate it if we could sidestep this discussion.

The relevant GPA numbers are:

2.78 cGPA, 2.62 sGPA
3.19 cGPA and 3.32 sGPA with repeated classes removed
3.30 cGPA and 2.78 sGPA for last 80 hours
3.57 cGPA and 3.21 sGPA for last 80 hours with repeated courses removed

I worked full time through my last 80 hours of undergrad and had 2 bad semesters during my divorce.

I am hoping to start the 2 year MS biomedical science SMP at Midwestern University in Glendale Arizona next fall.

I would like to get into med school as soon as possible (I am 28) and am not picky between MD and DO, although I do have a moderate aversion to out of state travel. Ideally I would like to get a surgical residency.

Given my GPA, is this the best route to get into med school? Is there anything else that I should be doing along the way?

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[flodhi1]

I have not taken the MCAT but plan to in April. For the sake of argument I will assume that I will be getting a 33. I assume this because I usually am in the 90% or above on standardized tests (most recent was a 165 on the LSAT) and it seems 33 is about the 90% for the MCAT. I realize this may be presumptions of me, but I would appreciate it if we could sidestep this discussion.

The relevant GPA numbers are:

2.78 cGPA, 2.62 sGPA
3.19 cGPA and 3.32 sGPA with repeated classes removed
3.30 cGPA and 2.78 sGPA for last 80 hours
3.57 cGPA and 3.21 sGPA for last 80 hours with repeated courses removed

I worked full time through my last 80 hours of undergrad and had 2 bad semesters during my divorce.

I am hoping to start the 2 year MS biomedical science SMP at Midwestern University in Glendale Arizona next fall.

I would like to get into med school as soon as possible (I am 28) and am not picky between MD and DO, although I do have a moderate aversion to out of state travel. Ideally I would like to get a surgical residency.

Given my GPA, is this the best route to get into med school? Is there anything else that I should be doing along the way?

MD or DO you're going to have to bring your GPA to at least a 3.0 to avoid automatic screenings and to actually be viewed by ADCOM. So, you're main priority is to get both your cGPA and sGPA up to a 3.0 even if it takes a couple years. After that I would say a MCAT score of 30-32 would be enough for DO schools to get an interview. For MD schools I would say close to a 35 and your ECs, Personal statement and LORs have to be above and beyond. This also assumes that you apply ridiculously early in the cycle, I'm talking about being complete at schools before Mid-July. Scoring a 32-35 like you said can't just be assumed even if you're a good standardized tester. The LSAT is a very different beast from the MCAT. Regardless through with hard work and diligence you can achieve this goal. Your best bet is Osteopathic medical schools right now. I know numerous military surgeons and surgeons that are DOs so you get where you need to be. Keep your head up mate.

 

[Goro]

With those numbers you won't be getting into an MD school, but with grade replacement, you should be getting plenty of interviews at DO schools, including mine. Shoot for a minimum of 25 on the MCAT.

I have not taken the MCAT but plan to in April. For the sake of argument I will assume that I will be getting a 33. I assume this because I usually am in the 90% or above on standardized tests (most recent was a 165 on the LSAT) and it seems 33 is about the 90% for the MCAT. I realize this may be presumptions of me, but I would appreciate it if we could sidestep this discussion.

The relevant GPA numbers are:

2.78 cGPA, 2.62 sGPA
3.19 cGPA and 3.32 sGPA with repeated classes removed
3.30 cGPA and 2.78 sGPA for last 80 hours
3.57 cGPA and 3.21 sGPA for last 80 hours with repeated courses removed

I worked full time through my last 80 hours of undergrad and had 2 bad semesters during my divorce.

I am hoping to start the 2 year MS biomedical science SMP at Midwestern University in Glendale Arizona next fall.

I would like to get into med school as soon as possible (I am 28) and am not picky between MD and DO, although I do have a moderate aversion to out of state travel. Ideally I would like to get a surgical residency.

Given my GPA, is this the best route to get into med school? Is there anything else that I should be doing along the way?

 

[Morsetlis]

If you want to get into a USMD school, do the SMP and finish strong. It'll also help tremendously for med school itself.

Then seek a good scholarship package from a state school cause otherwise you'll be $300k in debt by the time you graduate

 

[Catalystik]

Assuming you have the usual and customary ECs already, with a "3.19 cGPA and 3.32 sGPA with repeated classes removed" and a MCAT of 33, you could apply early summer 2012 and get a DO acceptance without an expensive SMP. Is your sGPA figured without the math classes, then way that AACOMAS would do it, or with the math, the way that AMCAS would do it? Also, are all the retakes for the same credit hours or greater? To qualify for the AACOMAS grade replacement policy, they need to be.

With the time remaining before June, consider retaking a few more low science classes to get your sGPA up higher.

 

[marcdagr8]

The problem with retaking science classes is that all of my C are upper division which means that I will probably be unable to balance the workload while studying for the MCAT and working. The SMP on the other hand will allow me to get student loans, and, hopefully, give me exposure to materials that I will later see in medical school. This exposure should help me do well in medical school and get a better residency.

So, even if I kick ass in a SMP with classes along DO students, would my dismal GPA still be too low for the ADCOM to even look at my application as flodhi1 suggests?

 

[Catalystik]

Your application GPAs as would be figured by AACOMAS (only the most recent grade counted in the calculation), if you replicated their method correctly, are already in the range where you'd be above most DO schools' cutoffs, though a higher sGPA or at least a steep upward science grade trend recently would be nice to see.

And an SMP can override the undergrad GPA, if you perform excellently.