3.2 GPA and 36 MCAT

[jane6789]

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So I am currently a senior at a State school in the Northeast, while in college I have had to work over 60 hours a week in order to help support my family financially. Because of this my grades have often time had to take a back seat for work and have thus fallen to a dismal 3.2. However, I still want to attend an allopathic medical school and was wonering what the best possible course of action would be. The application looks like this

GPA: 3.2
MCAT:36

Major Biology

EC's:
Volunteering in a hospital- 200 hours
Work experience 1- 2000 hours
Work experience 2 - 1500 hours
Work experience 3 - 1500 hours
Coaching varsity basketball
Research 2 semesters on the expression of oncogenes
Shadowing- 2 physicians for roughly 100 hours
Tutoring inner city youth -300 hours

Is it impossible at this point for me to be accepted into an allopathic program? Should I take classes after I graduate for a year or two to get my gpa closer to 3.5 ish? Even then I feel as if my application is lacking. I would appreciate any feedback

 

[Holmwood]

I think it'd be fine so long as you bring that gpa up. Good box checking.

You might want to spice things up by continuing some of your ECs to show continued commitment. What you do end up choosing depends on the mission of the schools you are applying to. If it's research school, at least a poster (or pub!). If it's clinical experience oriented, maybe a training position or more diverse hospital experience. If it's teaching oriented a leadership position or service award (if they offer that sort of things) in tutoring may help you out.

Basically transition these ECs from mere experiences to accomplishments.

 

[jane6789]

I think it'd be fine so long as you bring that gpa up. Good box checking.

You might want to spice things up by continuing some of your ECs to show continued commitment. What you do end up choosing depends on the mission of the schools you are applying to. If it's research school, at least a poster (or pub!). If it's clinical experience oriented, maybe a training position or more diverse hospital experience. If it's teaching oriented a leadership position or service award (if they offer that sort of things) in tutoring may help you out.

Basically transition these ECs from mere experiences to accomplishments.

Thank you, I just dont know if I can offset my low uGPA enough within a reasonable amount of time, lets say within 2 years of post-bacc work.

 

[deleted436726]

As someone with similar stats (LizzyM within 1 point of yours) I would say that it wouldn't hurt to do a postbac or SMP and try to get a >=3.5 GPA. But in any case, your MCAT shows you clearly know your stuff, and you should be able to get a few interviews.

 

[baxt1412]

You gotta get that GPA up. You'll be below an automatic threshold for some schools I would guess.

 

[cactus8910]

Thank you, I just dont know if I can offset my low uGPA enough within a reasonable amount of time, lets say within 2 years of post-bacc work.

When did you take the MCAT? The issue with taking 2 years of post-bacc work, esp. if you want to have them completed BEFORE you apply (so your GPA is as high as possible on your app), is that your score might expire. Some schools will begin only taking the 2015 MCAT even before the 3-year expiration of 2014 scores. Look into this before you decide on anything.
Figure out how many classes you could reasonably take and do well in, and then do the math on how much it could realistically bring up your GPA. What's your sGPA? If you're not set on MD schools, you could more quickly bring up your GPA for DO schools by retaking some classes you did especially poorly in.

 

[baxt1412]

When did you take the MCAT? The issue with taking 2 years of post-bacc work, esp. if you want to have them completed BEFORE you apply (so your GPA is as high as possible on your app), is that your score might expire. Some schools will begin only taking the 2015 MCAT even before the 3-year expiration of 2014 scores. Look into this before you decide on anything.
Figure out how many classes you could reasonably take and do well in, and then do the math on how much it could realistically bring up your GPA. What's your sGPA? If you're not set on MD schools, you could more quickly bring up your GPA for DO schools by retaking some classes you did especially poorly in.

DO is an option that could be accomplished more quickly than MD. Retaking just a few Cs or lower could bring your GPAs up above 3.25 which is a common cutoff for DO schools (AFAIK). Then there are anecdotally some schools that are more MCAT-focused. It's an option.

 

[DenTony11235]

So I am currently a senior at a State school in the Northeast, while in college I have had to work over 60 hours a week in order to help support my family financially. Because of this my grades have often time had to take a back seat for work and have thus fallen to a dismal 3.2. However, I still want to attend an allopathic medical school and was wonering what the best possible course of action would be. The application looks like this

GPA: 3.2
MCAT:36

Major Biology

EC's:
Volunteering in a hospital- 200 hours
Work experience 1- 2000 hours
Work experience 2 - 1500 hours
Work experience 3 - 1500 hours
Coaching varsity basketball
Research 2 semesters on the expression of oncogenes
Shadowing- 2 physicians for roughly 100 hours
Tutoring inner city youth -300 hours

Is it impossible at this point for me to be accepted into an allopathic program? Should I take classes after I graduate for a year or two to get my gpa closer to 3.5 ish? Even then I feel as if my application is lacking. I would appreciate any feedback

Don't really know why anyone hasn't suggested this yet but why not do an SMP? It can take you a year and really boost your chances. I think it reflects way better than just taking post-bacc classes, and it would help you with the medical school load once you're in.

BTW, I have a 3.5 GPa and 37 MCAT, only 2 IIs so far and I applied to 25 schools. High MCAT really guarantees nothing out there.

 

[jane6789]

As someone with similar stats (LizzyM within 1 point of yours) I would say that it wouldn't hurt to do a postbac or SMP and try to get a >=3.5 GPA. But in any case, your MCAT shows you clearly know your stuff, and you should be able to get a few interviews.

I was thinking about that route but I have just read some things in other forums about the the questionable effectiveness of SMP programs. I would want to see that statistics behind doing an SMP. But I havent been able to find anything yet.

 

[baxt1412]

I was thinking about that route but I have just read some things in other forums about the the questionable effectiveness of SMP programs. I would want to see that statistics behind doing an SMP. But I havent been able to find anything yet.

well right now it looks like you're sitting at about a 50% acceptance rate possibility

https://www.aamc.org/download/321508/data/factstable24.pdf

 

[jane6789]

DO is an option that could be accomplished more quickly than MD. Retaking just a few Cs or lower could bring your GPAs up above 3.25 which is a common cutoff for DO schools (AFAIK). Then there are anecdotally some schools that are more MCAT-focused. It's an option.

How much longer do you think it would take to make my GPA MD acceptable? I understood the rules for a DO program and replacement and have considered that option. My sGPA is roughly 3.1-3.15. I was thinking about possibly just finishing a second degree which I have apporximently 70 percent finsihed, Id have to take roughly 10 to 12 classes to finish my degree in biochem. All of which would be science classes, thus giving me tons of momentum to change that 3.1.

 

[baxt1412]

How much longer do you think it would take to make my GPA MD acceptable? I understood the rules for a DO program and replacement and have considered that option. My sGPA is roughly 3.1-3.15. I was thinking about possibly just finishing a second degree which I have apporximently 70 percent finsihed, Id have to take roughly 10 to 12 classes to finish my degree in biochem. All of which would be science classes, thus giving me tons of momentum to change that 3.1.

just calculate what your GPA would be with 10-12 more As and see if that number is more acceptable. It becomes increasingly more difficult to move your GPA once you have 4 years of classes solidifying your GPA

 

[mimelim]

So I am currently a senior at a State school in the Northeast, while in college I have had to work over 60 hours a week in order to help support my family financially. Because of this my grades have often time had to take a back seat for work and have thus fallen to a dismal 3.2. However, I still want to attend an allopathic medical school and was wonering what the best possible course of action would be. The application looks like this

GPA: 3.2
MCAT:36

Major Biology

EC's:
Volunteering in a hospital- 200 hours
Work experience 1- 2000 hours
Work experience 2 - 1500 hours
Work experience 3 - 1500 hours
Coaching varsity basketball
Research 2 semesters on the expression of oncogenes
Shadowing- 2 physicians for roughly 100 hours
Tutoring inner city youth -300 hours

Is it impossible at this point for me to be accepted into an allopathic program? Should I take classes after I graduate for a year or two to get my gpa closer to 3.5 ish? Even then I feel as if my application is lacking. I would appreciate any feedback

I would not have a very hard time defending your academics at an admissions committee meeting. The fact that you had to work as much as you did to provide for others helps a lot. As things stand right now, I think that you have a reasonable shot of getting into a US MD school IF #1 You have an otherwise strong application (LOR/PS) #2 You applied early and broadly. Certain schools that are more number oriented/higher tier are not going to interview you, but you will not be wholesale screened out of most places. It is a risk, but I don't think that it is as pessimistic as people make it out to be. Personally, I would apply next season as smart as possible and make sure that you have plenty of lower tier schools on your list.

For you, I don't think that the issue is raising your raw GPA. The bigger issue is that you don't have an upward trend. You don't have demonstration that you can be a strong student. Usually people with lower GPAs will show this by 1.5+ years of solid grades to demonstrate that they can handle the curriculum of medical school. For that reason, taking more classes would be helpful. High MCAT + several semesters of solid grades would go a long way to dispel concerns about your academics.

However, my biggest concern is this: You had to work 60 hours/week to support your family during undergrad and your academics suffered. You are going to be in training for the next 7-11 years, 4 of which you will not be making any money. Why are things different now? I don't want to give you a spot in my medical school class if you are going to be trying to work on the side. It is a poor use of that spot and putting in a 3.2 effort in medical school is asking for issues down the road.

 

[ridethecliche]

However, my biggest concern is this: You had to work 60 hours/week to support your family during undergrad and your academics suffered. You are going to be in training for the next 7-11 years, 4 of which you will not be making any money. Why are things different now? I don't want to give you a spot in my medical school class if you are going to be trying to work on the side. It is a poor use of that spot and putting in a 3.2 effort in medical school is asking for issues down the road.

I came here to say this.

Taking 2 years to do post bacc work while working would help a ton if you can ace the classes. The issue is the MCAT score expiring though. 2 years of 2 classes a semester is one full year worth of classes. It won't raise your overall gpa much, but if you can do well, then that shows you can handle coursework.

 

[jane6789]

I would not have a very hard time defending your academics at an admissions committee meeting. The fact that you had to work as much as you did to provide for others helps a lot. As things stand right now, I think that you have a reasonable shot of getting into a US MD school IF #1 You have an otherwise strong application (LOR/PS) #2 You applied early and broadly. Certain schools that are more number oriented/higher tier are not going to interview you, but you will not be wholesale screened out of most places. It is a risk, but I don't think that it is as pessimistic as people make it out to be. Personally, I would apply next season '.

Thats what I was thinking about doing, have three letters of recommendation so far, All from from professors, 2 in my medically related classes (medical embryology and neurobiology) and one from the professor I am currently researching oncogene expression with. Should I attempt to get more?

 

[MrChance2]

I really don't know. Without the needing to work through undergrad thing I'd say you likely won't get in. I don't know how strongly that is weighted, and I'd say best way to find out would be to apply broadly. I'd say apply broadly and take classes+get As if you are set on US MD just in case you don't get in, especially if you have Cs in prereqs. You'll probably know by the end of fall semester what will likely happen.

 

[mimelim]

Thats what I was thinking about doing, have three letters of recommendation so far, All from from professors, 2 in my medically related classes (medical embryology and neurobiology) and one from the professor I am currently researching oncogene expression with. Should I attempt to get more?

I would have at least one or two from your employers.