3.44 cGPA w/ weird trend - disabled during UG

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I’m a year out of UG, planning to apply in ‘21-’22, and seeking GPA advice. I'm taking the MCAT this summer, so I can’t speak to that yet, but my primary problem is my 3.44 cGPA/~3.2 sGPA.

Went to a state school for my B.S. in bio, nothing fancy, but I was in the throes of surgical and medical treatment for my IBD (ulcerative colitis) for the duration of my undergrad years.

As such, my GPA is poor and my trend isn’t great. I had surgery at the end of my first year, but didn’t take any time off - did online courses for a semester while I recovered from home.

3.43 (disease relapsed, hospitalized at the end of the year for surgery)​

3.83 (recovering from surgery but in remission, much better grades as a result)​

3.22 (disease relapsed, changed my major from biochem to bio to lessen intensity of coursework)​

3.6 (in remission - full course load for 1 semester, half-time for last semester to allow me to receive treatment)​

So here I am, a year after graduation. I’m about to have my last surgery, after which my IBD will be effectively “cured” and will no longer require treatment. I’m hoping that will quell ADCOMs’ concerns of physical disabilities being a “red flag”, since I’ll have to disclose my IBD to explain my interest in medicine + my poor GPA. I’ll have a unique PS, at least.

Research:
Lots of research. In UG, I held down a 15hr/week research tech position to pay for as much school as I could. That lasted the 4 years I was there; counting temporary leaves of absence for hospital stays, that adds up to ~2500 hrs. No pubs (huge lab), but I have also worked FT for the last year as a research tech at another lab - 2nd author pub pending.

Other ECs:
The majority of my volunteering involves my experience as an IBD patient. I’ve been a patient-to-patient counselor, a patient panelist, and a patient blogger. Fairly typical clinical volunteering, ~50 hrs of shadowing a MFM doc and adding a biochemical genetics MD soon. Obviously need more direct patient care, planning on acquiring those hours over the next year.

So it seems like my GPA repair options are:

1. DIY post-bac. Premed advisors have told me my GPA isn’t low enough to warrant this. With the number of credits I’ve completed, 4.0-ing 20-25 credits would only raise me to a 3.5. Is that investment of time/money even worth going up 0.06?
2. Master’s or SMP. I really have no other reason to go for a master’s, but I also don’t fully see the benefit of SMP when my GPA is not horrendous.

TL;DR - Pending my MCAT score, is a 3.44 cGPA/~3.2 sGPA low enough to have to do a post-bac or master’s/SMP? Particularly when the reason for my low GPA was a physical disability during UG?

 

[candbgirl]

Do you have any nonclinical volunteering to the unserved/underserved in your community? You need at least 150 hours of service to those less fortunate than yourself.
I think a DIY post bacc is what you need. It will give you a chance to string together two-three semesters of upper level science courses with outstanding grades(3.7+). This might impress ADCOMS that you are up to the rigors of med school. A SMP is high stakes-high rewards. If you don’t excel with at least a 3.7 GPA it could be game over for med school. In SMPs you are competing with MS1s for grades.
Study hard for the MCAT. You sGPA is low and might indicate a gap in scientific knowledge that could impact your MCAT score. Good luck.

 

[Goro]

I’m a year out of UG, planning to apply in ‘21-’22, and seeking GPA advice. I'm taking the MCAT this summer, so I can’t speak to that yet, but my primary problem is my 3.44 cGPA/~3.2 sGPA.

Went to a state school for my B.S. in bio, nothing fancy, but I was in the throes of surgical and medical treatment for my IBD (ulcerative colitis) for the duration of my undergrad years.

As such, my GPA is poor and my trend isn’t great. I had surgery at the end of my first year, but didn’t take any time off - did online courses for a semester while I recovered from home.

3.43 (disease relapsed, hospitalized at the end of the year for surgery)​

3.83 (recovering from surgery but in remission, much better grades as a result)​

3.22 (disease relapsed, changed my major from biochem to bio to lessen intensity of coursework)​

3.6 (in remission - full course load for 1 semester, half-time for last semester to allow me to receive treatment)​

So here I am, a year after graduation. I’m about to have my last surgery, after which my IBD will be effectively “cured” and will no longer require treatment. I’m hoping that will quell ADCOMs’ concerns of physical disabilities being a “red flag”, since I’ll have to disclose my IBD to explain my interest in medicine + my poor GPA. I’ll have a unique PS, at least.

Research:
Lots of research. In UG, I held down a 15hr/week research tech position to pay for as much school as I could. That lasted the 4 years I was there; counting temporary leaves of absence for hospital stays, that adds up to ~2500 hrs. No pubs (huge lab), but I have also worked FT for the last year as a research tech at another lab - 2nd author pub pending.

Other ECs:
The majority of my volunteering involves my experience as an IBD patient. I’ve been a patient-to-patient counselor, a patient panelist, and a patient blogger. Fairly typical clinical volunteering, ~50 hrs of shadowing a MFM doc and adding a biochemical genetics MD soon. Obviously need more direct patient care, planning on acquiring those hours over the next year.

So it seems like my GPA repair options are:

1. DIY post-bac. Premed advisors have told me my GPA isn’t low enough to warrant this. With the number of credits I’ve completed, 4.0-ing 20-25 credits would only raise me to a 3.5. Is that investment of time/money even worth going up 0.06?
2. Master’s or SMP. I really have no other reason to go for a master’s, but I also don’t fully see the benefit of SMP when my GPA is not horrendous.

TL;DR - Pending my MCAT score, is a 3.44 cGPA/~3.2 sGPA low enough to have to do a post-bac or master’s/SMP? Particularly when the reason for my low GPA was a physical disability during UG?

Unfortunately, undulating GPA Trends are hard to explain away. I recommend a special master's program, or a DIY postbac.

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

I'd recommend the DIY postbacc, as you are a 3.44 is low but not insanely so and a year of 3.7 is going to do a decent amount. Cheaper and less risky than the SMP. IBS is an autoimmune disease; those are generally poorly understood. It's a good thing to include in your PS but there is the chance it'll return so an adcom'll be taking a bit more of a risk on you than on other students. On the other hand you have a decently strong personal motivation for medicine, so you have that going for you. MCAT is going to make or break you.