3.48 sGPA. more BCPM or nah?

[paul2752]

my sGPA is 3.48 and cGPA is 3.55, and this is my junior year GPA.

Should I take more science classes to boost my GPA?

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[rufflev]

my sGPA is 3.48 and cGPA is 3.55, and this is my junior year GPA.

Should I take more science classes to boost my GPA?

What is your major? If it's a BCPM major then taking more classes won't really increase your GPA all that much because you'll have so many credit hours already. That said, your current sGPA/cGPA are good for DO schools but lethal for most MD schools - with a good MCAT (510+) you have a shot at the lower tier MD schools. If possible, I'd recommend trying to boost your sGPA since that's more heavily looked at than your cGPA and make sure to succeed in all these higher level science classes.

 

[deforestasian]

What is your major? If it's a BCPM major then taking more classes won't really increase your GPA all that much because you'll have so many credit hours already. That said, your current sGPA/cGPA are good for DO schools but lethal for most MD schools - with a good MCAT (510+) you have a shot at the lower tier MD schools. If possible, I'd recommend trying to boost your sGPA since that's more heavily looked at than your cGPA and make sure to succeed in all these higher level science classes.

After my junior year, I was around this sgpa/cgpa, and bumped it up to about 3.55/3.59 with my senior year grades and applied at the end of senior year. I wouldn't say this is a lethal gpa, necessarily. It is low, but not so low that it can't be salvaged (depending on the credits you have) If I were you, I would take some more science classes during your senior year, and if you do well, show an upward gpa trend, and do well on the mcat, and have everything else in order, you could consider applying at the end of senior year.

Feel free to message me for more on my experience 🙂

 

[JB50]

Only if they will in fact boost your gpa. More sciences are good if you're good at them. Not so much if you suck at them.

 

[paul2752]

I am chemical engineering major.
The Bcpm classes i have taken so far are:
Ochem 1,2 and lab(B-, A,A)-Chemistry
Cell bio(C-), Biochemistry(B)-Biology
Calculus 3, Differential equation, Probability(A,A,A)-Math
Intro Astronomy(A)-I think this counts as physics

I have skipped all intro classes with AP credits, so there aren't as many BCPM classes, but the C- in Cell bio is dragging me down hard.

 

[paul2752]

Is "DO" school easier to get in?
Why? Is it like an alternatvie?

 

[Dagrimsta1]

Is "DO" school easier to get in?
Why? Is it like an alternatvie?

Sorta like alternative, it is a "newer" form of medicine technically speaking. Their GPA and MCAT averages are slightly lower than MD schools but the gap seems to be closing...
Other than that they have the same rights as MD's and can practice anywhere in the US. Same courses and pretty much the same education except DO's learn an extra "manipulation" course so you can so we are more prepared..
Take more classes only if you can ace them bro

 

[ScottTenorman54]

That said, your current sGPA/cGPA are good for DO schools but lethal for most MD schools - with a good MCAT (510+) you have a shot at the lower tier MD schools.

"Lethal" is a little much, a 510+ MCAT still gets him at least a 50/50 shot at acceptance to many schools.
https://www.aamc.org/download/321508/data/factstablea23.pdf

 

[Spoderman]

My advice: take the easiest classes you can. If you can find a few pushover science electives, all the better. I had a nearly identical sGPA/cGPA combo btw. Not lethal whatsoever if the rest of your app is on point.

 

[paul2752]

FOrgot to mention I am international student.
If I apply to medical school that accept international student, how bad is my GPA?