3.55 GPA: is an smp/post-bacc program necessary?

[Erised Moon]

So I graduated in 2015 from a top 15 liberal arts school with an undergrad GPA of 3.55 in Biology, and I initially wanted to do research. But I decided during my senior year that I would enjoy doing medicine more as a career path, and now I'm looking how to boost my GPA for med school.

MCAT: haven't taken it yet, but early practice scores are around 30, so I'm not too concerned there. But my low GPA is mainly due to a C- in Cell Biology II, a C+ in Biochemistry (both due to horrible teachers), and a B- in Analytical Chemistry. But I have A's in organic chemistry and advanced biology classes, so I don't know how med schools are going to think about that.

I really don't want to waste more than 1-2 years preparing for med school if I can help it, so I was thinking about simply taking several upper-level undergrad courses to boost my GPA, while shadowing/volunteering, doing research, extracurriculars....you know, the whole shebang. But everyone else seems to be considering post-bacc and SMP's (or even getting a master's) to boost their low GPA's. Am I in the wrong for thinking that I can simply take undergrad courses independently without being formally enrolled in a program to compensate for my low GPA?

Because the main reason why I'd rather not do SMP/post-bacc is that I'm currently working in a good lab where I wish to get a LOR from, but it will likely take up all my time for labwork if I were to enroll in any formal programs, or I may even have to leave the lab. And I hear these programs are dayuuum expensive, and mostly just accelerated versions of pre-med requirements anyway, which I don't really need as I've taken all the pre-reqs apart from Physics.

But if most people say that my GPA needs these programs, I would have to make the big decision to do so, and soon. Can anyone offer any advice on this? And should I go SMP, post-bacc, or just take independent undergrad courses for my 3.55 GPA? Thanks in advance!

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[GrapesofRath]

What's your sGPA? If it is close to a 3.55 the GPA's are a little below average(national avg 3.69 cGPA 3.63 sGPA) but they certainly dont warrant SMP work and there isnt a particularly significant need for post-bacc work. MCAT will likely decide how competitive you are.

 

[Erised Moon]

What's your sGPA? If it is close to a 3.55 the GPA's are a little below average(national avg 3.69 cGPA 3.63 sGPA) but they certainly dont warrant SMP work and there isnt a particularly significant need for post-bacc work. MCAT will likely decide how competitive you are.

Yes, I heard from everybody that I need at least a 3.6-3.7 in order to be competitive for any medical school, and my sGPA is unfortunately much lower, probably around 3.3 or 3.4. But I am currently doing practice MCAT exams, and my early scores were around 30, so I'm pretty confident I will be able to solidify that at a 33+. But even so, my GPA truly is bothering me heaps, and I'm in the dilemma of choosing my lab activities over these post-bacc programs.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Yes, I heard from everybody that I need at least a 3.6-3.7 in order to be competitive for any medical school, and my sGPA is unfortunately much lower, probably around 3.3 or 3.4. But I am currently doing practice MCAT exams, and my early scores were around 30, so I'm pretty confident I will be able to solidify that at a 33+. But even so, my GPA truly is bothering me heaps, and I'm in the dilemma of choosing my lab activities over these post-bacc programs.

Just enroll at a local state school and take a year of upper level science courses to try and get the science GPA to around 3.5. You dont need any formal or expensive programs.

You can go through the AAMC charts that tell you the % of people accepted with a certain GPA and MCAT. Historically more htan half of people with 3.5 with a 32 equivalent on the MCAT get an acceptance from an MD school.

 

[RN MD 2017]

Yes, I heard from everybody that I need at least a 3.6-3.7 in order to be competitive for any medical school, and my sGPA is unfortunately much lower, probably around 3.3 or 3.4. But I am currently doing practice MCAT exams, and my early scores were around 30, so I'm pretty confident I will be able to solidify that at a 33+. But even so, my GPA truly is bothering me heaps, and I'm in the dilemma of choosing my lab activities over these post-bacc programs.

Lol you realize that the scoring scale has changed, right? That "30" is probably not a safe assumption, given that the subject matter has been turned on its head. Also, if that is from Kaplan, the old scoring scale overestimated scores.

 

[Erised Moon]

Lol you realize that the scoring scale has changed, right? That "30" is probably not a safe assumption, given that the subject matter has been turned on its head. Also, if that is from Kaplan, the old scoring scale overestimated scores.

Haha yes, but I'm converting my scores from the new to the old because it's easier to think about for me lol. My current practice scores are fluctuating around 510.

 

[Erised Moon]

Just enroll at a local state school and take a year of upper level science courses to try and get the science GPA to around 3.5. You dont need any formal or expensive programs. You can go through the AAMC charts that tell you the % of people accepted with a certain GPA and MCAT. Historically more htan half of people with 3.5 with a 32 equivalent on the MCAT get an acceptance from an MD school.

That's very encouraging, as I really was hoping against taking these formal programs. Now I wouldn't mind actually doing them, since they do boost your GPA for sure, but the dilemma of leaving my extracurriculars behind (like labwork) is rather a conflicting choice to make. After all, I need LOR's and show that I'd actually committed to something lol.

 

[Goro]

SMP? No.

Strategically thought out list? Yes.

So I graduated in 2015 from a top 15 liberal arts school with an undergrad GPA of 3.55 in Biology, and I initially wanted to do research. But I decided during my senior year that I would enjoy doing medicine more as a career path, and now I'm looking how to boost my GPA for med school.

MCAT: haven't taken it yet, but early practice scores are around 30, so I'm not too concerned there. But my low GPA is mainly due to a C- in Cell Biology II, a C+ in Biochemistry (both due to horrible teachers), and a B- in Analytical Chemistry. But I have A's in organic chemistry and advanced biology classes, so I don't know how med schools are going to think about that.

I really don't want to waste more than 1-2 years preparing for med school if I can help it, so I was thinking about simply taking several upper-level undergrad courses to boost my GPA, while shadowing/volunteering, doing research, extracurriculars....you know, the whole shebang. But everyone else seems to be considering post-bacc and SMP's (or even getting a master's) to boost their low GPA's. Am I in the wrong for thinking that I can simply take undergrad courses independently without being formally enrolled in a program to compensate for my low GPA?

Because the main reason why I'd rather not do SMP/post-bacc is that I'm currently working in a good lab where I wish to get a LOR from, but it will likely take up all my time for labwork if I were to enroll in any formal programs, or I may even have to leave the lab. And I hear these programs are dayuuum expensive, and mostly just accelerated versions of pre-med requirements anyway, which I don't really need as I've taken all the pre-reqs apart from Physics.

But if most people say that my GPA needs these programs, I would have to make the big decision to do so, and soon. Can anyone offer any advice on this? And should I go SMP, post-bacc, or just take independent undergrad courses for my 3.55 GPA? Thanks in advance!