519 MCAT low science gpa

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moscowpremed

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I would really like to apply to medical school this coming summer (I am currently a junior in college). I have a high MCAT (519 =98%) but I transferred schools and at my first university (in canada) I took physics, biology, chemistry and calculus and had a 3.4 my freshman year. Then, I transferred to a school in Boston and now currently only have a C+ in organic chem 1 in my science gpa here from 1st semester sophomore year. My second semester got withdrawn due to personal reasons. I am currently taking more science classes and have been doing research for 3+ years along with shadowing and volunteer work as well as health-related extracurriculars. Is it still possible for me to get into an MD school with my science gpa? Thanks!
 
mrspecialist said:
Not with your current grades. While your high MCAT shows your high IQ, your low GPA shows poor work ethic. Do a Postbac.
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Let's steer clear of making lazy generalizations. Also with 2 years left in college way too early to be definitively saying someone needs a post-bacc or SMP.

To the OP the most important question here is are you a US citizen? If you are your performance these next two years will dictate how competitive(or uncompetitive) you can be for MD admission. A 37 MCAT score is exceptional; do well these next two years, try to graduate with above a 3.4 and you'll definitely have a shot at generating interest from schools.
 
What are your current cGPA and sGPA?
You still have one year left, so your GPA can still go up.
 
moscowpremed said:
I would really like to apply to medical school this coming summer (I am currently a junior in college). I have a high MCAT (519 =98%) but I transferred schools and at my first university (in canada) I took physics, biology, chemistry and calculus and had a 3.4 my freshman year. Then, I transferred to a school in Boston and now currently only have a C+ in organic chem 1 in my science gpa here from 1st semester sophomore year. My second semester got withdrawn due to personal reasons. I am currently taking more science classes and have been doing research for 3+ years along with shadowing and volunteer work as well as health-related extracurriculars. Is it still possible for me to get into an MD school with my science gpa? Thanks!
Click to expand...
What would your gpa be after next semester if you made straight A's?
 
If you spin your story in a great and meaningful way and have a very strong upward trend with your grades I think you'll be fine. I did poorly in lower division science classes (multiple C+'s etc.) but killed my last year and I've been fine this cycle with about your MCAT. My sGPA is probably right around your's as well. Stats are only part of your app, bring your cGPA up to a 3.5 if you can (so maybe apply AFTER your senior year), and then destroy your secondaries!
 
Wh
Me.D. said:
If you spin your story in a great and meaningful way and have a very strong upward trend with your grades I think you'll be fine. I did poorly in lower division science classes (multiple C+'s etc.) but killed my last year and I've been fine this cycle with about your MCAT. My sGPA is probably right around your's as well. Stats are only part of your app, bring your cGPA up to a 3.5 if you can (so maybe apply AFTER your senior year), and then destroy your secondaries!
Click to expand...
What was your sgpa. Appx.
 
Not the end of the world. I received 3 MD acceptances and applied with a 3.4 cGPA, 3.2 sGPA, and 35.

Just be sure to tell a good story and maybe consider a gap year like Me.D. said (although be careful about when that MCAT expires)
 
goldy490 said:
Not the end of the world. I received 3 MD acceptances and applied with a 3.4 cGPA, 3.2 sGPA, and 35.

Just be sure to tell a good story and maybe consider a gap year like Me.D. said (although be careful about when that MCAT expires)
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Not URM right?
 
StudyLater said:
Not URM right?
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Me? No. If OP is though, then he'd actually be a really strong candidate IMO.

However when I look more closely it might get kinda dicey if OP is Canadian. Two of my three acceptances were at state schools. Without a state of legal residence stuff gets a lot harder.
 
goldy490 said:
Me? No. If OP is though, then he'd actually be a really strong candidate IMO.

However when I look more closely it might get kinda dicey if OP is Canadian. Two of my three acceptances were at state schools. Without a state of legal residence stuff gets a lot harder.
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Ah yeah true.

This is a sucky situation. I'd be kicking myself in the head (not that flexible actually). Grades imo are the easiest part of this whole process, despite being kind of a pain sometimes. But it sounds like OP's got time to make this up.
 
I am in fact a US citizen (Massachusetts is my state of residency) And I will definitely be able to get my science gpa to a 3.4 and cum to 3.6 after this year. However, I keep being told I need at least a 3.6 science to apply.
 
moscowpremed said:
I am in fact a US citizen (Massachusetts is my state of residency) And I will definitely be able to get my science gpa to a 3.4 and cum to 3.6 after this year. However, I keep being told I need at least a 3.6 science to apply.
Click to expand...

Worry about actually getting the GPA up(much easier said than done) then about whether your GPA will be good enough if you ace anything.

3.4/3.6 with a 37 will generate consideration just fine if you can actually get your GPA there.
 
goldy490 said:
Me? No. If OP is though, then he'd actually be a really strong candidate IMO.
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That's not racist at all :whistle:

I thought it was explained in this week's URM thread that URM has (or should have) little to do with compensating for low scores and more about the possibility of that applicant practicing in an underrepresented location.
 
mrspecialist said:
Not with your current grades. While your high MCAT shows your high IQ, your low GPA shows poor work ethic. Do a Postbac.
Click to expand...


I don't think that's right.

Besides....I don't think a postbacc is for someone who has already taken the premed prereqs. Also, postbaccs and SMPs cost extra money, which the OP may not have.

this student has 3 1/2 semesters to finish undergrad. She/he needs to finish as strong as possible this semester.

The student will likely need to go a Glide/Gap year. Take advantage of that final year to futher boost science GPA.

Look over the BCPM classes that you can still fit into your schedule and figure out which choices are best to get A's and to boost both Science and Cum GPA....while still preparing for graduation.
 
Lost in Translation said:
That's not racist at all :whistle:

I thought it was explained in this week's URM thread that URM has (or should have) little to do with compensating for low scores and more about the possibility of that applicant practicing in an underrepresented location.
Click to expand...

At OP's scores equate to a 74.3% acceptance rate if he/she is white. That increases to 87.5% if hispanic. 100% if Black.

I actually completely fail to see any racism in my original statement. Although I do agree that that is the purpose of URM, I dont see what bearing it has on OP's chances of admission in the real world. By the numbers alone he has a solid chance if he's white, and a good or VERY good chance if he is of a race or ethnicity that is underrepresented in medicine.

Hispanic Students: https://www.aamc.org/download/321512/data/factstable25-1.pdf
White Students: https://www.aamc.org/download/321518/data/factstable25-4.pdf
African American: https://www.aamc.org/download/321514/data/factstable25-2.pdf
 
Lost in Translation said:
That's not racist at all :whistle:
Click to expand...

It is not.

Lost in Translation said:
I thought it was explained in this week's URM thread that URM has (or should have) little to do with compensating for low scores and more about the possibility of that applicant practicing in an underrepresented location.
Click to expand...

In theory. In practice, though, it also has associated consequences, such as lowering academic standards for admissions. Facts != racism.
 
U MA should be at the top of your list. Invest in MSAR Online and target all MD schools who's median stats have a 3.4 > their 10th percentile. Pay very careful attention to the Acceptance Information page.

Rising trends are always looked upon highly at a lot of schools too.



moscowpremed said:
I am in fact a US citizen (Massachusetts is my state of residency) And I will definitely be able to get my science gpa to a 3.4 and cum to 3.6 after this year. However, I keep being told I need at least a 3.6 science to apply.
Click to expand...
 
SOMBound13 said:
I don't think that's right.

Besides....I don't think a postbacc is for someone who has already taken the premed prereqs. Also, postbaccs and SMPs cost extra money, which the OP may not have.
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You're thinking formal postbacc programs. Those are typically structured, include the prereqs, and yes, cost a ton of money.
But, postbacc really just means any undergrad courses taken after graduation. Doesn't have to be expensive, and anyone can do it.

Someone with a 3.4 has NO business doing an SMP. That's a final Hail Mary; high risk, high reward. Unnecessary for a 3.4, and ALWAYS super expensive.
 
moscowpremed said: ↑
I am in fact a US citizen (Massachusetts is my state of residency) And I will definitely be able to get my science gpa to a 3.4 and cum to 3.6 after this year. However, I keep being told
Click to expand...


I think you just need to accept that you'll need to apply AFTER senior year. This will give you 3 1/2 semesters, and possibly some carefully chosen summer 2016 classes to boost science GPA. You could take 2 BCPM classes next summer. 6-8 credits of A's from summer classes can help.

Are you stronger in Bio, Chem, Math or Physics? Look thru the course listings and choose some extra BCPM classes that you're certain you can get A's in.

What is your major? How much wiggle room do you have left in your schedule?
 
Agreed...Apply after Senior year and spend the year in between doing research or something else to strengthen your app.

Applying with a 3.6/3.4/519(37) would make you a reasonable candidate for Private MD schools like:

Tulane, Wake Forest, Hofstra, NYMC, GW, VA tech, TCMC, Quinnipiac, Albany, Western Michigan, Oakland, Rush, and Rosalind Franklin

A few OOS Friendly Public schools:
AZ Tuscon, West VA, EVMS, VCU, Indiana, USC Greenville, USF (SELECT program--No OOS bias and heavily weights MCAT).

Some top DO programs:
Nova, CCOM, AZCOM, Coastal Touros, and any others that interest you
 
There are plenty of schools that have gpa 10 the percentile at or below OPs numbers. I would apply broadly after senior year to get the most impact. A trend will also bring you into consideration.
 
moscowpremed said:
I am in fact a US citizen (Massachusetts is my state of residency) And I will definitely be able to get my science gpa to a 3.4 and cum to 3.6 after this year. However, I keep being told I need at least a 3.6 science to apply.
Click to expand...
.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
mrspecialist said:
Not with your current grades. While your high MCAT shows your high IQ, your low GPA shows poor work ethic. Do a Postbac.
Click to expand...

One thing you should have learned to get that high of a score is for the most part ignore definitive answers. I think we can apply that to this as well.
 
21Rush12 said:
You bumped a 2 year old thread to make a cum joke?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app
Click to expand...
Haha no, I apologize, probably should have elaborated but I just wanted them to have the chance to fix it. I didn't notice it was two years old.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Lawper said:
I didn't even notice a joke... 🙁
Click to expand...

it was a big misunderstanding. the original poster wrote "and cum to 3.6 after this year" which actually sounded like he was saying "and come to 3.6 after this year" to mean he was expecting his gpa to go from 3.4 to 3.6.

so thats why tiger wrote wrong form of come but i think the poster that thought he was making a cum joke missed the fact that the OP's post could have been misinterpreted the way it was written if you aren't familiar with cum as an unfortunate abbreviation for cumulative
 
•Syzygy• said:
it was a big misunderstanding. the original poster wrote "and cum to 3.6 after this year" which actually sounded like he was saying "and come to 3.6 after this year" to mean he was expecting his gpa to go from 3.4 to 3.6.

so thats why tiger wrote wrong form of come but i think the poster that thought he was making a cum joke missed the fact that the OP's post could have been misinterpreted the way it was written if you aren't familiar with cum as an unfortunate abbreviation for cumulative
Click to expand...
This exactly! Again, apologies.
 
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