Addressing low GPA & illness

[hopelesswanderer34]

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[LizzyM]

I think that this is one of those times when you need a narrative that lays it all out on the table. You were not pre-med in college. You played varsity sports. You struggled with epilepsy (I think that in this case you can name it and not go with a generic "chronic illness"). Then, you decide to explore the possibility of a career in medicine. You shadow, you volunteer, you get involved in a health commission and health policy. You start taking science courses and you do very well. You have the aptitude for science but you'd never tapped into it before. Even better, you are now at a point where your epilepsy is well controlled and you are functioning well on a good treatment regimen. You are interested in __(care of the chronically ill, primary care, longitudinal care of families over time both preventive care and chronic conditions or whatever floats your boat without needing to be too specific).

 

[hopelesswanderer34]

Wow, thank you for responding @LizzyM ! I've been reading your posts for years and they've been extremely insightful.

When you say I need to lay it all out, do you mean in my personal statement? Do I more so emphasize how it motivated me to go into medicine vs. offer as an explanation for poor academic performance?

Also, would it be beneficial to get a LOR to address this? None of my current letter writers really knew me too well when I was going through this, but I have spoken particularly with the doctor I shadowed about how this motivated me to go into medicine. Would it be helpful if I suggested to him that he mentioned this in his letter?

@gyngyn @Catalystik [USER=276335]@gonnif since I've read some of your posts of this topic too[/USER]

 

[LizzyM]

Wow, thank you for responding @LizzyM ! I've been reading your posts for years and they've been extremely insightful.

When you say I need to lay it all out, do you mean in my personal statement? Do I more so emphasize how it motivated me to go into medicine vs. offer as an explanation for poor academic performance?

Also, would it be beneficial to get a LOR to address this? None of my current letter writers really knew me too well when I was going through this, but I have spoken particularly with the doctor I shadowed about how this motivated me to go into medicine. Would it be helpful if I suggested to him that he mentioned this in his letter?

I think that you need to lay out your life story in your personal statement. The best explanation for your low GPA will be inferred based on the story that was that you were working as hard as you needed to while playing varsity sports and struggling with managing your epilepsy. Briefly describe whatever got you to the eureka moment of "what would it be like to be a doctor?" You then describe how you tested this interest with shadowing and volunteering and started taking pre-reqs (or maybe you took some pre-reqs, did well, said, "I can do this" and then figured out if you would like medicine as a career by shadowing etc.

No one really needs to provide second hand information from you in the LOR.

When I see a non-traditional student (e.g. not 21-22 years old) with a low GPA and a very high sGPA I can almost write the story before I read the application. This is a very typical trajectory and one that adcoms seem to lap up; they love reinvention and the maturity that comes with life experience is valuable.

 

[hopelesswanderer34]

Really appreciate this insight.

I'm not quite at the stage of making my list of schools, but do you think if I kill an SMP I might have a chance at some decent MD schools (mid-tier, maybe a random upper-mid that throws me an interview)?

Also, is SMP the better bet vs taking upper-level science courses on my own and possibly improving my GPA marginally>

 

[GreenDuck12]

Given your post-bac performance, strong experience, and an anticipated high MCAT score, I'm not sure an SMP is the right next move. While your cGPA is technically low, your sGPA is outstanding. If you earn a high score on the MCAT, you will be an interesting "splitter" applicant with great background experience and a legitimate reason for a slightly low undergrad GPA. I doubt you would be auto screened out. Personally, I would apply broadly to MD (maybe DO) schools and see if you have a successful cycle. If not, then it would be time for an SMP

 

[hopelesswanderer34]

If you earn a high score on the MCAT, you will be an interesting "splitter" applicant with great background experience and a legitimate reason for a slightly low undergrad GPA. I doubt you would be auto screened out. Personally, I would apply broadly to MD (maybe DO) schools and see if you have a successful cycle. If not, then it would be time for an SMP

I appreciate this perspective. Part of me is inclined to just apply really broadly and see how I fare, but I wonder about how potentially being a re-applicant would look/affect my chances. This usually leaves me thinking that I am probably better off just becoming the strongest applicant I can (by doing the SMP) and then applying. Of course this involves a sizable loan, which is quite frightening.

I am also clinging to hope that if I play my cards right, I might have a shot at getting into a fairly decent (mid, maybe even upper-mid tier) school. DO is really off the table for me. This is why I am wondering whether it is best to just accept my GPA as is and try to get into a decent MD school through a SMP (especially via strong linkages/home school advantages like Tufts or Georgetown), or if inching my GPA closer to 3.5 makes me more attractive to some of these non-trad/second-chance friendly mid-tier schools.

Either way, I know applying early and broadly is an absolute necessity. I'm just trying to put myself in the best position to potentially (by some stroke of lightening) catch the eye of some of the better, mid-tier schools. I think if I can get some interviews, I might have a shot.

 

[GreenDuck12]

Right, and I totally get that. But SMPs are usually for applicants who have an unsuccessful cycle and are using it as an audition for medical school. Typically, applicants have unsuccessful cycles for low stats but your stats are not low. Your cGPA is slightly below that 3.5 range but your sGPA is incredibly high. I suggest taking the MCAT and seeing how things end up. Once you have that, things will become a bit more concrete. Remember, you have a lot going for you already with your experience and extracurriculars. As for your medical illness, my guess is an adcom will be able to understand a 3.4 cGPA. Best of luck to you.