Another Low GPA-High MCAT story...BUT with a twist

[X620]

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I hope this is a twist 🙂

GPA Overall - 2.7
GPA Sciences - 3.8

MCAT: 39+

GPA Story:
First 70 credits attempted at community college, 0.2 GPA.
Gap from education ~ 2-3 year.....changed my life around.
GPA for the next 120 credits attempted - consistently A's, rare B's...3.8


1) Will the trend in my GPA (bad beginning....gap from education....folowed by consistent reliable progress) significantly play into admissions consideration?
2) What tier of med schols are a realistic option?
3) Should I move onto DO schools (where my GPA will be much higher since repeated courses are calculated differently)?

 

[longhorn09]

Dude, DO schools are also medical schools...

 

[rc4ch]

Dude, DO schools are also medical schools...

Not sure if we want him if he doesn't know what medical schools are.

 

[SketchsaurusRex]

i assumed the "twist" involved an epic story of sex and drugs or something equally intriguing. major let down 👎

 

[longhorn09]

i assumed the "twist" involved an epic story of sex and drugs or something equally intriguing. major let down 👎

lol

 

[X620]

Definitely an error on my part, though more intuitive members could definitely discern what I meant. Hope this helps you guys better focus on the actual question....

LOL, SORRY, no the twist wasnt nearly as interesting as sex, drugs, rock-n-roll, etc...

 

[drizzt3117]

That's definitely an upward trend... I think many schools are going to look upon someone getting a 0.2 GPA with caution, though, although the recent strong academic performance will help.

 

[GoSpursGo]

You're going to be auto-screened-out by a bunch of schools that automatically trash anything sub-3.0. However, any school that looks at you long enough is going to have to be intrigued.

Honestly, when evaluating someone like you I just throw my hands up in the air; I seriously have no clue how schools look at applicants like you. I think some schools would be really interested, and some won't even look at you. Good luck figuring out which schools out there are which... if I were you, I'd really apply broadly (25-30 MD schools, 5-10 DO schools). I think you stand a great chance at a bunch of DO's, and I'd think there'd be an MD school out there that would take a flier on bringing you in for an interview if you threw enough darts at the board...

Good luck, let us know how this turned out for you.

 

[Mobius1985]

A lot of schools won't take a second look when they see that cGPA, but some will take note of the excellent MCAT score and check you out further. It's those schools that look at the whole applicant that you want to target. It is in your favor that the underperforming-old you is distinctly separated in time by the new, motivated you. I would target mid- and lower-selectivity schools, including allopathic and osteopathic schools in the mix.

For inspiration see the MDAPPS of this poster who was successful in getting accepted with a GPA of 2.92, noting that the extracurriculars are solid: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=578461

If you don't have the usual ECs, even your MCAT of 39 won't help you.

 

[slight365]

Screening processes will remove you automatically. It won't hurt to apply, however. You might make it in somewhere. There is perhaps no doubt that they should take you, however, this is part of the problem with the computers unless they have a composite of the gpa and the MCAT that can mask the low overall GPA and forward your file to an actual human to read.

I don't think it's impossible.

 

[Spiker]

CALL each school you are interested and ask them about it. At least you will know if you have a chance? Also if you give some detail it may prevent you from being auto screened out? (they make be interested enough to look for a sec?) and how the f did you get 0.2 gpa??????????? why even bother enrolling? lol

 

[drizzt3117]

also, (0.2 x 70 + 120 x 3.8) / 190 = 2.47

You might want to run your #s again.

 

[pazan]

Is there any way for you to take more classes or somehow get the CC credits expunged from your academic record? Clearly, without those CC credits, you have a very good shot at medical school... but with them it's really hard to say what your chances are. It really depends on what type of person you are, which will come through in your PS and ECs. Have you thought about an SMP or seriously pursuing research for a couple of years? The more distance you have from your CC record and the more positive things you can accumulate to demonstrate a real change, the better your chances... it might not happen this year, but I think it will eventually.

 

[longhorn09]

Is there any way for you to take more classes or somehow get the CC credits expunged from your academic record? Clearly, without those CC credits, you have a very good shot at medical school... but with them it's really hard to say what your chances are. It really depends on what type of person you are, which will come through in your PS and ECs. Have you thought about an SMP or seriously pursuing research for a couple of years? The more distance you have from your CC record and the more positive things you can accumulate to demonstrate a real change, the better your chances... it might not happen this year, but I think it will eventually.

That's the way it is...I don't think it's fair to others if he can exclude his grades in CC for his application.

 

[slight365]

That's why you switch schools after deciding sometimes it's just better to let go of that past record, especially since you're going to make it up anyhow.

Fairness? "Fairness" is basically something people use when they don't want someone to get in line ahead of them, including total strangers. Everyone has to do what's right for themselves. Who cares. The person is likely a great candidate. **** fairness. It's as if no one here has ever done anything competitive to get something over on other students to get their own spot. I'm sure not a single person has ever cheated, either.

 

[drizzt3117]

That's why you switch schools after deciding sometimes it's just better to let go of that past record, especially since you're going to make it up anyhow.

Fairness? "Fairness" is basically something people use when they don't want someone to get in line ahead of them, including total strangers. Everyone has to do what's right for themselves. Who cares. The person is likely a great candidate. **** fairness. It's as if no one here has ever done anything competitive to get something over on other students to get their own spot. I'm sure not a single person has ever cheated, either.

It's also violating the AMCAS regulations. If schools check the clearinghouse (which apparently they do), then you can get dropped after being accepted and I imagine schools wouldn't look upon that kindly in future cycles.

As I mentioned before, I think the OP's calculations are wrong and they have a GPA that is unacceptably low for medical schools in this country, MD or DO.

 

[pazan]

That's the way it is...I don't think it's fair to others if he can exclude his grades in CC for his application.

Expunging is much different than excluding. I think AMCAS checks records with a company that keeps track of all colleges a student's attended... so, clearly, nothing on the OP's academic record can be "excluded." If someone can get a part of their criminal record expunged, why not an academic record? Both are potentially damaging and circumstantial. I agree it's not particularly "fair," but if it's possible the OP should take advantage of it.

OP: I would talk to academic records at your CC and see if you can get the grades expunged... at least from some classes where you might have an excuse. If you have a good reason I think it's possible.

 

[GoSpursGo]

That's why you switch schools after deciding sometimes it's just better to let go of that past record, especially since you're going to make it up anyhow.

Fairness? "Fairness" is basically something people use when they don't want someone to get in line ahead of them, including total strangers. Everyone has to do what's right for themselves. Who cares. The person is likely a great candidate. **** fairness. It's as if no one here has ever done anything competitive to get something over on other students to get their own spot. I'm sure not a single person has ever cheated, either.

Switching schools doesn't "reset" your GPA; you still have to report all of your grades from every college you ever attended to AMCAS. If you got accepted and then they checked national clearinghouse, you'd be screwed.

Expunging is much different than excluding. I think AMCAS checks records with a company that keeps track of all colleges a student's attended... so, clearly, nothing on the OP's academic record can be "excluded." If someone can get a part of their criminal record expunged, why not an academic record? Both are potentially damaging and circumstantial. I agree it's not particularly "fair," but if it's possible the OP should take advantage of it.

OP: I would talk to academic records at your CC and see if you can get the grades expunged... at least from some classes where you might have an excuse. If you have a good reason I think it's possible.

It just doesn't work that way. Just because it would be nice and probably make sense doesn't mean that it does; just in the same way that a school has to report all of the grades to AMCAS even if it's their institutional policy to, say, ignore the first grade a student got if they re-take the class, AMCAS would see all of the grades they have ever gotten and re-calculate the GPA, even if it's the institutional policy to ignore them.

It's also violating the AMCAS regulations. If schools check the clearinghouse (which apparently they do), then you can get dropped after being accepted and I imagine schools wouldn't look upon that kindly in future cycles.

As I mentioned before, I think the OP's calculations are wrong and they have a GPA that is unacceptably low for medical schools in this country, MD or DO.

Note, I'm sure a number of those 120 credit hours were classes the OP retook; therefore, if he applies AACOMAS where they replace the old grades with the new, I bet his GPA would be higher.

 

[dragonfly99]

OP, I don't know.
I don't think you are as screwed as some on here are thinking, if your last several years of college are really as exemplary as you are saying. Particularly for DO schools, they may forgive your prior academic sins. I think this is something you need to address in your personal statement...don't make the PS all about your prior bad grades, but you do need to explain them, even if the reason was just being immature, bored, etc.

Make sure you have the right health care volunteer work and other extracurriculars.

I think you may get screened out at a bunch of schools, due to the low overall GPA. DO schools would likely be more forgiving than MD, especially if you retake some of the classes you did lousy in before. If you have any sort of connection with a nearby school (like if your prof. or a physician where you volunteer knows someone at a med school) perhaps they can get your file pulled for review by the adcom, even if it is initially screened out. It's worth a shot. If you didn't have the 3.8 recently, and the high MCAT, I'd say you were screwed. Just keep working hard.

Foreign med schools would take you, but I wouldn't do that unless you apply a couple times in the US and don't get in.

 

[slight365]

Foreign med schools would take you, but I wouldn't do that unless you apply a couple times in the US and don't get in.

Maybe, maybe not. Various places in Europe are highly ranked, including against American schools, but suffer sometimes with the disadvantage that one might have to pay through the nose and/or learn another language. Heidelberg is consistently ranked in the top 50 worldwide, for example. The advantage many overseas schools offer is that as an international student, a real human being is looking at the application and the grades for an independent evaluation and a realistic one.

 

[X620]

As usual, a wealth of knowledge has been contributed by you guys and thank you seems insufficient. To comment on and answer some of the earlier questions/concerns, my overall GPA is indeed that low, and science GPA is that high, there hasnt been an error in calculation but the number of credits completed is approximated for both. Yes, I feel like a complicated case as well. I did waste 3 years of my life and ruined my academic record in the process. But when I finally gained the motivation and strength to move forward, the damage was permanenently done. No matter how much progres and consistently excellent grades I worked hard to get in undergrad in the next 4 more years, the hit my GPA took because of those first 3 years, it will never overcome. Sadly, some individuals take time to come into their own, for whatever reasons, and GPA will never reflect that but will be the number that shapes their future permanently.

I could have been dishonest and tried to not report the first 3 years I bombed, and taken the chance that my transfer University wouldnt find out, like so many have, but I decided spending the rest of all the nights in my life worrying if the lie would ever come out and having the profesisonal credentials I worked so hard to earn, revoked, would never be worth it. Unfortunately I didn't cheat in college either, I was a nerd like that. If there was some way to legally expunge my academic record, in all honesty, I would jump at it, because as long as systems exist that believe flawed criteria such as GPA are ultimately the best way to control access, the answer will always be to fight.

YES, a university that realizes a candidates journey is more important than their GPA number, is a university worth spending my tuition money on. Would I feel this way if I had discovered some way on God's green earth to secretly raise my GPA to 3.5+? Absolutely! Weather I have a high or low GPA, makes no difference when principals are at stake.

Thanks a lot to everyone's contributions, you helped more than I could have possibly expected!

 

[slight365]

but I decided spending the rest of all the nights in my life worrying if the lie would ever come out and having the profesisonal credentials I worked so hard to earn, revoked, would never be worth it.

Has this actually ever happened? Look at many of the students in overseas or off-shore programs. From there, your professional credentials won't get revoked. Don't lose sleep over that.