Anyone receive interview while having below 3.4?

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fabolous

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What was your MCAT? Did you do a post bacc(formal or informal) or SMP? Why do you think you got in?
 
Most likely high MCAT score and/or other attributes in terms of ECs.
 
I have received 4 interviews. I have a balanced 32R and I did complete a postbac program. I'm also a much older applicant with unique life experiences.
 
I've interviewed a few applicants with gpa's lower than a 3.4. Our admissions office started to block out gpa and MCAT scores for student interviewers last year, but prior to that the lowest gpa that I had interviewed was a 3.1 and since then I had someone hint that her gpa was possibly lower than that.

These individuals were interviewed late in the process and were ethnic minorities or from disadvantaged backgrounds. I cannot say for certain that this is WHY these students interviewed, but this is a true statement. MCAT scores varied from low to average. Probably about half of the students who I interviewed with lower gpas came from ivy league schools or other top tire colleges. Most, but not all, were put on the wait list if they weren't rejected, but a fair share did not have good ECs or good interviews. This is only a total of about 10 students who I interviewed with gpas below 3.3 so it is by no means a good subject sample. One also had a parent who was a physician in the hospital. He did not get accepted.

I guess that's a long way of saying, yes, it is possible to get an interview and accepted to a decent US medical school with below a 3.4 gpa. My med school is not one of the top schools in the US, but we are probably around the middle.
 
RugbyJC, If you don't mind me asking - what do you personally look for in applicants? What catches your attention and what qualities/activities do you personally regard highly?

You mentioned weak ec's. Do you mean these people had no bredth or variety in their activities?
 
I have received two interviews with a GPA of 3.39- so technically, I am under your 3.4 cutoff but just barely. Check out my MDApps if you want more specifics (I did update my GPA to include this past fall semester since I wrote updates to all my schools including those grades, and it went up considerably due to a great semester). I am still waiting to hear back from NYMC, I should get the thumbs up or down in the next week or so, so I dont really know how I'm going to fare with these interviews. However, I did get a really early acceptance to a DO school and an interview invite (that I declined) to the only other DO school I applied to.

I know the feedback I have gotten is that my file is unique because of my life experiences and background. I received both of my interview invites before Christmas, one of them at the beginning of September. I haven't gotten feedback yet about how I am as an interviewee for med school, but I have gotten positive feedback about how I interview for jobs. I can't really give an opinion yet on the 'URM' affect, as my first interview was a closed file (I mainly look like a normal white person that just tans really dark), so her impression of me was probably the same as what it would have been if she thought I just checked the white box.

I also went to two decently respected schools, University of Michigan initially and then I graduated from Michigan State (I transferred halfway through due to family reasons). I think it helps to have some bigger names on the application when you are a slightly lower than average candidate stats-wise.

Either way, if you are interesting and have good things to talk about you should be fine if you get to the interview stage. I think that few adcoms would waste their time interviewing a candidate that they knew they were just going to reject based on numbers. If you can sell yourself during the interview, you can very likely gain yourself an acceptance. If you freeze and choke, or just are boring and cookie-cutter, you dont have numbers to fall back on and are probably more likely to get the ax after the interview. When you have lower numbers, I think there is more to lose at the interview stage. Either way, I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
 
Last year, I had a low GPA and low MCAT and got interviews at 2 in state schools.
 
I'm at 3.42, 36, no postbac, and 4 interviews in top50 schools.

The trouble is I don't think I will get in anywhere =(
 
littlealex said:
I'm at 3.42, 36, no postbac, and 4 interviews in top50 schools.

The trouble is I don't think I will get in anywhere =(
Click to expand...

Why do you think that? 4 interviews is good...
 
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Auron said:
Why do you think that? 4 interviews is good...
Click to expand...

LOL, I empathize with that guy! 4 interviews are great, but I would gladly trade them for one acceptance anywhere!
 
Lshapley said:
I have received 4 interviews. I have a balanced 32R and I did complete a postbac program. I'm also a much older applicant with unique life experiences.
Click to expand...

I also fit into this category with multiple interviews. I had a 32S.
 
Auron said:
RugbyJC, If you don't mind me asking - what do you personally look for in applicants? What catches your attention and what qualities/activities do you personally regard highly?

You mentioned weak ec's. Do you mean these people had no bredth or variety in their activities?
Click to expand...

I don't mind answering at all. At our school you are interviewed by a student and a faculty member. I am given a copy of your AMCAS application and there are no real guidelines for me aside from not offending the applicant. Our dean says "you are not a gatekeeper. Your job is to recruit as well as evaluate." My evaluation sheet includes categories such as motivation, confidence, maturity, higher level of thinking/reasoning, and of course, why do you want to be a physician and do you know what you are getting yourself into. I am also suppose to base my eval on whether or not I could see this person as someone who I would want to go to school with. Someone who I can carry an intelligent conversation with. Then I am suppose to rate you on a scale of whether you should definitely be accepted to definitely rejected.

After your interviews, a committee evaluates everything--the interview write ups and the AMCAS application and spits out either an acceptance or a rejection, or something inbetween. What are they looking for? I have no clue. I will say that the one kid who I flat out rejected was actually offered a seat in the next class, although no one who I have put "must accept" has been rejected.

What I meant about weak ECs, these students did not have a sense of what they were getting into. One student watched a pediatrician do paper work for a day and counted it as shadowing (at least she was honest). Another had worked in a hospital for years, but saw no patients in a medical capacity. Another had a reasonable amount on her application involving shadowing a doctor, but was not able to use it to show that she knew what she was going into or why she wanted to be a physican. What I like to see is someone who has experience with patients and can genuinely talk about it passionately and use it to explain why she wants to do what she is setting out to do. I honestly can't answer how much or how little is sufficient.

As far as non-medical ECs are concerned, I really don't care what they are. I think being the head of a pre-med club is lame, but anything along the lines of athletics, music, clubs on campus that actually do something, are all good and can spark conversation during the interview. On all my residency interview I was asked about things I like to do outside of school and it is just something to differentiate you from everyone else (at least in my opinion). If someone has to work fulltime and cannot participate in these things outside of school, I don't think that's a problem at all, providing they have the clinical work.

our school does not have a research focus and I have interviewed students with little or no research experience who have gotten accepted. I would say that grades, scores, and the clinical ECs are a priority, but the whole package seems to play a role.

Again, the final process is a black box to me. In addition I know for a fact that other schools have different processes.
 
I got an interview at Tulane very early this year with a 3.33 and a 31R. I also had a good amount of ECs, but not a million (see MDApp).
 
fabolous said:
What was your MCAT? Did you do a post bacc(formal or informal) or SMP? Why do you think you got in?
Click to expand...

Yeah.... I did. Take a look at my MDApps for the specifics. However, I'm a non-trad student, so I think that had lots to do with that.

Remember that there are probably just as many schools out there that strictly play the numbers game (U Chicago anyone?) as those that really look wholistically at the application.

My advice: there's almost nothing you can do at this point. Breathe and let fate play its merry role.
 
3.38, 37, 2 interviews, no state schools. I'm also a nontrad with an extremely strong prereq postbacc, life experience, and the like...
 
HSTeacher2MD said:
Yeah.... I did. Take a look at my MDApps for the specifics. However, I'm a non-trad student, so I think that had lots to do with that.

Remember that there are probably just as many schools out there that strictly play the numbers game (U Chicago anyone?) as those that really look wholistically at the application.

My advice: there's almost nothing you can do at this point. Breathe and let fate play its merry role.
Click to expand...
I don't think that's fair (about Pritzker). They've rejected LOTS of people with great numbers and have interviewed/held a bunch with so-so stats but with more interesting backgrounds. I do think they look very hard at your science preparation, given their goals/curriculum, but do not think they have nearly the numbers bias that some schools do.
 
fabolous said:
What was your MCAT? Did you do a post bacc(formal or informal) or SMP? Why do you think you got in?
Click to expand...

I've gotten four interviews with a 3.1 undergrad and 3.8 grad GPA. No post-bacc, but a top 5% MCAT score and I have been out of school for a while so I have 'life experiences'. I'm hoping all that will add up to an acceptance one of these days!
 
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2.98 UGPA, 2.77 BCMP, 4.0 Postbacc, 3.95 GGPA, 36 MCAT. 4 interviews, 2 acceptances, 1 waitlist, 1 withdrawl
 
3.15 UG Gpa, 2.94 BCPM, 35 MCAT, post-bacc @ penn (started this semester), 13 interviews, 6 acceptances, 2 waitlists, 1 pre-interview rejection, 1 post-interview rejection. As for the "why do you think you got in" part-- gpa was the only weakness on my app. I have thousands of hours of clinical expereince and nearly as much research (no i'm not exagerating with the thousands).
 
32T MCAT (11 VR, 11 PS, 10 BS)
3.05 undergraduate
3.85 graduate
3.29 post-bacc
Lots of EC's.

1 interview last cycle (University of Pittsburgh)
3 interviews this cycle (University of Pittsburgh, Georgetown University, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Erie)
 
undergrad: 3.26
post bac bpcm (i needed to do the entire premed b/c i hadn't done it before): 3.08
graduate: 3.76

mcat: v13 b10 p 9

2 interviews so far (penn st, pitt --- i am oos)
 
Undergrad: 3.0 (but with a positive trend)
Grad MPH: 3.85
MCAT: 27P first time, 33P second time

3 interviews at state schools, 2 acceptances, 1 alternate list

I think my MPH and unique extracurriculars set me apart. If it wasn't for my positive grade trend I probably wouldn't have been accepted anywhere. I averaged over a 3.5 during my senior year, but I really screwed up during my sophomore year.
 
I've had two interviews with under a 3.4, average MCAT, and no grad school experience. Both of them have been waitlists though, so take it for what it's worth.
 
3.0 undergrad. 4 semesters of full-time post-bacc work at 4.0 increased my GPA to 3.3. 3 pre-secondary rejections, 12 interview invites, and 4 acceptances so far. Taking the time to complete a post-bacc program made all the difference in the world.
 
i'm pretty sure many URMs get interviews below 3.4. i have a friend who got an interview to duke with a 3.2.
 
RugbyJC said:
I don't mind answering at all. At our school you are interviewed by a student and a faculty member. I am given a copy of your AMCAS application and there are no real guidelines for me aside from not offending the applicant. Our dean says "you are not a gatekeeper. Your job is to recruit as well as evaluate." My evaluation sheet includes categories such as motivation, confidence, maturity, higher level of thinking/reasoning, and of course, why do you want to be a physician and do you know what you are getting yourself into. I am also suppose to base my eval on whether or not I could see this person as someone who I would want to go to school with. Someone who I can carry an intelligent conversation with. Then I am suppose to rate you on a scale of whether you should definitely be accepted to definitely rejected.

After your interviews, a committee evaluates everything--the interview write ups and the AMCAS application and spits out either an acceptance or a rejection, or something inbetween. What are they looking for? I have no clue. I will say that the one kid who I flat out rejected was actually offered a seat in the next class, although no one who I have put "must accept" has been rejected.

What I meant about weak ECs, these students did not have a sense of what they were getting into. One student watched a pediatrician do paper work for a day and counted it as shadowing (at least she was honest). Another had worked in a hospital for years, but saw no patients in a medical capacity. Another had a reasonable amount on her application involving shadowing a doctor, but was not able to use it to show that she knew what she was going into or why she wanted to be a physican. What I like to see is someone who has experience with patients and can genuinely talk about it passionately and use it to explain why she wants to do what she is setting out to do. I honestly can't answer how much or how little is sufficient.

As far as non-medical ECs are concerned, I really don't care what they are. I think being the head of a pre-med club is lame, but anything along the lines of athletics, music, clubs on campus that actually do something, are all good and can spark conversation during the interview. On all my residency interview I was asked about things I like to do outside of school and it is just something to differentiate you from everyone else (at least in my opinion). If someone has to work fulltime and cannot participate in these things outside of school, I don't think that's a problem at all, providing they have the clinical work.

our school does not have a research focus and I have interviewed students with little or no research experience who have gotten accepted. I would say that grades, scores, and the clinical ECs are a priority, but the whole package seems to play a role.

Again, the final process is a black box to me. In addition I know for a fact that other schools have different processes.
Click to expand...

👍 on the candor and insight. I both cringe and appreciate the whole "I could give a rat's ass" point about fluffy ECs. It sucks because I have some of those, but it's welcomed because you just have to face the music about it's importance.
 
ashbrant said:
Undergrad: 3.0 (but with a positive trend)
Grad MPH: 3.85
MCAT: 27P first time, 33P second time

3 interviews at state schools, 2 acceptances, 1 alternate list

I think my MPH and unique extracurriculars set me apart. If it wasn't for my positive grade trend I probably wouldn't have been accepted anywhere. I averaged over a 3.5 during my senior year, but I really screwed up during my sophomore year.
Click to expand...

i got a 29 the first time i took the mcat-- and i had positive grade trend in college and in postbacc. i have very solid public health work experience and clinical research and publications so i think that helped me too.
(i'm not a URM btw--- i'm from an overrepresented group in fact :laugh:)
 
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I'm not below a 3.4, but I'm close at 3.45. My GPA upon graduation was 3.38, and finishing my prereqs bumped it up. I've had pretty good success so far. Check out my mdapps.
 
Just below a 3.4 with a 32 MCAT. 1 interview (at MCG), it's been 2 1/2 months and I haven't heard anything. See my MDapps and good luck!
 
3.36 gpa, 3.26 BCPM gpa, 35Q, no time off/no post-bacc, good ECs
7 interviews, 3 acceptances, 3 post-interview holds, 1 waitlist

See my mdapps for more info.
 
fabolous said:
What was your MCAT?
Click to expand...
11/15/14 - 40Q

fabolous said:
Did you do a post bacc(formal or informal) or SMP?
Click to expand...
Formal post-bacc @ Harvard Extension School (I didn't have any pre-reqs so SMP wasn't an option). But I am spending my app year in a "traditional" graduate program.

fabolous said:
Why do you think you got in?
Click to expand...
MCAT, good post-bacc GPA, my story is fun to tell (not kidding), probably good LOR's

3 interviews, 1 acceptance so far - not expecting much more though
 
3.3 GPA with a 32R MCAT: 3 interviews completed, 2 more interviews scheduled, 2 acceptances

I wouldn't recommend my route of getting into med school. I started off college as a good student but then deteriorated in later years. I changed majors countless times and transferred schools several times. My academic record looked like a train wreck (there where a numeber of F's). I joined the Air Force and spent six years as an x-ray tech. When I separated from the AF I finished my degree (all A's in 54 semester hours).

I have learned that med schools are very forgiving of past mistakes if you can turn your academic life around and put some distance between yourself and your lackluster grades.
 
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