Anyone with sub-par GPA's get interviews?

[relentless11]

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Just curious, wondering how may people here had interviews (or secondaries) despite sub-par GPA's. Sub-par being <3.2. Did some searches, and a few threads "what are my chances", but just curious about the experiences of other people.

I know that some people out there have a lot of underlying circumstances that would do some damage to one's GPA, but stories of how adcom's realizing these circumstances, and allowing you to tell your story at the interview.

Probably motivate many people, including myself...if anyone is willing to share. I've talked to a small group of people, and one actually had a sub-3.0 GPA that got into Tulane. Very bright person, and had a family to take care of....Tulane overlooked that, and allowed them to talk about it at interview. Low and behold they got in. I myself and probably some others are in this same boat, and are looking for at least some "rumor" that there is light at the end of the tunnel. 🙂 The MDapplicants.com site seems to be nice, but incomplete. Most people don't explain much about their lives...just stats.

Last but not least, any information in regards to this about schools that automatically give out secondaries would also be nice to hear. Do they even look at secondaries of sub-par individuals despite them sending them out to everyone that applies? Anyway, any productive comments to this thread would be very much appreciated by myself, and i'm sure many others. Thanks in advance!

 

[Tas]

Well, I do have a subpar GPA. I have recieved 1 interview, 3 secondaries, 3 rejections (pre-secondary), 2 I haven't heard from at all.

I took the august MCAT and it took a while to get my secondaries in, so I'm still holding out hope for another interview or 2. I made sure to not excuse my gpa, but explain it in my AMCAS application.

 

[Swiper]

I had a sub-par ugrad GPA, and a sub-sub-sub par ugrad science GPA. But, I graduated six years ago and have been able to "make up" for my lack of focus early in school. Besides working full-time, I have taken and done well in post-bacc classes. There definitely is hope for sub-par GPA folks! I have 3 interviews, 4 rejections, 2 pre-interview (or, I suppose, post-secondary) holds, and 1 acceptance. I did have my application in early, but I retook the MCAT in August, and all of these decisions have been made since those scores came out in October. Oh, and regarding the MCAT, I was still <30.

Regarding automatic secondaries, I know Duke is extremely automatic - i.e. without screen. However, they do include this in their instructions: "As you begin the supplemental application process, it is important to know, that absent unusual circumstances, those applications with an overall (cumulative) GPA < 3.2 are not favorably reviewed." I saved myself some $$$ on that one!

 

[ForensicPath]

I have a subpar undergrad gpa because I was a screw-up my freshman and sophmore year. I have received 6 interviews (4 MD and 2 DO) and so far I have 1 acceptance and a whole bunch of rejections.

 

[hope280]

i have a little under 3.2 science gpa and a 3.42 overall gpa and i received 5 interviews so far and got waitlisted 3 times. i also got placed on hold twice preinterview at 2 Sunys. But I do have an extensive extra-curricular list.

 

[TRUE]

I had a 3.35 overall and a 3.2 bcpm and I got 5 interviews, 3 acceptences (thus far) and haven't heard from about 10 schools. If you have a poor GPA, MCAT scores help a lot...keep that in mind.

 

[exmike]

I had a 3.1 ALL 3.01 BCMP and have 15 interviews so far.

 

[TRUE]

Originally posted by exmike
I had a 3.1 ALL 3.01 BCMP and have 15 interviews so far.

Did you really fill out 39 secondaries? That is downright amazing...

 

[exmike]

Originally posted by facted
Did you really fill out 39 secondaries? That is downright amazing...

Yes.. i filled out 39 secondaries. I admit i sputtered around #30. I sure am glad I dont have to do this again, I dont think I'd be able to....

 

[thewzdoc]

Originally posted by exmike
Yes.. i filled out 39 secondaries. I admit i sputtered around #30. I sure am glad I dont have to do this again, I dont think I'd be able to....

Gawd.......no wonder you have so many interviews, pure determination will win over low stats (not every time 🙂 )

 

[ixitixl]

I have a low GPA 3.01 BCPM.

Applied to 19 schools
16 secondaries

6 rejections (from state schools as an out of state applicant)

5 interviews

2 waitlists

1 acceptance

 

[DrWorkNeverDone]

Man thanks for that info...the mdapplicants.com was a great site...actually doesnt make me feel so bad right now with my gpa 🙂............I have a 3.0 right now and will be transferring to Davis in the Fall....whooo I feel better

 

[LaurieB]

BCPM GPA: 3.22
Overall GPA: 3.39

To steal exmike's format -

Pre-secondary Rejections: 4
Secondaries: 14
Interviews: 5
Accepted: 2
Waiting Post-secondary: 5
Waiting Post-interview: 3

 

[beatla19]

Where are you transferring from?

 

[DrWorkNeverDone]

Cosumnes River College

 

[jlee9531]

3.4 gpa but 3.1 bcpm

5 interview invites, went to 3, cancelled 1, and 1 coming up.
So far been accepted to 2 schools and waiting for davis and prepping for la interview right now.

applied to 43 schools.
worked full time to support both myself up at school and my family back at home.

so it is possible.

my friend with around a 3 gpa also got a interview today too.

 

[DrWorkNeverDone]

jlee i would really like to know your experience at Davis....have you had the interview already? The school seems so small itself, but the hospital is amazing 🙂....Let me know let me know if you get in!

 

[LP1CW]

The thing is: I don't want people to get misled. If you have a low GPA, it's definitely made up for somewhere else in your application. You probably have a strong MCAT..in the 30's. And you've done some amazing things.

A 3.0 and a 24 is not going to cut it for a jewish boy from NYC or an asian gal from Cali.

 

[jlee9531]

Originally posted by DrWorkNeverDone
jlee i would really like to know your experience at Davis....have you had the interview already? The school seems so small itself, but the hospital is amazing 🙂....Let me know let me know if you get in!

yeah i had the interview already. they were my best interviews. the sacramento medical center is brilliant. the med school campus kinda sucks cause it is in davis, but the good thing about that is it is next to the undergrad campus and the gym is close by and they have a bowling alley ( i like to bowl) nearby i think. IM teams are one of the tops in the country so im gonna have fun playing...

wireless capabilities, cheap cheap housing, location is central to everywhere i like, and the people are awesome there. i should be hearing back from them soon.

 

[DrWorkNeverDone]

If you do get in let me know ASAP 🙂 would love to hear the behind scence stuff 🙂 I live in Sacto too so maybe we can have lunch 🙂 Yeah i wasnt really impressed by appearance of the school myself either...But I heard some rumor of it getting moved to downtown Sac..true?

You have to love that the school hospital is the only level one trauma in the area too 🙂

 

[relentless11]

Wow great replies. I want to thank those that threw in their 2 cents worth, as well as their stats. I'm sure all of this will help many (including myself). I'm curious, if actually applying to 39 schools, does that look bad? I mean personally, i'd do it too! However i've heard that med schools know which and how many schools you've applied to. Apparently something about if you applied to many, you don't care about where you go. Any thoughts?

 

[exmike]

Originally posted by relentless11
Wow great replies. I want to thank those that threw in their 2 cents worth, as well as their stats. I'm sure all of this will help many (including myself). I'm curious, if actually applying to 39 schools, does that look bad? I mean personally, i'd do it too! However i've heard that med schools know which and how many schools you've applied to. Apparently something about if you applied to many, you don't care about where you go. Any thoughts?

NOT TRUE

Where the heck do people come up with this myth? Schools have no idea where else you applied unless you volunteer the information yourself!

 

[phatty925]

science gpa of 3.2 and cumulative gpa of 3.5 from columbia...
i got 6 interviews- albert einstein, GW, NYMC, Drexel, Tufts, UMass.

there's hope w/ a sub-par gpa!! don't worry.

 

[Chrisobean]

Originally posted by phatty925
science gpa of 3.2 and cumulative gpa of 3.5 from columbia...
i got 6 interviews- albert einstein, GW, NYMC, Drexel, Tufts, UMass.

there's hope w/ a sub-par gpa!! don't worry.

whoa the rest of your app must have been ridiculous... do you mind sharing? pm if necessary.. i am interested in those schools as well..

 

[TRUE]

Originally posted by phatty925
science gpa of 3.2 and cumulative gpa of 3.5 from columbia...
i got 6 interviews- albert einstein, GW, NYMC, Drexel, Tufts, UMass.

there's hope w/ a sub-par gpa!! don't worry.

I had about the same #'s from Columbia, with a slightly lower cum. gpa of 3.37.

I interviewed at: Drexel, Einstein, Florida, Sinai and was also offered interviews at Tufts and NYMC. I was accepted at Sinai, Florida, and Drexel and wlisted at Einstein.

The rest of my application wasn't really overwhelming I don't think. I did some clinical experience (about a year's worth), little community service, but I did do about 2 years of research where I designed and ran my own experiments + my PI really liked me so I think his letter may have helped a lot. Don't know, but I too thought I would never get in anywhere...you just have to hold out hope and look at the process more positively. I did get a 34 on the mcat btw...which probably helped a lot to overcome my lower GPA.

 

[jlee9531]

Originally posted by exmike
NOT TRUE

Where the heck do people come up with this myth? Schools have no idea where else you applied unless you volunteer the information yourself!

seriously man...its all the paranoia i bet...

i applied to 43 schools and none of the schools know this nor has it hurt me in anyway.

so relentless11 dont worry about that kind of stuff.

 

[relentless11]

Originally posted by jlee9531
seriously man...its all the paranoia i bet...

i applied to 43 schools and none of the schools know this nor has it hurt me in anyway.

so relentless11 dont worry about that kind of stuff.

Hey sounds good to me. Now just need to gather the $$ to apply to many schools😀

 

[phatty925]

chrisobean, i PM'ed you.

 

[bocai]

3.3 overall GPA ... 2.9 science

5 interviews ... 2 acceptances