Are University grades more important than CC grades?

[nirm32]

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[ProspectiveKidd]

Can excellent grades at a University offset a sub-par CC GPA? I attended a CA CC for 3 years and got a 3.3 gpa. Transferred to where a UC I'm about to graduate w/ a 3.88 in Biology and received a Departmental citation for outstanding performance. I've done 1.5 years of research and am getting a publication (3rd author). I'm just worried that my upward trend isn't enough since my overall is a 3.48 and BCPM is a 3.4. My GPA at CC was so low because I was working a lot on the side to help my family with the bills. I'm a first generation URM (Mexican).

I'm trying to figure our what to do in my gap year. I'm going to start studying for the MCAT this August but i was wondering if I Should I do grade repair during my gap? I got C's in 4 pre reqs (Bio101b, physics semester 1, chem semester 1, ochem semester 2).

If I retake these courses and take several more biology classes at my CC after graduating then my overall will be a 3.63 and BCPM will be 3.62. Only downside is that the grade repair will prolong the process, making me apply in 2018.. Should I go for it? Or would med schools recognize my success at the UC and disregard my old grades. My dream school is UCSF and I really want to stay in CA.

A year of post bacc 'A's looks like it will boost you up around .15 or so, but MD schools do not replace grades if thats what you're alluding to with retakes. You do have an upward trend and a strong performance at your university which is working in your favor. I think a post bacc may be a good choice provided you're able to perform well in your classes and also do well on the MCAT.

https://www.aamc.org/download/321512/data/factstablea24-1.pdf

 

[nirm32]

A year of post bacc 'A's will boost you up .2 or so, but MD schools do not replace grades if thats what you're alluding to with retakes. You do have an upward trend and a strong performance at your university which is working in your favor. I think a post bacc may be a good choice provided you're able to perform well in your classes and also do well on the MCAT.

I understand the grades won't get replaced but it will boost my gpa by 0.2. if I use the AMCAS method of retakes (averaging the two grades). I can't afford to do a formal post-bacc through a university since they're so expensive.. So would it be fine to just do the retakes and take more bio classes at my CC?

 

[gyngyn]

I understand the grades won't get replaced but it will boost my gpa by 0.2. if I use the AMCAS method of retakes (averaging the two grades). I can't afford to do a formal post-bacc through a university since they're so expensive.. So would it be fine to just do the retakes and take more bio classes at my CC?

With at least a 3.5 gpa and an MCAT of 508 or better you would be fine (I can't promise UCSF, though!).
Language skills?
Evidence of commitment to service?

 

[ProspectiveKidd]

I understand the grades won't get replaced but it will boost my gpa by 0.2. if I use the AMCAS method of retakes (averaging the two grades). I can't afford to do a formal post-bacc through a university since they're so expensive.. So would it be fine to just do the retakes and take more bio classes at my CC?

As you can see from the link I posted, .2 gives you a little bump in acceptance rates for someone in your GPA bracket and Hispanic. Whether or not its an increase worth your time and effort is debatable. If the rest of your app is strong a decent MCAT may be all you need.

EDIT: I was not able to find anything specifically for Mexicans, and I don't believe Hispanic is considered URM, I believe it is just Puerto Rican and Mexican. If that is the case you should be in even better shape than the statistics on the AAMC chart. As @gyngyn stated, an MCAT of 508 (30 on the old scale) will give you a strong chance of acceptance provided the rest of your app is solid.

 

[nirm32]

With at least a 3.5 gpa and an MCAT of 508 or better you would be fine (I can't promise UCSF, though!).
Language skills?
Evidence of commitment to service?

That's good enough for me.. I know things can never be certain schools like UCSF.
I do speak Spanish fluently. I have been volunteering at my local food bank for the past year and have volunteered at a hospital for 120 hours. I have also worked at a free clinic that serves the undeserved Latino community for 1 year.

 

[nirm32]

a few thoughts
1) more recent college work is probably "informally" weighed a bit heavier than older college work is.
2) improving grade trends are weighed heavier by adcoms
3) the typical "worry" in adcoms is doing well in CC then worse in Uni. You have the opposite so that will help a bit
4) Few adcoms see your GPA as a single isolated number but rather as a grade grid showing all the above
5) retakes will not be that impressive to an adcom; you would better off taking a few additional upper level bio courses .
6) A first generation Mexican-American working thru CC should also be mentioned someplace in PS to put the rest of your "story" in context

In short, I dont think you will be seen a 3.48 student but viewed higher with your later work. Can I suggest stop worrying about the technical GPA and focus on other areas, especially being able to develop a coherent, concise and compelling narrative in your application tying all these pieces together

I will keep all this in mind. Should I at least retake gen chem and take a few bio classes at my CC? Doing so will boost my cGPA as well as my BCPM to a 3.5.