Assistance with GPA trends (Formatted as present on amcas)!

[Jack-Kennedy35]

Hello Everyone,
Here are my gpa trends during each year of my undergraduate. I just graduated and will be applying next year (so 2 gap years). I did my first two years at a community college and my final two at UCLA, majoring in Biology. The reason I made this table is because I was hoping to have a detailed look at my trends to see if there are any questions about my competitiveness for medical school and my ability to handle a medical school course load. If there are such questions, I want to know now so that I can plan for Extension post bacc classes asap. I don't want to risk my application next year. I have taken the MCAT and received a 513 and am open to retaking. My activities are also strong, but since I started at a community college, GPA is my concern. Thanks @Catalystik @Goro @gonnif @LizzyM

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[Goro]

I can't recommend retaking a perfectly good 513 score.

Your slight U-shape GPA trend is very common and nothing concerning.

You do NOT need to do a post-bac.

I recommend the following:
BU (maybe)
UCF
Ohio State
Hofstra
U Toledo
U IA
U VM
Pitt
Miami
St. Louis
Albany
Albert Einstein
Rochester
Rush
Rosy Franklin
Wayne State
MCW
NYMC
VCU
EVMS
Wake Forest
Jefferson
Temple
Tufts
Drexel
Creighton
George Washington
Georgetown
Emory
Tulane
Dartmouth
Loyola
Netter
Oakland-B
Western MI
Seton Hall
UCD
UCI
Nova MD
CUSM
Kaiser
TCU/UNT
Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)

 

[Catalystik]

Hello Everyone,
Here are my gpa trends during each year of my undergraduate. I just graduated and will be applying next year (so 2 gap years). I did my first two years at a community college and my final two at UCLA, majoring in Biology. The reason I made this table is because I was hoping to have a detailed look at my trends to see if there are any questions about my competitiveness for medical school and my ability to handle a medical school course load. If there are such questions, I want to know now so that I can plan for Extension post bacc classes asap. I don't want to risk my application next year. I have taken the MCAT and received a 513 and am open to retaking. My activities are also strong, but since I started at a community college, GPA is my concern. Thanks @Catalystik @Goro @gonnif @LizzyM

View attachment 277938

Looks good to me as well.

 

[Jack-Kennedy35]

I can't recommend retaking a perfectly good 513 score.

Your slight U-shape GPA trend is very common and nothing concerning.

You do NOT need to do a post-bac.

I recommend the following:
BU (maybe)
UCF
Ohio State
Hofstra
U Toledo
U IA
U VM
Pitt
Miami
St. Louis
Albany
Albert Einstein
Rochester
Rush
Rosy Franklin
Wayne State
MCW
NYMC
VCU
EVMS
Wake Forest
Jefferson
Temple
Tufts
Drexel
Creighton
George Washington
Georgetown
Emory
Tulane
Dartmouth
Loyola
Netter
Oakland-B
Western MI
Seton Hall
UCD
UCI
Nova MD
CUSM
Kaiser
TCU/UNT
Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)

Thanks Goro! I’m very interested in Osteopathic medical schools as well since I think OMM is very beneficial. What DO schools would you say have particularly high match rates for competitive residencies and beyond? I’m personally interested in internal medicine along with a cardiology fellowship and I would love to apply to DO schools that would give me the best opportunity towards this future! Thanks!

 

[Jack-Kennedy35]

I really appreciate all your responses! Is there a way I cna communicate to medical schools about getting a 3.83 overall and a 3.74 BCPM at UCLA? Because obviously I don’t think it’s possible to see my cumulative gpa in my last two years.

Even though I did get that high of a gpa at UCLA, my junior year gpa was a 3.57 and my senior year was a 3.98 and so adcoms might feel that my cc grades carried me to a 3.82 overall even though I performed equally well. @Catalystik @gonnif @Goro @LizzyM

 

[Goro]

I really appreciate all your responses! Is there a way I cna communicate to medical schools about getting a 3.83 overall and a 3.74 BCPM at UCLA? Because obviously I don’t think it’s possible to see my cumulative gpa in my last two years.

Even though I did get that high of a gpa at UCLA, my junior year gpa was a 3.57 and my senior year was a 3.98 and so adcoms might feel that my cc grades carried me to a 3.82 overall even though I performed equally well. @Catalystik @gonnif @Goro @LizzyM

They have all your transcripts. Why do you think that they wouldn't see your grade trend?

 

[Goro]

Thanks Goro! I’m very interested in Osteopathic medical schools as well since I think OMM is very beneficial. What DO schools would you say have particularly high match rates for competitive residencies and beyond? I’m personally interested in internal medicine along with a cardiology fellowship and I would love to apply to DO schools that would give me the best opportunity towards this future! Thanks!

Mine does, and so does, offhand:

CUSOM
CCOM
AZCOM
Western
PCOM
The Touros
KCU

There's more, but better to inquire in the DO med student forum.

 

[Jack-Kennedy35]

They have all your transcripts. Why do you think that they wouldn't see your grade trend?

I wasn't aware the adcoms would look at our transcripts too! I though it was just the AMCAS table from above along with individual grades. That's why I though it would be hard for them to see, for example, my cumulative gpa/ BCPM from UCLA alone in my last two years.

Because just looking at the table above and seeing the 3.57 in my junior year, people might think my 3.82 cum was due to my cc, when in reality my senior year I got a 3.98 and my overall UCLA GPA with my last two years was a 3.82. So I performed equally well at both institutions.

 

[Goro]

I wasn't aware the adcoms would look at our transcripts too! I though it was just the AMCAS table from above along with individual grades. That's why I though it would be hard for them to see, for example, my cumulative gpa/ BCPM from UCLA alone in my last two years.

Because just looking at the table above and seeing the 3.57 in my junior year, people might think my 3.82 cum was due to my cc, when in reality my senior year I got a 3.98 and my overall UCLA GPA with my last two years was a 3.82. So I performed equally well at both institutions.

*sigh*
Just what do you think Adcoms look at?

 

[DrStephenStrange]

CCOM and AZCOM may not be worth the price tag. Check their tuition for more info. I would primarily focus on MD schools as they're gonna provide you the most opportunities to do whatever you want. If you're throwing in a couple DO apps for backup, I like PCOM-PA, KCU, DMU, TCOM (heavy in state preference), OSUCOM (heavy in state preference), CUSOM, NYITCOM-NY. Definitely go MD over any DO schools unless the MD school is CNU.

 

[Jack-Kennedy35]

@Goro @Catalystik @LizzyM @gonnif I believe LizzyM wrote in a post a long time that graduating with honors( I’m not referring to Latin, but rather the college honors program) gives u a slight advantage when applying to med school, is this still true to a degree?

If so, even though my transcripts will definitely have that college honors notation should I also incorporate it into my personal statement to bring it to the adcoms attention?

Thanks!

 

[LizzyM]

Some schools do have honors programs which have more rigorous requirements for the degree but also have some perks such as smaller classes, early registration, etc. Some adcoms might see this as more rigorous and therefore more laudatory but others may treat it as equal to the regular program of study at the same school. There is no predicting how it will be handled.

 

[bluepeony]

@Goro @Catalystik @LizzyM @gonnif I believe LizzyM wrote in a post a long time that graduating with honors( I’m not referring to Latin, but rather the college honors program) gives u a slight advantage when applying to med school, is this still true to a degree?

If so, even though my transcripts will definitely have that college honors notation should I also incorporate it into my personal statement to bring it to the adcoms attention?

Thanks!

Don't put it in your personal statement unless it answers "Why medicine?"

 

[Jack-Kennedy35]

Some schools do have honors programs which have more rigorous requirements for the degree but also have some perks such as smaller classes, early registration, etc. Some adcoms might see this as more rigorous and therefore more laudatory but others may treat it as equal to the regular program of study at the same school. There is no predicting how it will be handled.

How do adcoms know you were an honors student? Do they look at transcripts while looking at amcas? Or do we have to maybe incorporate it in secondaries if asked and such. @Catalystik @gonnif

 

[bluepeony]

How do adcoms know you were an honors student? Do they look at transcripts while looking at amcas? Or do we have to maybe incorporate it in secondaries if asked and such.

By course titles. You can also make a separate entry in your works and activities section about your honors and awards.

 

[Jack-Kennedy35]

By course titles. You can also make a separate entry in your works and activities section about your honors and awards.

I feel like that’s wasting a space though man. That could be better spent on another community service activity or clinical stuff.

I know some schools ask you to list honors on the secondary so maybe then?

 

[bluepeony]

I feel like that’s wasting a space though man. That could be better spent on another community service activity or clinical stuff.

I know some schools ask you to list honors on the secondary so maybe then?

Bottom line: Honors don't really matter that much. I'm just saying don't waste space on your personal statement to talk about the honors program unless it ties into your why medicine response.

 

[LizzyM]

At some schools, the course numbers are different and the committee letter may make mention of it.

 

[Jack-Kennedy35]

Hey @Moko if you don’t mind can you provide your perspective on my gpa trends considering all the factors I spoke about above. Thanks! I am definitely looking for any constructive criticism to better myself .

 

[Moko]

Hey @Moko if you don’t mind can you provide your perspective on my gpa trends considering all the factors I spoke about above. Thanks! I am definitely looking for any constructive criticism to better myself .

I agree with all of the great advice that you have already received. You do not require additional post-bac classes, nor should you retake a 513. The perception of your GPA trend is not going to change from week to week