B/B+ GPA Student..what are the chances?

[jules0328]

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I am a B/B+ student, and always have been. So far, I have taken two sciences: Physics, got a B and Bio I and got a B+. Right now, I am in the middle of taking General Chem and I am averaging a B. I still plan on boosting my gpa by acing the next couple of chem tests that are left. I hope to get admitted to a Post Bacc program this fall.

My question is... will med schools even look at me? Is there hope for me? What do you guys think? How lessened are my chances with a 3.3 gpa? This obviously does not include high MCAT grades, which I have not taken yet. Someone please give me your opinion. Thanks. 😉

 

[stinkycheese]

For allopathic schools, a 3.3 will probably get you some waitlists, and with a stellar MCAT, an acceptance or two, but you should really do all you can to get your GPA higher. Saying, "I'm a B student" is defeatist and shows that you have labeled yourself as one who does not achieve the highest standard. Not a good attitude if you're going into medicine.

For DO schools, that's fine.

If you're a URM, a 3.3 will probably get you into a fantastic school, so go figure.

 

[RLL]

What is a URM? I'm new to this, thanks. 🙂

 

[Spartacus]

What is a URM? I'm new to this, thanks. 🙂

URM=Underrepresented Minority

 

[jules0328]

URM=Underrepresented Minority

Ok, so what exactly would an underrepresented minority be? I am hispanic, from Peruvian origin. Does that make me an underrepresented minority? I absolutely understand that I am labeling myself, and you are right. I should not be doing that. I appreciate the honesty...I just have seen my trend in grades is all. However, I have also been working a full time job (which happens to be an hour away from my home) and going to school at night. So, I guess that that could definitely have a lot to do with how much time I am able to put into my studies.

Thanks! 😀

 

[scota]

I don't know if being a URM and having a 3.3 will get you into "fantastic schools". URMs= hispanics, blacks, and native americans. The fact that you worked full-time during college may be taken into account by the adcoms. Good luck.

 

[Spartacus]

Ok, so what exactly would an underrepresented minority be? I am hispanic, from Peruvian origin. Does that make me an underrepresented minority? I absolutely understand that I am labeling myself, and you are right. I should not be doing that. I appreciate the honesty...I just have seen my trend in grades is all. However, I have also been working a full time job (which happens to be an hour away from my home) and going to school at night. So, I guess that that could definitely have a lot to do with how much time I am able to put into my studies.

Thanks! 😀

I think you might be confusing my reply with someone else's. But anyway, yes you qualify as a URM in medicine which will be helpful in getting interviews. I noticed you're interested in DO schools. I believe the overall average GPA to DO schools is right around 3.3 (MD schools around 3.5). It does sound like you're working quite a bit and that can help you when applying because schools are understanding to that situation.

If I were you, I would contact some of the medical schools that you are interested in attending and ask the admissions directors for their thoughts on what would be best for you. Many schools are quite accomodating and will set up an appointment to look over your app. You would also build a relationship with the schools so when you do apply, they'll remember you.

Best of Luck!!!

 

[Mac O. Phage]

I happen to be a minority, who went through a post bac program I am now a third year medical student at a top 30 medical school (I think UCONN is top 30 or 35). My gpa was a 3.3 in undergrad and a 3.8 during post bac my mcat was a 30(10's across the board). So don't feel like a 3.3 is not good enough to get into a medical school of your choice or that it limits you in any way.

Also I think regardless of my skin color I would have been accepted. I know non minority students who have gotten into medical school with 3.3-3.5 gpa. I know this because i interviewed them. At my school the medical students do interviews so we see who gets in and thier stats

The thing I have learned is that its the overall complete student that many school look at. The gpa does matter don't get me wrong; a 2.5 will get you very little no matter your color or race. With a b/b+, descent mcat, extracurricular activities, a job, volunteer experience, clinical experience, research experience preferably at the medical schools you would like to go to, and a good positive attitude with strong recomendations you will Absolutely get into a top 50 US medical school

trust me ..Thats what i did ;-)

 

[jules0328]

I happen to be a minority, who went through a post bac program I am now a third year medical student at a top 30 medical school (I think UCONN is top 30 or 35). My gpa was a 3.3 in undergrad and a 3.8 during post bac my mcat was a 30(10's across the board). So don't feel like a 3.3 is not good enough to get into a medical school of your choice or that it limits you in any way.

Also I think regardless of my skin color I would have been accepted. I know non minority students who have gotten into medical school with 3.3-3.5 gpa. I know this because i interviewed them. At my school the medical students do interviews so we see who gets in and thier stats

The thing I have learned is that its the overall complete student that many school look at. The gpa does matter don't get me wrong; a 2.5 will get you very little no matter your color or race. With a b/b+, descent mcat, extracurricular activities, a job, volunteer experience, clinical experience, research experience preferably at the medical schools you would like to go to, and a good positive attitude with strong recomendations you will Absolutely get into a top 50 US medical school

trust me ..Thats what i did ;-)

Thanks for the support. I appreciate your feedback. At the moment, I am attending a community college, because I wanted to make sure that I could do well in the science, even at a community college level. I work full time right now, but hopefully, by the fall, I will only have my sciences to focus on and hope to do better once I am in a Post Bacc going full time and solely concentrating on my work. I have been working as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist for 2 years at a city hospital, if you want to talk humanitarian, I am one. I have seen it all here, amputees, quads, gun shot wound victims, etc. I focus mostly with cardiopulmonary patients, but work with various pops. I also have done plenty of research, HIV, CABG, and arterial compliance to name a few. I think I have the work/research end of it covered. But, I do worry about my grades. I dont just want to get into a school because I am hispanic. I want to get because of all of my credentials and potentials to become a great doctor.

However, lets say I end up with a 3.5 in my post bacc, is that still considered a low tier gpa? Are my chances of getting waitlisted higher with a 3.5, even though I have all those other secondaries backing me up. I also have a website that I created from the ground up (www.workoutwellness.com, if anyone is interested), it focuses on health and wellness. I am a founder of this company (Work Out Wellness, LLC). I am extremely ambitious, just hope adcom's see that as well!

 

[Mac O. Phage]

I think a 3.5 is very good. Again for a lot of schools its more about the complete person what you bring to the table. It is more that just your grades. The thing about medical school is that the coarse work is not that bad. If you can get a B in college bio 101 you can unberstand any concept that comes your way in medical school( my own opinion of course) The hard part comes in that its thrown at you at 100mph. I would say in the first 2.5 months of medical school we reviewed everything fcovered in 4 years for a bio or science major. Imagine drinking from a fire hydrant! So a student with a 3.5 you would think absorbs info at a faster rate than someone with a 3.0 all other things being equal. But if you multi task and still maintain a 3.3 along with everything else you do Ithat just shows you have a very good ability to absorb info retain it and still do above the average college student ( i assume this is a B). So I would not worry too much if i were you. Just keep on reaching for the stars.

By the way I also went to community college and worked in a health profession (EMT) as well as a mental clinic counselor. I had very little research actually my only research experience was in psychoogy with phobias. I was worried about my gpa too. So i can identify with where you are coming from.

Finally, I think my color played no role what so ever to get here. I know minority students in the post bac program i went to who did not get accepted.
So the moral is : Work hard and everything else falls into place