Can I overcome my low GPA?

[Jumb0]

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I am graduating with a 3.2 cGPA and a 3.05 sGPA from Tufts University. My degree is a B.S. in Biopsychology. My GPA shows a very strong upward trend across the years.

I am registered to take the MCAT at the end of October, giving me just under 6 full months of completely dedicated time to prepare. As far as extracurricular activities, I have not been very proactive as an undergraduate. I was involved in a few clubs and organizations, such as Students for Sensible Drug Policy and Tufts Arts Haus, in which I held a leadership role. I will start volunteering in a medical setting in the next 6 months, putting in hours on the weekend when I'm not studying for the MCAT. After I take the MCAT, I plan on acquiring a research internship and holding that for about a year, during which I will also find time to re-take Chem 1, which I got a C- in, and perhaps a couple upper level biology courses at a local college. I will apply broadly after this.

And for what it's worth, I am a first-generation college student and a first generation immigrant from Albania.

What MCAT score do I need to achieve to have a real chance at a low-tier MD and/or DO school?

 

[bearded frog]

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[JanekaK]

It is NOT too late for you. people on sdn always try to scare you out of applying, but you're already registered to give med school your absolute best shot. you've made the choice to do it, so for the next 6+ months you need to give it your absolute all. this time belongs to you and you can take control of it. you know what you did in college and what went wrong, but that time doesn't belong to you anymore, it's gone and out of your control. but since you had obvious upward trends you have clearly learned how to perform in challenging classes (in an impressive science major and an even more difficult/prestigious university), you just learned a little late. now is your chance to take what you learned about your learning style, study and time management, and make things right.

GPA is a powerful number, but it is not everything and it does not define you as an applicant. anyway, you don't need to panic. 3.2 isn't even that bad! i've known people to get in MD worse off than you are now. it's not at all to late to retake a science class or two, and get those volunteer/internship/shadowing hours in to show that you're not just good with the books, you can actually apply it. for you, MCAT will show your academic ability, and you really have the chance to prove yourself with some awesome hands-on experience.

college grads are so young. you have so much time to become a doctor and despite what anyone tells you there is no rush. some people go back to school for pre-med when they're 35, others realize they want to be a doctor just after they're handed their university diploma and basically start again with post-bac classes. don't close doors at age 22, that is just far too young. you have 40 years before you retire, a few years now working towards your career goal is nothing compared to working 40 years in an average job wondering what could have been.

look around you, do you have people who will support you (emotionally and financially) for the next little while? if you do, then you don't have to worry about struggling financially and can work on building the foundation for your future. when you become a doctor you will be able to support them later on.

congrats dude for overcoming the odds. if you're a first generation immigrant, you probably didn't have a lot of guidance as to what you needed to do for med school applications. whether or not admissions will favor it or not isn't important to think about, but you should be proud of your accomplishments and I'm sure you're making your family proud.

if you live near colleges, or have connections with people at college try to meet some people in the health sciences. honestly just having a face-to-face conversation is sometimes enough to get you the opportunity to do some research with or shadow them. you know the steps you need to do to get into medical school. now you just need to know that you CAN do them.

 

[Jumb0]

Whats your GPA breakdown by year? MD will be an uphill battle, and only with 4.0 post bac courses, but DO is doable.

Fall, 2010: 3.0
Spring, 2011: 2.33
Fall 2011: 3.33
Spring 2012: 3.00
Summer: 3.0
Fall 2012: 3.47 (Dean's List)
Spring 2013: 3.22
Summer: 3.56 , 3.22
Fall 2013, 3.52 (Dean's Lost)
Spring 2014: 3.55 (Dean's List)

It is NOT too late for you. people on sdn always try to scare you out of applying, but you're already registered to give med school your absolute best shot. you've made the choice to do it, so for the next 6+ months you need to give it your absolute all. this time belongs to you and you can take control of it. you know what you did in college and what went wrong, but that time doesn't belong to you anymore, it's gone and out of your control. but since you had obvious upward trends you have clearly learned how to perform in challenging classes (in an impressive science major and an even more difficult/prestigious university), you just learned a little late. now is your chance to take what you learned about your learning style, study and time management, and make things right.

GPA is a powerful number, but it is not everything and it does not define you as an applicant. anyway, you don't need to panic. 3.2 isn't even that bad! i've known people to get in MD worse off than you are now. it's not at all to late to retake a science class or two, and get those volunteer/internship/shadowing hours in to show that you're not just good with the books, you can actually apply it. for you, MCAT will show your academic ability, and you really have the chance to prove yourself with some awesome hands-on experience.

college grads are so young. you have so much time to become a doctor and despite what anyone tells you there is no rush. some people go back to school for pre-med when they're 35, others realize they want to be a doctor just after they're handed their university diploma and basically start again with post-bac classes. don't close doors at age 22, that is just far too young. you have 40 years before you retire, a few years now working towards your career goal is nothing compared to working 40 years in an average job wondering what could have been.

look around you, do you have people who will support you (emotionally and financially) for the next little while? if you do, then you don't have to worry about struggling financially and can work on building the foundation for your future. when you become a doctor you will be able to support them later on.

congrats dude for overcoming the odds. if you're a first generation immigrant, you probably didn't have a lot of guidance as to what you needed to do for med school applications. whether or not admissions will favor it or not isn't important to think about, but you should be proud of your accomplishments and I'm sure you're making your family proud.

if you live near colleges, or have connections with people at college try to meet some people in the health sciences. honestly just having a face-to-face conversation is sometimes enough to get you the opportunity to do some research with or shadow them. you know the steps you need to do to get into medical school. now you just need to know that you CAN do them.

Wow, Janeka, that was the most encouraging response I've ever received. Thank you so much for your wisdom and support! I will give this my absolute best effort, no matter what. I have nothing to lose at this point in my life! 🙂

 

[touchpause13]

You can also retake the classes you got a C or below in and apply DO. Grade replacement is a godsend. Also congrats on your upward trend. It really just looks like you messed up in your freshman year which happens to a lot of people and it certainly doesn't have to be a death sentence

 

[bearded frog]

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[Goro]

Concur here, but recommend a SMP, preferably one given by a medical school, if you're truly boning for an MD degree. Your upward trend isn't going to be all that impressive to MD adcoms...a 4.0 would have been.

So, otherwise, aim for DO schools as froggie suggests.

Based on that breakdown you could probably do grade replacement and get into a DO school without too much issues. For MD, strong upward trend means that senior years were ~3.8+. If you're set on MD the best option is to do more undergraduate and really get 4.0s across the board, to bring up your overall GPA, as well as demonstrate that you are up to the challenge of medical school, academically. A strong MCAT will also help in this regard.