Can someone quantify what "rewarding reinvention actually means" ?

[2026PreMed]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello all,

A common theme on this site is that there are some schools (both MD and DO) that "reward reinvention"

Obviously it would be bonkers to assume that screwing up in undergrad will be rewarded more favorably than a normal high stats applicant come applicaiton day.

However all the talk of "rewarding reinvention" has got me curious... what does it actually look like in real life ?

So far a few people have told me it could be any of the following:

-isolation of last 90 quarter units/60 semester credits over the rest of the applicaiton.
-general trend combined with a human set of eyes on the app
- isolation of postbacc or post undergrad material
-someone on another forum told me they even delete the worst two years of applicants who have spent more than 6 years in school.

Is any of this true ? Is none of it true ? Very curious would love to hear anyones thoughts and if one of the adcoms on this site can offer some illusory knowledge on what rewarding reinvention actually looks like.

Thank you all and have a great weekend.

 

[Goro]

1. Massive rising GPA trend over the last 2-3 years
2. And/or excellent performance in a post-bacc or SMP.

It's all about showing that academically, the you of now is not the you of then.
Capeesh?

 

[2026PreMed]

1. Massive rising GPA trend over the last 2-3 years
2. And/or excellent performance in a post-bacc or SMP.

It's all about showing that academically, the you of now is not the you of then.
Capeesh?

Ok I am trying to do both of those. However even if I did all of that accoring to AI my gpa will only be a 3.38.

How do people get accepted from just doing a postbacc then ? Wouldnt that not be enough ? Do they favor the postbacc more since its more recent ? Does this apply to all MD and DO schools or just a few percent ?

Thanks

 

[Goro]

Ok I am trying to do both of those. However even if I did all of that accoring to AI my gpa will only be a 3.38.

For reinvention, it's not about the cGPA. It's about the cGPA/sGPA during the time you reinvented, ie, in your post-bacc or SMP. It can also be rising GPA trends from years 2-4 in undergrad.

How do people get accepted from just doing a postbacc then ? Wouldnt that not be enough ?

Ace a post-bac and yes, that would do it.

Do they favor the postbacc more since its more recent ?

Yes, that's how you show the you of now is not the you of then. Read this: Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention (updated for 2021)

Does this apply to all MD and DO schools or just a few percent ?

A fair number of MD schools (ex. Wayne State, Columbia, Duke, SLU, Rosy Franklin) and all DO schools.

 

[2026PreMed]

For reinvention, it's not about the cGPA. It's about the cGPA/sGPA during the time you reinvented, ie, in your post-bacc or SMP. It can also be rising GPA trends from years 2-4 in undergrad.


Ace a post-bac and yes, that would do it.

Yes, that's how you show the you of now is not the you of then. Read this: Goro's advice for pre-meds who need reinvention (updated for 2021)

A fair number of MD schools (ex. Wayne State, Columbia, Duke, SLU, Rosy Franklin) and all DO schools.

Colombia rewards reinvention ?? Thats insane would not have expected that from them. Although I have heard some people say places like UCSF value reinvention.

How would I know if a school values reinvention ? MSAR ?

Thx

 

[Goro]

Colombia rewards reinvention ?? Thats insane would not have expected that from them. Although I have heard some people say places like UCSF value reinvention.

How would I know if a school values reinvention ? MSAR ?

Thx

MSAR provides clues, like what % of a Class has people who have either a graduate degree, or have taken post-bac classes. For example, Albany has:
Percentage of matriculants with a graduate degree: 25%
Number of students entering from Postbaccalaureate programs: 2

 

[2026PreMed]

MSAR provides clues, like what % of a Class has people who have either a graduate degree, or have taken post-bac classes. For example, Albany has:
Percentage of matriculants with a graduate degree: 25%
Number of students entering from Postbaccalaureate programs: 2

Just two ?? that seems awfully low. Do most studnets take a postbacc ? it seems relatively commmon where im from.

 

[Goro]

Just two ??

That's what they reported. Johns Hopkins took 9.

that seems awfully low.

That's just from one MD school out of some 140 plus.

Do most studnets take a postbacc ? it seems relatively commmon where im from.

Do not engage in the Sin of solipsism.

 

[2026PreMed]

That's what they reported. Johns Hopkins took 9.

That's just from one MD school out of some 140 plus.

Do not engage in the Sin of solipsism.

Interesting information will keep this in mind.

Btw I reread your post on reinvention (I have it stickied on my wall) and my plan is just about formulated. My goal is to have a 3.1~3.2ish by the end of general undergrad. After this I was planning on taking courses at the UC Berekly extention (20 units) and then doing a quarter by quarter program for about 48 units at my school. All science

Does this look ok ? Would med schools care if the DIY UC Extention part of my plan involves some virtual classes ? Should I take more classes on top of these ? If I wer to get get close to about a 3.3~3.4 ish and do well on the MCAT (513-515+) then according to the data my acceptance rate would be around 50% allopathic (DO unknown). Seems ok ?

Thx

 

[Goro]

Your plans are sound. Good luck!!