doomed by GPA

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My stats are in MDApps so I won't waste time going into them here. But my premed office says that even if I bump my GPA up 0.1 points in both overall and BCPM, I'm pretty screwed to apply to any MD/PhD-MSTP programs.

I was wondering how the process works. Are these programs known to screen GPA and MCAT first and then consider you? Or can a strong research background push through the GPA blip and overcome it?

All in all, have I already doomed myself from getting into an MD/PhD program, since my GPA is not something I'll ever really be able to change or recover from? Should I concentrate on going to a research intensive MD school and take a year off for research to get some sort of academic portion in there if I don't have a shot at MD/PhDs?

I'm half bitter and half pissed at myself because the only reason I really came to this research-heavy undergrad school was to give myself a better shot at getting into an MD/PhD program. Sorry if I'm ranting now.

Thanks

 

[Ariodant]

Maybe post-bacc will help?

Your MCAT is strong, though the GPA will certainly hurt, most programs will look at your application as a whole. And if you are really doubting your chances, you can break down your school list to mostly MD, but some MD/PhD programs that have parallel MD admissions (UCSF, Yale, Dartmouth, Baylor, to name a few), and some "less competitive" and less "stats hungry" ones.

 

[Neuronix]

But my premed office says that even if I bump my GPA up 0.1 points in both overall and BCPM, I'm pretty screwed to apply to any MD/PhD-MSTP programs.

**** them. Not all MD/PhD programs are as competitive as Harvard/MIT.

From looking at your MDApps I'd say you have a very good chance for MD/PhD. Apply broadly and good luck. Your GPA is a bit low but you're also coming from MIT which gets you a few brownie points. Otherwise your application looks solid. Apply to like 20 programs including the mid-tier and lower-tier MSTPs (still in the top 40 med schools) and see which bite.

If anything MD programs are more likely to discriminate based on your stats. You're probably a better MD/PhD applicant thanks to all that research.

 

[QofQuimica]

My stats are in MDApps so I won't waste time going into them here. But my premed office says that even if I bump my GPA up 0.1 points in both overall and BCPM, I'm pretty screwed to apply to any MD/PhD-MSTP programs.

I was wondering how the process works. Are these programs known to screen GPA and MCAT first and then consider you? Or can a strong research background push through the GPA blip and overcome it?

All in all, have I already doomed myself from getting into an MD/PhD program, since my GPA is not something I'll ever really be able to change or recover from? Should I concentrate on going to a research intensive MD school and take a year off for research to get some sort of academic portion in there if I don't have a shot at MD/PhDs?

I'm half bitter and half pissed at myself because the only reason I really came to this research-heavy undergrad school was to give myself a better shot at getting into an MD/PhD program. Sorry if I'm ranting now.

Thanks

Good grief, you have a 3.5 GPA and a 39 MCAT! I thought your GPA was going to be like a 2.9 or something from the way you were talking. That GPA is a little low, but it's not so low that adcoms are going to see it and laugh out loud as they dump your app in the trash. I don't think you're out of the running with those stats at all, especially if you have the time/money/energy to complete apps to all of those schools on your list.

If you decide that you want to apply to MD-only programs as a backup, make sure you do include your hospital volunteering and any other service/clinical experience that you have. Most if not all MD-only programs care a lot about those ECs, even the research-intensive schools. Best of to you. 🙂

 

[URHere]

My stats are in MDApps so I won't waste time going into them here. But my premed office says that even if I bump my GPA up 0.1 points in both overall and BCPM, I'm pretty screwed to apply to any MD/PhD-MSTP programs.

I was wondering how the process works. Are these programs known to screen GPA and MCAT first and then consider you? Or can a strong research background push through the GPA blip and overcome it?

All in all, have I already doomed myself from getting into an MD/PhD program, since my GPA is not something I'll ever really be able to change or recover from? Should I concentrate on going to a research intensive MD school and take a year off for research to get some sort of academic portion in there if I don't have a shot at MD/PhDs?

I'm half bitter and half pissed at myself because the only reason I really came to this research-heavy undergrad school was to give myself a better shot at getting into an MD/PhD program. Sorry if I'm ranting now.

Thanks

My situation wasn't all that different from yours when I began applying. Many people told me I had absolutely no shot because my MCAT was too low, but in the end things worked out. There are schools out there that look beyond the numbers - there are even a few that weight the interview and research much much more highly than them. Don't give up, but do make an effort to find out which schools are more focused on numbers and which aren't to give yourself the best possible shot. If you know you want to enter a MD/PhD program, and you are smart about applying, your GPA isn't low enough to hold you back.

 

[JChiang795]

1

 

[meowkat444]

Don't worry. You're fine. If you pull it up .1, you'll be exactly where I am and I'm doing well this cycle. Even if you don't pull it up you can do pretty well.

It's hard to have perspective before applying. Good luck 🙂

 

[linuxizer]

Don't worry. You're fine. If you pull it up .1, you'll be exactly where I am and I'm doing well this cycle.

Almost exactly my situation as well. You'll be fine. If you hadn't rocked the MCATs you'd be alot more on the rocks, but you did so don't worry about it. Apply broadly, but your numbers are high enough to get past the screens everywhere AFAIK, and received wisdom is that MD/PhD admissions are much more about research than straight-MD.

Ari

 

[jlamacc1]

My stats are in MDApps so I won't waste time going into them here. But my premed office says that even if I bump my GPA up 0.1 points in both overall and BCPM, I'm pretty screwed to apply to any MD/PhD-MSTP programs.

I was wondering how the process works. Are these programs known to screen GPA and MCAT first and then consider you? Or can a strong research background push through the GPA blip and overcome it?

All in all, have I already doomed myself from getting into an MD/PhD program, since my GPA is not something I'll ever really be able to change or recover from? Should I concentrate on going to a research intensive MD school and take a year off for research to get some sort of academic portion in there if I don't have a shot at MD/PhDs?

I'm half bitter and half pissed at myself because the only reason I really came to this research-heavy undergrad school was to give myself a better shot at getting into an MD/PhD program. Sorry if I'm ranting now.

Thanks

You are definitely NOT doomed for MSTP admission. Your MCAT score and research makes up a lot of ground that you may have lost due to GPA. Apply broadly (i.e. think outside the East Coast box) and early. You should be fine.

 

[Kraazy]

I agree you're FAR from doomed. Your current GPA is a bit lower than ideal (though mine is only slightly higher), but you're coming from MIT and have a stellar MCAT, which the adcom will not overlook. Get some kick-*** recs, write awesome essays, apply early and broadly, and you'll do just fine.

You are definitely NOT doomed for MSTP admission. Your MCAT score and research makes up a lot of ground that you may have lost due to GPA. Apply broadly (i.e. think outside the East Coast box) and early. You should be fine.

 

[Jorje286]

wow. Your premed office is clueless. I've spent a lot of time browisng through mdapplicants pofiles, and many people with similar stats to you managed to get in into top schools.

With your MCAT scores and seemingly very good research experience, you have a shot at many programs. So you're definitely NOT doomed. It's not a 100% guaranty, but it's definitely worth it if MD/PhD is something you really want to do.

From my experience on this forum, the process seems a bit random anyway.

**** them

 

[Neuronix]

😉 I can't even begin to explain how much pre-med advisors piss me off... I'm like the malpractice attorney--I get to hear about all the cases when they screwed up! 😀

I'm sure there is mostly good advice being given out there, don't get me wrong 🙂 I think very few understand about MD/PhD programs though.

 

[j-weezy]

I think very few understand about MD/PhD programs though.

so true...i feel like we went through this in another thread already though

 

[seraph524]

so true...i feel like we went through this in another thread already though

Haha...that thread is priceless...should have sent Neuronix in there to kick some butt.

 

[Ariodant]

😉 I can't even begin to explain how much pre-med advisors piss me off...

That's why our school doesn't even have a pre-med committee😀

 

[streetlight]

thanks for all your input. i wanted to gauge how crazy our prehealth office is. good thing i checked here.

this process is too random and illogical to make any sense of for both us and the premed offices i guess.