Fellow Low GPA/High MCATers...

[DrJD]

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Hello!

So with AMCAS now open we must all be asking ourselves, "which schools typically accept more people with this particular split... Low GPA and high MCAT's..."

So I thought this would be a good place to share what schools we are thinking of applying to! What schools have you heard like the high MCAT scores? What are your plans to get around your low GPA.

So in order to get around my low GPA I am attending the Georgetown SMP this Fall...

As far as schools that like the high MCAT, low GPA'ers, I really don't know! What have all of you heard?

 

[Isoprop]

all or none. the buzzword in admissions is "holistic." they're looking for the whole package. got this straight from the dean of admmissions from ohio state.

so in the end, i think the only strategy that works consitently is "apply early and broadly."

 

[MilkmanAl]

Early and broadly, indeed. I got spectacularly lucky and nailed the only interview I got, and I wound up getting accepted after a waitlisting. I mean, really, that interview was about as close to perfect as you could possibly come. I'm not trying to brag, I'm just letting you know that your low GPA is going to be a pretty significant kick in your application's ***.

If you do well in your first round of grades in the SMP and can get numerous schools to hold off rejecting you that long, you should at least get some interviews, I'd think. Best of luck to you. I hope you don't have to sweat it out for nearly a year like I did.

 

[beachblonde]

I see from your AMCAS that you're a CA resident...I gotta, say, ouch..good luck with that.

But as for schools, try some of the SUNY schools, they appear to be a bit kinder than some others. George Washington also might give you a chance (dude, what a sweet MCAT score). Perhaps some of the VA and/or MD schools since you'll be in the area?

Be prepared for some rejection, even with the awesome score. I've got friends who have 36, 37, 38 MCATs and ugrad GPAs around 3.0-3.4 who did SMPs, did well, and had no love from the med schools. So it might take you a second round (hopefully not, G-town could take you, but be forewarned).
Also, figure out how to explain how having a high MCAT and low GPA doesn't mean you're lazy. What a fun interview question!

 

[MilkmanAl]

Also, figure out how to explain how having a high MCAT and low GPA doesn't mean you're lazy. What a fun interview question!

Oh yes, I got stuck with that one. I went with a combo of OMGWTFSOPHOMOREYEAR and "I had one hell of a courseload" with a dash of "I didn't know what I was getting into at first." That seemed to work well, apparently. Still, that's a terrible question to get asked.

 

[thesauce]

I hate to say it, but no medical schools "like" high MCAT/low GPA.

 

[DrJD]

I hate to say it, but no medical schools "like" high MCAT/low GPA.

Fair enough, lets change "like" to "willing to accept"...

Thanks for all the advice, I know its a tough road but I'm ready to talk to interviewers about my GPA! What schools were you guys able to get interviews at? I'd just like the chance to explain it in an interview...

 

[MilkmanAl]

I interviewed at Arkansas...and...that's it. As I mentioned, I was lucky enough to have a dream interview: easy questions, nice interviewers, an unbelievable, once-in-a-lifetime story for them to remember me by, and spot-on answers for just about everything. We spent a fairly significant amount of time discussing why I felt my physics major murdered my GPA and what I thought about my decision to take it on. You can do a whole lot of good for yourself by manning up and delivering solid, honest, mature answers to the tough questions regarding your deficiencies, so take every advantage. The worst thing you can do is come off as though you're making excuses.

 

[brianmartin]

^^^
Precisely. The only thing you should even think about doing is owning up to your mistakes, even if that means saying "I drank too much that semester." Honesty counts big time.

 

[Blade28]

so in the end, i think the only strategy that works consitently is "apply early and broadly."

👍 👍

 

[aaj117]

hey everyone, i was in your situation last year and was sure i wasn't getting in, even thoguh my advisor convinced me otherwise and helped me come up with a solid list of schools. In the end it worked out well for me, so feel free to take a look at my mdapps for ideas.

 

[DrJD]

hey everyone, i was in your situation last year and was sure i wasn't getting in, even thoguh my advisor convinced me otherwise and helped me come up with a solid list of schools. In the end it worked out well for me, so feel free to take a look at my mdapps for ideas.

Thanks aaj!! That is very encouraging for people like me... I'm going to add a few schools thanks to you 🙂 Congratulations on Stony brook!

 

[SStorm]

I got in with a pretty significant split between my GPA and MCAT. The biggest thing is to apply broadly as hell (and early too). Also, own up to your mistakes. Don't try to pass off your entire collegiate career with a poor excuse.

 

[CoolSpot7Up]

I'm in a similar boat as you. I was wondering, how does applying early help us who'll need the first term grades from our SMP? Most schools will put us on hold until they see the grades either way, so is applying early only good for the schools who would be giving us an interview anyway?

I'm sending in my AMCAS the first week possible, so I plan on applying early to be safe. I'm just wondering why we always say it's important for those of us in an SMP, when med schools will wait to see our grades anyway.

 

[AvocadoTree]

Hey all, I completely agree with applying early and broadly. My AMCAS was submitted on the first day it was open and my secondary turn around time was at most a week. I have a 3.33 GPA and 37N. I applied to 15 schools, interviewed at 9, and was accepted to 2 (waitlisted to 7). The admissions process already seems pretty random, having our combination of GPA/MCAT scores makes it even more so.

I have some pretty low grades in pre-med classes, so I thought I would never get in. To anyone out there in a similar position, you can get in! Don't give up hope J.

 

[DrJD]

Thanks for the encouragement Avacado! Its nice to hear about some success stories... If you don't mind me asking, which schools did you apply to? I'm still trying to come up with my list that is "applying broadly" so hearing what other people have done helps... Congratulations on medical school and thanks again for the encouragement!

Hey all, I completely agree with applying early and broadly. My AMCAS was submitted on the first day it was open and my secondary turn around time was at most a week. I have a 3.33 GPA and 37N. I applied to 15 schools, interviewed at 9, and was accepted to 2 (waitlisted to 7). The admissions process already seems pretty random, having our combination of GPA/MCAT scores makes it even more so.

I have some pretty low grades in pre-med classes, so I thought I would never get in. To anyone out there in a similar position, you can get in! Don’t give up hope J.

 

[AvocadoTree]

Haha, uhh let see.. I haven't thought about this list in a while. Im a resident of PA, but recently moved from NY so I applied to all PA schools: UPenn, Pitt, Temple, Jefferson, Penn State, and Drexel, and most NY schools other than most in the city: Rochester, Buffalo, SUNY Upstate, Albany Med and NYMC (never heard back from them). Others were: Rosalind Franklin (never heard back from them though), University of Cincinnati, Case Western, and University of Maryland. A lot of my decisions about where to apply were based on the MSAR and geography. I wanted to stay semi close to home, the farthest school was Rosalind Franklin or Cincinnati.

Be careful when applying to state schools. A lot of them take a very high percentage of students from only their state. Use the MSAR to find out what their IS to OOS ratios/percentages are. The private schools are more expensive, but they usually look at more OOS students.

I hesitate to make comments on your list of schools. Everyone says the process is random, and I completely agree. The school I almost canceled my interview from has ended up as the school I am, as of now, going to. I guess what I mean is, you never know what is going to happen or what school will see something in you. But definitely use the MSAR and maybe also US News Report of Med schools to compare interview vs acceptance ratios for IS/OOS applicants.

I hope some of this is helpful. Good Luck!

 

[nu2004]

what school "likes" a low GPA?

 

[RoadRunner17]

what school "likes" a low GPA?

Stewart, of course!!111

 

[whoisthedrizzle]

what school "likes" a low GPA?

that one in your avatar (with the proverbial MCAT rocking)