GPA blues...

[XYF]

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I'm near the end of my sophomore year I am looking for a reality check. I'm an engineering major at Cal Berkeley and so far, my academic performance has been far from spectacular. My BCMP GPA is only 3.19 and my overall GPA is 3.50 (though this is diluted by CC classes I took in hi school; my cum. GPA at Berkeley is only 3.17...) In the prereqs, I landed:

Chem I - A (plus 2 qtrs at a CC, both A's)
OChem I - B-
OChem II - C
Bio I - B
Bio II - B+ (projected)
Physics I - B+
Physics II - B

And another C in Linear Algebra and some more B's in my engineering classes.

My specific concern being: granted that my ECs (volunteering / research) are average (not great, but still existent) and I try very hard this summer to study and get a good MCAT score (31+?), have I already outted myself from getting into a top tier med school? What are my options at this point?

Thanks.

 

[sacrament]

have I already outted myself from getting into a top tier med school?

Probably. You'd need to absolutely nail the MCAT and have better than "average" ECs to overcome that GPA. Anything's possible. (But most things are unlikely.)

 

[Doc.Holliday]

I'm near the end of my sophomore year I am looking for a reality check. I'm an engineering major at Cal Berkeley and so far, my academic performance has been far from spectacular. My BCMP GPA is only 3.19 and my overall GPA is 3.50 (though this is diluted by CC classes I took in hi school; my cum. GPA at Berkeley is only 3.17...) In the prereqs, I landed:

Chem I - A (plus 2 qtrs at a CC, both A's)
OChem I - B-
OChem II - C
Bio I - B
Bio II - B+ (projected)
Physics I - B+
Physics II - B

And another C in Linear Algebra and some more B's in my engineering classes.

My specific concern being: granted that my ECs (volunteering / research) are average (not great, but still existent) and I try very hard this summer to study and get a good MCAT score (31+?), have I already outted myself from getting into a top tier med school? What are my options at this point?

Thanks.

those prereq grades arent the end of the world, but yea, your cum gpa is pretty low. do you really want to stick with engineering? if you switched over to biology or something youd be right on track (or not too far behind) and could take an easier courseload. you havent outted yourself from a top tier med school, no. well top 25 probably so, but top 50 is still in the ballpark, maybe. your going to have to find a way to get your gpa up, thats the most important thing if you want to be a doctor, so changing your major seems like the easiest solution.

 

[willthatsall]

Forget 31+, you need like 37+ and even then, it's up in the air. Do you really want to go to a top tier school or something? You should worry about getting in somewhere first.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

Maybe a post-bac program could help bolster your profile. SMP or something like that.

Also, have you considered DO schools, or are you really set on MD? There's also the option of MD schools outside the US. If you are looking for a US MD then the gpa could stand some improvement... but who knows, it's a total crapshoot, never know unless you try right? Don't lose hope. At the very least, contact the admissions at the various schools you're interested in and ask them what to do to improve you chance of admission. You should do this if you get rejected from any of them 🙁

But don't forget, it's a matter of perseverence and in the end, you will succeed if you really want it 🙂 Good luck!

(edit: p.s. I'm an engineering major as well. I don't think the fact that we major in engineering carries any weight on their interpretation of the gpa. despite the ever-rumored notion that "engineering is more difficult than classical/liberal-arts studies", that does not have any bearing on a low gpa)

 

[Medikit]

Why do you want in a top tier so bad? I think your classmates have gotten to your head.

 

[gerido]

Maybe a post-bac program could help bolster your profile. SMP or something like that.

Also, have you considered DO schools, or are you really set on MD? There's also the option of MD schools outside the US. If you are looking for a US MD then the gpa could stand some improvement... but who knows, it's a total crapshoot, never know unless you try right? Don't lose hope. At the very least, contact the admissions at the various schools you're interested in and ask them what to do to improve you chance of admission. You should do this if you get rejected from any of them 🙁

But don't forget, it's a matter of perseverence and in the end, you will succeed if you really want it 🙂 Good luck!

(edit: p.s. I'm an engineering major as well. I don't think the fact that we major in engineering carries any weight on their interpretation of the gpa. despite the ever-rumored notion that "engineering is more difficult than classical/liberal-arts studies", that does not have any bearing on a low gpa)

if he/she is so concern about going to top teir school, he/she is probably close minded about DO schools. To the OP, beggers cant be chooser.

 

[XYF]

I guess I really have to reevaluate my goals. So does the suggestion that I try DO schools mean that I don't even stand a chance at MD schools, let along a top one? If I recover from this, I estimate that my GPA can be raised to a 3.65 (overall) and 3.30 (BCMP). Still not great...

I'm strongly considering a switch of major right now, since my lack of mathematical ability is part of what's contributing to my grade decline.

 

[crys20]

If you can pull up to a 3.65/3.30 you will have a chance at MD schools for sure if the MCAT is 30+. I would definately consider a major switch if the math courses are what's wrecking your GPA. Now a 3.65/3.30 isn't going to open the 'top tier' doors so much really, barring a super incredible MCAT...But why do you need a top-tier school so bad, anyhow? But yes a 3.3 science GPA is going to hurt you in general at the allo schools, but top-tier more so. However, will not kill you especially at your state MD schools.

If you would research being a DO a bit I'm willing to bet you might start to see it as a great option. I'm not saying your numbers warrant applying to DO schools, but if you want some good safety options and you'd be happy being a DO it's something to think about.

 

[Penelope1]

I guess I really have to reevaluate my goals. So does the suggestion that I try DO schools mean that I don't even stand a chance at MD schools, let along a top one? If I recover from this, I estimate that my GPA can be raised to a 3.65 (overall) and 3.30 (BCMP). Still not great...

I'm strongly considering a switch of major right now, since my lack of mathematical ability is part of what's contributing to my grade decline.

It won't be easy to raise your GPA that much, but I don't think the situation is as dire as the previous posters made it out to be. Study your a** off for the MCAT - take a ton of practice tests until you're confident you can get above a 35. (This is hard to do, I know, but if you want it badly enough, you can do it.) Probably explain in your personal statement why your grades were so bad.

People get in to MD schools all the time with overall GPAs below 3.4 - don't lose hope. Make sure to apply EARLY, by which I mean the first day the app is available, because if you are later in the cycle, I think you're more likely to get ruled out on the basis of numbers without their even looking at your ECs, etc. I think if you do all this, you even have a chance at some top schools, definitely top 50, but maybe even top 30 or something. I agree with the previous poster that if you are really serious about med school, you should probably switch majors, unless you have a compelling reason to stay in engineering.

And remember, as cliched as this is, that lower-ranked schools also are good schools where you can learn medicine and get those letters after your name.

 

[gujuDoc]

I'm near the end of my sophomore year I am looking for a reality check. I'm an engineering major at Cal Berkeley and so far, my academic performance has been far from spectacular. My BCMP GPA is only 3.19 and my overall GPA is 3.50 (though this is diluted by CC classes I took in hi school; my cum. GPA at Berkeley is only 3.17...) In the prereqs, I landed:

Chem I - A (plus 2 qtrs at a CC, both A's)
OChem I - B-
OChem II - C
Bio I - B
Bio II - B+ (projected)
Physics I - B+
Physics II - B

And another C in Linear Algebra and some more B's in my engineering classes.

My specific concern being: granted that my ECs (volunteering / research) are average (not great, but still existent) and I try very hard this summer to study and get a good MCAT score (31+?), have I already outted myself from getting into a top tier med school? What are my options at this point?

Thanks.

Well mostly those that get in top tier med schools have a 3.8 gpa or higher, and a 35 or higher on the MCAT. Why don't you concentrate on getting in a medical school, rather then worrying about needing to go to top tier med school.

 

[tank you]

yea, i dont understand why the OP keeps talking about a top-tier school? u should be happy if u get into any med school. u can still apply to the top schools if u want, but unless u get a 40 mcat and/or published papers, u have little chance.

 

[Coldsweat_06]

I'm near the end of my sophomore year I am looking for a reality check. I'm an engineering major at Cal Berkeley and so far, my academic performance has been far from spectacular. My BCMP GPA is only 3.19 and my overall GPA is 3.50 (though this is diluted by CC classes I took in hi school; my cum. GPA at Berkeley is only 3.17...) In the prereqs, I landed:

Chem I - A (plus 2 qtrs at a CC, both A's)
OChem I - B-
OChem II - C
Bio I - B
Bio II - B+ (projected)
Physics I - B+
Physics II - B

And another C in Linear Algebra and some more B's in my engineering classes.

My specific concern being: granted that my ECs (volunteering / research) are average (not great, but still existent) and I try very hard this summer to study and get a good MCAT score (31+?), have I already outted myself from getting into a top tier med school? What are my options at this point?

Thanks.

I agree with most of the other people who posted. At this point, your main concern should be getting into medical school, if medicine is your passion. The training is what is most important. I believe that you need to "spice up" your EC's so that they will be above average, began excelling as much as possible in the courses to come, and nail the MCAT. With these actions in play, you should be able to get into a pretty good medical school. Also, incorporate your struggles in your personal statement, showing your continual improvement. Lastly, you should think about taking biochemistry to show that though you made a C in Orgo II, you can be successful in upper-level chem courses and concepts.

 

[cece]

I got in with a couple of C's on my record and a 33 MCAT. C's are not the end of the world, but you may need to take a couple years after college to do research or otherwise prove your commitment to medicine. It also helps if the C's were early on and there was demonstrable improvement over time. Good luck!

 

[Crake]

I know someone who got in an MD program with a D- in ochem.

She's now a surgical resident at a top program.

Anything can happen.

 

[Haybrant]

if your goals are academic medicine a top tier school would be nice to attend for obvious reasons. And if academic med is your interest then research should be an interest too. So point of the story is to get in research and work hard and get published and make connections in the science world and become a leader in a specific niche. This may seem tough at Cal but it isnt so bad if you can find a good mentor.

Now, if research isnt your cup of tea, it truly doesnt matter so much where you go for med school; you can land excellent residencies from everywhere. But if you go somewhere like the traditional california applicant fall backs, then you wont be on a career path for academic medicine. Good luck and Go Bears!

 

[OSUdoc08]

I'm near the end of my sophomore year I am looking for a reality check. I'm an engineering major at Cal Berkeley and so far, my academic performance has been far from spectacular. My BCMP GPA is only 3.19 and my overall GPA is 3.50 (though this is diluted by CC classes I took in hi school; my cum. GPA at Berkeley is only 3.17...) In the prereqs, I landed:

Chem I - A (plus 2 qtrs at a CC, both A's)
OChem I - B-
OChem II - C
Bio I - B
Bio II - B+ (projected)
Physics I - B+
Physics II - B

And another C in Linear Algebra and some more B's in my engineering classes.

My specific concern being: granted that my ECs (volunteering / research) are average (not great, but still existent) and I try very hard this summer to study and get a good MCAT score (31+?), have I already outted myself from getting into a top tier med school? What are my options at this point?

Thanks.

Why do you need to go to a "top tier" medical school?

 

[ju ju zara]

I'm near the end of my sophomore year I am looking for a reality check. I'm an engineering major at Cal Berkeley and so far, my academic performance has been far from spectacular. My BCMP GPA is only 3.19 and my overall GPA is 3.50 (though this is diluted by CC classes I took in hi school; my cum. GPA at Berkeley is only 3.17...) In the prereqs, I landed:

Chem I - A (plus 2 qtrs at a CC, both A's)
OChem I - B-
OChem II - C
Bio I - B
Bio II - B+ (projected)
Physics I - B+
Physics II - B

And another C in Linear Algebra and some more B's in my engineering classes.

My specific concern being: granted that my ECs (volunteering / research) are average (not great, but still existent) and I try very hard this summer to study and get a good MCAT score (31+?), have I already outted myself from getting into a top tier med school? What are my options at this point?

Thanks.

"Top tier"... haha. I always think its funny that the deciding factor for so many people is the prestige and ranking of a medical school. The factor should be LOCATION MAN! All american medical schools are pretty excellent, and in the end your going to graduate a doctor no matter where you go. Although prestige may help a little when it comes to matching, how well you do in medical school will weigh in much more heavilly. So cheer up mate, you won't get into a top tier med school with that gpa, but you may be able to get in somewhere if you improve (you would be lucky to get accepted into any med school with that gpa). ciao

 

[Haybrant]

Why do you need to go to a "top tier" medical school?

read my post above; I think people need to realize that in order to stay in academic medicine, and often land good positions, requires graduation from a top tier school for obvious reasons. The OP here may be interested in academic medicine

 

[jeffsleepy]

Since you've already taken Math 54, I don't know how much more you have to take. A lot of it depends on which branch of engineering you're in. Some, (ME) use a bunch of math while others (CS) use very little. One thing that you might want to consider is bioengineering. It is very loosely structured and you can pretty much take whatever you want so your GPA should improve. I've also heard that it is relatively easy to use the other engineering classes you've already taken as bioengineering requirements.

Rock MCB 102, rock the upper div engineering, and rock the MCAT. Best of luck.