GPA is low in AMCAS

[samsamani]

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Hello guys, here is my situation, my AMCAS application just got processed, and i noticed that my overall GPA is very low compared to my overall GPA in my University's website. I also applied for Osteopathic and my AACOMAS overall GPA is different:

School overall GPA: 3.63
AACOMAS overall GPA: 3.52
AMCAS overall GPA: 3.36

Note: my BCMP gpa in AMCAS is 3.84, and my AO 2.68, the reason my AO is so low is because i didn't speak much English when i first came to the United States, and i took some English classes which i eventually failed due to the hardship i was having because the crisis of 2008. those English classes affected my GPA drastically and now i regret taking them. My other grades has been mostly A's since i started working.

-Do you guys think i still have a chance for being an MD? I'm also taking my MCAT this August.

 

[Goro]

Depends upon the rest of your app, but I suspect that you'll be fine.

 

[Avicenna]

'm also taking my MCAT this August

is that not too late

 

[ed*26]

If you took those classes at a different school than your current one your medical school GPA will be different from your university's. Same with if you utilized any type of grade forgiveness or retook any of those classes. Either of those would explain the disparities in your grades because 1) both applications will look at all of your classes, regardless of any forgiveness actions or school you took them at, and 2) AMCAS will count every class you've ever taken, where if you repeat classes AACOMAS will take the most recent grade (hence the higher GPA).

3.36 is fairly low for MD, but as Goro said will be taken in contest of your total application. If those classes you did poorly in were taken several years ago and you are able to demonstrate proficiency in English in other parts of your application you will be looked more favorably upon. Many schools will give you a chance to discuss negative aspects of your application. I highly suggest you avoid making excuses even if they are true (i.e. "I failed due to the hardship i was having because the crisis of 2008") and instead say something along the lines of, "When I first came to the United States I spoke very little English and enrolled in English classes to improve my language skills. I first underestimated the difficulty of learning such a challenging language and failed several of those classes, but since then I have substantially improved, as you can tell by my performance in X classes and on the CARS section of the MCAT."