How can I overcome this?

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gh0stsn0w

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Hi SDN,

I graduated from undergrad in 2014 with dual science degrees and an abysmal GPA partly due to family illness. Calculated by AMCAS, it's something like cGPA: 2.75 and sGPA: 2.6. With grade replacement from my institution, my cGPA is 2.99, so my chances for grad school are slightly less depressing. I know I need to get into a post-bacc or SMP to improve my chances, but I'm struggling to see how likely any of it really is.

I've recently decided to pursue a career in medicine and, while I've spoken to the program director of my school's post-bacc program, the assessment was generally unfavorable. I intend to apply anyway, based on the remarks I received, but I am wondering how to best devote the next year if it doesn't happen. I have yet to take the MCAT (I took the GRE years ago), and I was told that a great MCAT score could help offset my poor GPA.

My biggest problem is that I have taken basically the entire biology and chemistry course catalogs at my school. The ones I haven't taken are lower level, so I don't think that new courses would behoove me at this point. I have already retaken any D's or F's I had. Should I spend a year retaking the C's? I don't know how financially responsible this would be, but it's a thing I'm willing to consider if that's what it's going to take to eventually get an MD acceptance.

I've scanned SDN for weeks looking for similar stories and courses of action, but most of the threads I found had few responses. I'm still in contact with the program director of my desired post-bacc, I've contacted my school's advising department, I'm trying everything to form the best plan I can, so any advice I can get would be greatly appreciated!
 
I was told that a great MCAT score could help offset my poor GPA

For MD schools? Unless you're a URM, somebody lied to you.
 
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source: https://aamc-orange.global.ssl.fast...5b5844a/mcatstudentselectionguide.pdf#page=12

Even if the MCAT could mitigate your GPA to a tiny extent, OP, as you can see from this table, not many people with your GPA end up doing great on the MCAT. It's not wise to plan to be the exception. Also note that, even with a near-perfect MCAT, you have a ~35% "chance" of acceptance. People who do get in likely have extenuating circumstances.

It seems like you have quite the challenge ahead of you. It's not impossible to get into an MD school, but it will be extremely difficult.

Are you willing to consider DO?

Also, can you give a semester-by-semester breakdown of your GPAs?
 
SMP or DIY post-bac. Ace them, and ace MCAT, and you'll find there are some MD schools, and all DO, that reward reinvention.

Also, you're allowed to attend other colleges for coursework.


Hi SDN,

I graduated from undergrad in 2014 with dual science degrees and an abysmal GPA partly due to family illness. Calculated by AMCAS, it's something like cGPA: 2.75 and sGPA: 2.6. With grade replacement from my institution, my cGPA is 2.99, so my chances for grad school are slightly less depressing. I know I need to get into a post-bacc or SMP to improve my chances, but I'm struggling to see how likely any of it really is.

I've recently decided to pursue a career in medicine and, while I've spoken to the program director of my school's post-bacc program, the assessment was generally unfavorable. I intend to apply anyway, based on the remarks I received, but I am wondering how to best devote the next year if it doesn't happen. I have yet to take the MCAT (I took the GRE years ago), and I was told that a great MCAT score could help offset my poor GPA.

My biggest problem is that I have taken basically the entire biology and chemistry course catalogs at my school. The ones I haven't taken are lower level, so I don't think that new courses would behoove me at this point. I have already retaken any D's or F's I had. Should I spend a year retaking the C's? I don't know how financially responsible this would be, but it's a thing I'm willing to consider if that's what it's going to take to eventually get an MD acceptance.

I've scanned SDN for weeks looking for similar stories and courses of action, but most of the threads I found had few responses. I'm still in contact with the program director of my desired post-bacc, I've contacted my school's advising department, I'm trying everything to form the best plan I can, so any advice I can get would be greatly appreciated!
 
For MD schools? Unless you're a URM, somebody lied to you.

Oh no, sorry! I meant for the specific post-bacc program I'm applying to. In hindsight, this might have been better suited to the post-bacc forum, but my question is technically more overarching than that, I suppose.

Are you willing to consider DO?

Also, can you give a semester-by-semester breakdown of your GPAs?

One of the best doctors I ever had was a DO, so I hold no prejudices there and would definitely consider it for practice. However, my current background is in drug development and one of the routes I'm considering is becoming a clinical researcher for experimental treatments. Unfortunately, it seems very hard to break into without an MD after your name, so allopathy is definitely preferred.

A general breakdown of my GPA is as follows:
Year 1: 3.3
Year 2: 3.0
Year 3: 2.8
Year 4: 2.9

I finished my last semester with a 4.0 in all upper level biology courses and was finally on the up and up, but I shouldn't have applied to graduate, I guess. :\

SMP or DIY post-bac. Ace them, and ace MCAT, and you'll find there are some MD schools, and all DO, that reward reinvention.

That's my intention for sure, but based on my discussion with the program director at the school I'm shooting for, even a post-bacc/SMP seems like a reach with my current stats, since they expect a cGPA around 3.0 and sGPA of 3.2. EVMS is also on my mind (and seems to be slightly more forgiving), but I will definitely need the MCAT to even apply there. Still, it seems like even a 4.0 in a program like that wouldn't affect my GPA a whole lot, but it would net a guaranteed interview at least. Does the strength of program for SMPs/post-bacc really overcome that? I'm just nervous that it will all be for nothing, I guess. I have a family to think about now, so I'm trying to balance risk carefully. 🙂
 
Not sure if this will help at all, maybe look into PA school? I'm not sure what your career goals are, but maybe PA is another path that will help you get there.
 
What makes you think you'll do well in a SMP? You have a consistent downward trend in college. And if you've taken all the bio and chem courses and your sGPA is low, how do you expect to beat the MCAT?


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You don't have a lot of room for error at this point. I would avoid SMPs that require an MCAT score unless you are consistently doing well on MCAT practice tests. You should plan take the MCAT once and do really well.

And you should think very carefully about the questions @candbgirl is raising before diving into a program. You need to identify what needs to be fixed and take the time to fix it before doing so.

Still, it seems like even a 4.0 in a program like that wouldn't affect my GPA a whole lot, but it would net a guaranteed interview at least. Does the strength of program for SMPs/post-bacc really overcome that? I'm just nervous that it will all be for nothing, I guess. I have a family to think about now, so I'm trying to balance risk carefully. 🙂

You need to use the SMP to craft a narrative that you are not the same student that did poorly in college. Succeeding in the program, especially in one that is rigorous and reputable, will go a long way to show the upward trend/personal development. Rounding that out with a high MCAT will give you a great shot at DO schools and some MD schools even if your undergraduate GPA is not very high.

However, my current background is in drug development and one of the routes I'm considering is becoming a clinical researcher for experimental treatments. Unfortunately, it seems very hard to break into without an MD after your name, so allopathy is definitely preferred.
Keep an open mind! It sounds like you are interested in this because it's something you are familiar with. Things might change as you build new experiences/backgrounds.

Edit: I recommend reading this thread in its entirety to hear different perspectives about the "risks" associated with doing an SMP: https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/what-i-wish-i-knew-before-going-to-the-smp.1199061/
 
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Not every post-bac program or SMP requires a 3.0 as a minimum. The floor for mine is ~2.7.

Go back an reread what I wrote. Again, you can do a DIY post-bac.

The whole point of SMPs and their ilk is to show that the you of now is not the you of then. Thus, cGPA doesn't matter...it's the last year that counts (NOT in UG...in the SMP).

EDIT: Go and read the wise Dr Midlife's posts on reinvention. TL,DR, start small and work yourself up to the big time.

Also, you're in a marathon now, not a sprint.


That's my intention for sure, but based on my discussion with the program director at the school I'm shooting for, even a post-bacc/SMP seems like a reach with my current stats, since they expect a cGPA around 3.0 and sGPA of 3.2. EVMS is also on my mind (and seems to be slightly more forgiving), but I will definitely need the MCAT to even apply there. Still, it seems like even a 4.0 in a program like that wouldn't affect my GPA a whole lot, but it would net a guaranteed interview at least. Does the strength of program for SMPs/post-bacc really overcome that? I'm just nervous that it will all be for nothing, I guess. I have a family to think about now, so I'm trying to balance risk carefully. 🙂
 
What makes you think you'll do well in a SMP? You have a consistent downward trend in college. And if you've taken all the bio and chem courses and your sGPA is low, how do you expect to beat the MCAT?

In short, commitment. I'm dedicated to doing well and am in a much better place in my life now than I was in undergrad. It wasn't that I struggled with the material, rather that I had poor study skills and a lot going on outside of the classroom that weighed on me emotionally and took up a lot of my time.

You don't have a lot of room for error at this point. I would avoid SMPs that require an MCAT score unless you are consistently doing well on MCAT practice tests. You should plan take the MCAT once and do really well.

I'm with you 110%. I completely understand that this is my last shot, and I'm not going to waste the opportunity that I have. 🙂 One of the appeals of VCU's post-bacc is that they did not require MCAT scores and that it included MCAT prep as part of the program, but it seems like these programs are few and far between.

Not every post-bac program or SMP requires a 3.0 as a minimum. The floor for mine is ~2.7.

Go back an reread what I wrote. Again, you can do a DIY post-bac.

The whole point of SMPs and their ilk is to show that the you of now is not the you of then. Thus, cGPA doesn't matter...it's the last year that counts (NOT in UG...in the SMP).

EDIT: Go and read the wise Dr Midlife's posts on reinvention. TL,DR, start small and work yourself up to the big time.

Also, you're in a marathon now, not a sprint.

Very true. I'm also considering EVMS, which I think requires a 2.75 and has a strong linkage, but they have an MCAT requirement, so I want to make sure I'm adequately prepared and just have to take it once.

After speaking with one of my LOR writers, right now I think my tentative plan is to spend the next year doing a DIY post-bacc (graduate courses following the traditional post-bacc curriculum) and preparing for the MCAT. One kind of weird question, if I've completed all the same courses and done well on the MCAT, should it matter if I don't have the "certificate" by the end of next year since I won't be able to apply for graduation? Could I still be in a place to apply for med school? Would it be worth it without a strong linkage?
 
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