How much does a low sGPA bring you down?

[ShepherdBarnabas]

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Hi!

I am an Undergrad who is taking a gap year. I have such low expectations of making it into MD school that I just spent an hour looking into Dental admissions...lol. If you have a chance take a look at my WAMC thread to get a better gauge.

My question:


I have a low sGPA (3.42) but an okay-ish cGPA (3.65). Will I be viewed the same as a 3.5/3.5 because of my low sGPA? Will it keep me from getting an MD admission? Anyone w/similar stats?

Thanks!

 

[songl4a]

.

 

[xffan624]

Just kill the MCAT.

Second this. My sGPA was much worse than yours. I did well on the MCAT and I'm convinced that's how I was able to get an acceptance in spite of it (along with some killer EC's). It is one way you can show ADCOM's that you have the science chops necessary for medical school (not much required honestly, but you do have to have some aptitude for it).

 

[ShepherdBarnabas]

Second this. My sGPA was much worse than yours. I did well on the MCAT and I'm convinced that's how I was able to get an acceptance in spite of it (along with some killer EC's). It is one way you can show ADCOM's that you have the science chops necessary for medical school (not much required honestly, but you do have to have some aptitude for it).

Hey if you don't mind me asking..MD or DO?

 

[demystifie]

I had virtually the same stats as you and have 6 MD acceptances this cycle. Feel free to message me if you have any other questions. As others said, just focus on getting a solid MCAT score and you should be fine.

 

[Goro]

Concur.

Just kill the MCAT.

 

[workethic712]

i don't know, but my sgpa is a 3.36 and i received zero MD interviews this cycle

 

[gyngyn]

Concur.

He did, eventually...

 

[ShepherdBarnabas]

i don't know, but my sgpa is a 3.36 and i received zero MD interviews this cycle

Was your uGPA similar to your cGPA or above 3.6? Mine is above 3.6 but my sGPA is the problem

 

[xffan624]

Hey if you don't mind me asking..MD or DO?

MD.

 

[ShepherdBarnabas]

Congrats. I hope my sGPA doesn't shoot me in the foot. Hoping to do MD, but DO is also very viable option for me.

MD.

 

[workethic712]

Was your uGPA similar to your cGPA or above 3.6? Mine is above 3.6 but my sGPA is the problem

total gpa was similar (~3.4) but had a solid MCAT (33-35). ECs were solid as well, not extraordinary, but solid.
however, i've definitely read posts from applicants this year who have my gpa and are currently holding multiple acceptances so you shouldn't let my experience scare you too much...

 

[ShepherdBarnabas]

total gpa was similar (~3.4) but had a solid MCAT (33-35). ECs were solid as well, not extraordinary, but solid.
however, i've definitely read posts from applicants this year who have my gpa and are currently holding multiple acceptances so you shouldn't let my experience scare you too much...

I'm sorry about that man, are you considering going DO or doing an SMP? For general info...do you have any insight into what went wrong with your cycle? Just bad luck?

 

[workethic712]

I'm sorry about that man, are you considering going DO or doing an SMP? For general info...do you have any insight into what went wrong with your cycle? Just bad luck?

yeah i applied DO this cycle and am headed somewhere next year so I am relieved about that but I had wanted to specialize in the more competitive fields so I'm not sure if those are still going to be a realistic possibility with DO route. I heavily considered doing an SMP before but ultimately decided I couldn't justify the high cost+extra time to rectify a low but not abysmal GPA.

as far as how my cycle went... I applied early and was complete at most schools by July/August. I think I did everything the way things were supposed to be done and demonstrated passion/understanding for the field. What probably hurt me the most was my GPA and the much larger volume of competitive applicants this cycle.

 

[0919mmk]

3.0/3.1, top 30 MD school, #GPAisjustanumber

 

[andrews1989]

Here to let you know: 2.9 science gpa, 30 mcat. I applied to 20 schools, got four interviews, 2 waitlists and into 2 schools (all MD). It's possible if your research/ecs are good enough.

 

[ZedsDed]

3.0/3.1, top 30 MD school, #GPAisjustanumber

Congrats, but you are an outlier my friend. By definition you are an exception to the rule.

 

[Womb Raider]

I am an Undergrad who is taking a gap year. I have such low expectations of making it into MD school that I just spent an hour looking into Dental admissions...lol. If you have a chance take a look at my WAMC thread to get a better gauge.

What's your race?

3.0/3.1, top 30 MD school, #GPAisjustanumber

Same Q to you ^

 

[ZymurgySurfer]

cGPA<3.5 sGPA<3.3 and I have multiple acceptances. It can definitely be done

 

[NeuResurgens]

It has the power to bring you down if you don't do well on the MCAT. These are some of the subjects you'll be studying in medical school, and that's why they weight the separate sGPA in the first place.

 

[justadream]

It has the power to bring you down if you don't do well on the MCAT. These are some of the subjects you'll be studying in medical school, and that's why they weight the separate sGPA in the first place.

Agreed.

But the choice of which classes to include is somewhat arbitrary. For example, bioengineering courses do not count yet Linear Algebra (or any other math class) does? I cannot imagine how something like Linear Algebra or Topology would be in any way more useful than a class in bioengineering for medical purposes.

 

[NeuResurgens]

Agreed.

But the choice of which classes to include is somewhat arbitrary. For example, bioengineering courses do not count yet Linear Algebra (or any other math class) does? I cannot imagine how something like Linear Algebra or Topology would be in any way more useful than a class in bioengineering for medical purposes.

Yeah, there are definitely some ways in which the applications bother me and this is one of them. How is bioengineering not science? It specifically combines the names of two scientific disciplines!

 

[ZedsDed]

Yeah, there are definitely some ways in which the applications bother me and this is one of them. How is bioengineering not science? It specifically combines the names of two scientific disciplines!

For some reason they don't consider engineering a standalone science . Any discipline that has that much physics in it has my respect.

 

[Mad Jack]

You can definitely get in if you do well on the MCAT. Where to apply and how broadly will depend entirely on your results.

 

[NeuResurgens]

For some reason they don't consider engineering a standalone science . Any discipline that has that much physics in it has my respect.

Honestly though. There is no way I could do engineering for that reason. TONS of physics.