How Much Does GPA Improvement in a post-bach help?

[BetaHelix]

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I am a career switcher leaving behind a business degree and some pretty noteworthy accomplishments. I'm 28 and I am currently in my second semester in a formal Post-bach program where I am taking my pre-req courses. In addition I am shadowing, volunteering. and bulding up my EC's.

I am doing very very well with straight A's so far and I am confident I will complete the program with honors. The program will also proivde me a commitee letter of recommendation which hopefully will help. The program is very riguous which I feel should alleviate doubts on my ability to perform will under science heavy classes.

The problem is this. My undergrate GPA isn't the best. I did very well my first few years but once I was faced with working and taking very difficult upper level math courses my GPA slipped. I also re-took 3 classes that I either failed from some reason or got a D. They were replaced with A's and 1 B.

I would really like to go to a US MD school and I feel I am capable however my UG gpa is not that competitive. Off the top of my head It's probably around a 3.3-3.5 including my Post -Bach. Also, for MD programs I got a few C's in math classes which will bring down my science GPA. My med school pre-reqs are all A's thus far.

With grade replacement my GPA (along with the fact math classes are not calculated in osteopathic medical school science GPA) I should be very competiive for DO schools but I'd prefer MD.

I haven't taken the MCAT yet and of course that will really affect things but I guess I'd just like to know of people in my situation. Will straigh A's in a post bach take the place of my less than competitve UG GPA?

I mean GPA is a measure of a students ability to perform under load. In my opinion the most recent success I've had should show them that I do in fact posess the ability to do well. Shoudn't that be enough?

 

[lmn]

An upward trend will definitely help, par that with a strong MCAT score and good EC's and you should be alright. I applied this cycle with your overall gpa range with no post-bac, but a strong upward trend in undergrad, along with a strong mcat score and EC's and I was able to secure a fairly large number of interviews. Don't get me wrong though, you will have to be able to explain your grades, and some schools will automatically reject you as soon as you turn in your secondary (or even primary) simply due to your gpa, so you should be mindful of that and do your best to research schools that do have cutoffs, and not waste your time or $$ on them.

Do your very best with classes and EC's now for your application, it isn't like you can change the past.