how to compensate for low gpa

[Hwei]

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Hi I'm wondering if any of you know how to make up a 3.2 or 3.3 gpa, how high a mcat score should i get? and what school should i apply to?

i appreciate any suggestion and feedback from people with experience!
p.s. assuming currently having average amount of volunteer work!

 

[DendWrite]

If you want a shot at U.S. allopathic schools I'd shoot for as high as possible. Ideally 34+, but really as high as you can get. The higher the better.

ECs can be a good way to compensate for low GPA. So can URM status. So can financial hardship. So can illness.

You should apply broadly to lower-tier schools and a few reach mid-tier schools (I'm assuming you are looking at MD and not DO).

If you are applying DO, your GPA will be pretty competitive. Break 30 on the MCAT, make sure your clinical experience is decent (maybe some shadowing and community stuff too) and you should be golden.

Good interviews / personal statements / etc do play a large role, but first you have to get past the computer screening / GPA cutoffs before your personality has a chance to shine through.

 

[Slowpoke]

It's really difficult to compensate for a GPA.

The one answer that you will hear from all of us will be high MCAT. As dendrite stated, the higher the better.

Another way to indirectly compensate is to apply very, very broadly (assuming you achieve a mediocre/great MCAT score). This increases your chances, no matter what your numbers are.

 

[deleted248403]

You need to go do an SMP/Post-bac with a 3.2 GPA IMO

 

[Catalystik]

Hi I'm wondering if any of you know how to make up a 3.2 or 3.3 gpa

Get your GPA as high as you can before you graduate; you'll want to have near-straight As on your transcript for your final semesters to prove you are capable of sustained academic excellence. Develop wow-level ECs. Get a very high MCAT score. Get into a Special Masters program. Since you are applying from Canada, also consider Irish and Australian programs. Consider DO programs if staying in North America is important to you.

 

[J ROD]

If you are from Canada, then you better raise that GPA some....you need to be much stronger than the average US app to get a chance...

 

[bannie22]

Yes, I think hes from Canada rite?
I recall....
3.2 is >.< GG.

ohhh DO!

 

[demayette]

If you want a shot at U.S. allopathic schools I'd shoot for as high as possible. Ideally 34+, but really as high as you can get. The higher the better.

ECs can be a good way to compensate for low GPA. So can URM status. So can financial hardship. So can illness.

You should apply broadly to lower-tier schools and a few reach mid-tier schools (I'm assuming you are looking at MD and not DO).

If you are applying DO, your GPA will be pretty competitive. Break 30 on the MCAT, make sure your clinical experience is decent (maybe some shadowing and community stuff too) and you should be golden.

Good interviews / personal statements / etc do play a large role, but first you have to get past the computer screening / GPA cutoffs before your personality has a chance to shine through.

A 3.2-3.3 GPA is not competitive for DO, though it's OK...

 

[Catalystik]

Demayette is right, as the median cGPA for DO med school acceptees is 3.45. But your MCAT score of 31 would be enough to compensate for your low GPA (their median is 25.5), unless your VS is really low. DO schools, however, want to see better than a C in the prerequisites, so you'd have to retake your OChem classes.

 

[J ROD]

OP get a 28+ MCAT and DO will be an option.