How to fix an awful undergrad GPA you are about to graduate with (below 3.0)

[BarcelonaFan2]

Maybe fix isn't the right word since that is the GPA you are going to graduate with but maybe do something about perhaps?

Say you are an undergraduate student that will not be able to graduate with a GPA that is a 3.0 or higher, when you receive your degree, your GPA will be lower than a 3.0.

What do you to do fix that? I mean you would have already graduated college and got your Bachelor of Science degree but what is the next step you take?

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[GomersGoToGround]

You can do a Post-bac program or a masters program. This is very common, actually, you could certainly demonstrate a strong upward trend for a year or two in a science program.

This gives you the chance to say, "Ok, I messed up, I get it. I've made a strict commitment, and for the past year or two, I've had these outstanding grades."

Some schools may still cringe at your undergraduate GPA (ie MD schools), and even possibly DO schools, but if you do extremely well in the post bac or masters program, you may be reconsidered, at the very least for DO. Of course, it's all grade-dependent. Additionally, DO does grade replacement when you retake a course, so there's that.

As I was corrected, SMPs do not factor into undergrad GPA, but other programs certainly DO. There you go, OP.

Even with a strong post-bac or masters, it may be difficult to get love from MD schools. Of course, there are people on here with exceptions and varying experiences, who could probably give you their own anecdotes.

 

[freemontie]

Spend the year(s) doing several of your courses over again so you can do grade-replacement for DO schools.
For most people with a ~3.0 they can probably fit in every class they got a C or lower in 1.5 years or less.

 

[BarcelonaFan2]

so typically, do these students do their post bacc at colleges where they graduated from or what? Like what would even make colleges take you for a post bacc?

 

[ProudMD]

so typically, do these students do their post bacc at colleges where they graduated from or what? Like what would even make colleges take you for a post bacc?

The answer is No.

There are two types of post-bacc programs, formal and informal/DIY.

1) Formal post-bacc programs are usually designed for students who have never taken any of the prerequisite courses. Basically, a formal post-bacc teaches all the prerequisite courses over 1-2 years, and some programs also offer MCAT preparation and admissions counseling. Upon finishing a formal program, you'll receive an official certificate of completion. However, these types of programs are usually not open to students who have completed most/all of the prerequisites but didn't do well and ended up with a low sGPA.

2) Informal post-bacc programs basically means you going to any university and taking undergraduate science courses without formally enrolling in any degree program. Many schools allow non-students to take individual courses as long as they pay. If you have completed most/all of your prerequisites and/or you have a low sGPA, it is a good option to find a school that's local and cheap (such as a state school) and take individual science classes in order to raise your sGPA.

Basically, if you have completed most/all of your prerequisite courses and you have a low sGPA, the best option is to take individual science classes on your own at an affordable university. This is very common among applicants. I am assuming that you are in this category.

Any other questions?

 

[Goro]

And even better are the Special Masters Programs, which are essentially med school lite and serve as your back door into medi school.

Keep in mind that you're going to need to ace these, and have a great MCAT score for MD schools. Fortunately, there are schools that believe in reinvention.

For DO progams, retake all F/D/C science course, and let AACOMAS' grade replacement policy do its work.

The answer is No.

There are two types of post-bacc programs, formal and informal/DIY.

1) Formal post-bacc programs are usually designed for students who have never taken any of the prerequisite courses. Basically, a formal post-bacc teaches all the prerequisite courses over 1-2 years, and some programs also offer MCAT preparation and admissions counseling. Upon finishing a formal program, you'll receive an official certificate of completion. However, these types of programs are usually not open to students who have completed most/all of the prerequisites but didn't do well and ended up with a low sGPA.

2) Informal post-bacc programs basically means you going to any university and taking undergraduate science courses without formally enrolling in any degree program. Many schools allow non-students to take individual courses as long as they pay. If you have completed most/all of your prerequisites and/or you have a low sGPA, it is a good option to find a school that's local and cheap (such as a state school) and take individual science classes in order to raise your sGPA.

Basically, if you have completed most/all of your prerequisite courses and you have a low sGPA, the best option is to take individual science classes on your own at an affordable university. This is very common among applicants. I am assuming that you are in this category.

Any other questions?

 

[ProudMD]

And even better are the Special Masters Programs, which are essentially med school lite and serve as your back door into medi school.

Keep in mind that you're going to need to ace these, and have a great MCAT score for MD schools. Fortunately, there are schools that believe in reinvention.

For DO progams, retake all F/D/C science course, and let AACOMAS' grade replacement policy do its work.

This is incredibly important, OP.

Special Master's Programs (SMPs) are worth the time and money only if you do very well - at least 3.5-3.6 GPA. If you do poorly in a SMP, then your chances at medical school (MD or DO) are basically over. And for this reason, I cannot recommend a SMP unless you have no other options.

If you do decide to enroll in a SMP, then you better do absolutely everything that's possible and impossible in order to ensure that you succeed. These programs can run over 70k, so keep that in mind as well.

 

[BarcelonaFan2]

Yes I am in the second category but my case is severe. As a senior, I am sitting at a 2.2 (awful grades in difficult upper level science courses) at my current university, was a 2.98 at my previous college I transferred from. So as you can see, it is not just med school I am worried about, I don't even know if grad school in general is in my future now.

 

[ProudMD]

Yes I am in the second category but my case is severe. As a senior, I am sitting at a 2.2 (awful grades in difficult upper level science courses) at my current university, was a 2.98 at my previous college I transferred from. So as you can see, it is not just med school I am worried about, I don't even know if grad school in general is in my future now.

This is indeed problematic. It seems that you have a significant downward trend in your grades, which is what medical schools don't want to see.

The best course of action for you is to retake all C/D/F courses and aim for DO schools. The DO application allows for complete grade replacement, so you can raise your GPA relatively quickly.

Are you a science major? If not, why are you taking so many upper level science courses? What's the reason behind the poor performance?

 

[freemontie]

Yes I am in the second category but my case is severe. As a senior, I am sitting at a 2.2 (awful grades in difficult upper level science courses) at my current university, was a 2.98 at my previous college I transferred from. So as you can see, it is not just med school I am worried about, I don't even know if grad school in general is in my future now.

Even though you are a senior and about to graduate (I presume?), I would consider NOT registering for Spring 2015 courses if you are planning to try for med school in the future. Because whatever is wrong likely needs time to be fixed and there's no good adding another 2.2 semester.

-how do you feel about doing those difficult upper level science courses over again?
-what courses do you need for Spring 2015 to graduate (more difficult courses? or not?)
-Is what's bring down your GPA only a handful of very awful grades - or do you have a large amount of Cs? (To judge how long redoing them will take and whether you're up to that.)

 

[edgerock24]

This is a rare case where the
Caribbean may be a realistic option for the OP. If he has taken, and done poorly in, so many classes that it would be too costly or unreasonable to retake them all, then perhaps going to the Caribbean is his only option.

I would obviously recommend taking the time, even if it takes 3+ yrs, to retake classes. But if the OP has the willpower/dedication, going to SGU/Ross/AUC may actually be a genuine option for him.

 

[journalistdoingscience]

You can do a Post-bas program or a masters program. This is very common, actually, and although it doesn't factor into your undergraduate GPA, you could certainly demonstrate a strong upward trend for a year or two in a science program.

This gives you the chance to say, "Ok, I messed up, I get it. I've made a strict commitment, and for the past year or two, I've had these outstanding grades."

Some schools may still cringe at your undergraduate GPA (ie MD schools), and even possibly DO schools, but if you do extremely well in the post bac or masters program, you may be reconsidered, at the very least for DO. Of course, it's all grade-dependent. Additionally, DO does grade replacement when you retake a course, so there's that.

Even with a strong post-bac or masters, it may be difficult to get love from MD schools. Of course, there are people on here with exceptions and varying experiences, who could probably give you their own anecdotes.

Post-bacc grades do factor into your undergraduate GPA although you are correct that SMP grades do not. I completed a post-bacc at Harvard Extension and all of the grades I received were counted in my undergrad cgpa while my friend who did an SMP at Tufts did not (his grades were considered part of his graduate gpa). This may have been what you were trying to say but I just wanted to clarify! Also the Harvard program is great if you live in the EC area!

 

[Goro]

if OP is struggling with science UG courses, then any medical school will kill him/her, even Carib diploma mills..

This is a rare case where the
Caribbean may be a realistic option for the OP. If he has taken, and done poorly in, so many classes that it would be too costly or unreasonable to retake them all, then perhaps going to the Caribbean is his only option.

I would obviously recommend taking the time, even if it takes 3+ yrs, to retake classes. But if the OP has the willpower/dedication, going to SGU/Ross/AUC may actually be a genuine option for him.

 

[BarcelonaFan2]

Well here is my story

1. Was pushed into being a physics major my first year of college by parents who had a very heavy hand in my college career, was too weak to stand up to them and suffered through massive depression. Needless to say, I did not study that much and was not focused on school. Lets just say that I had foreign immigrant parents that had such a tight hold on my life in my first 2 years of college that I had to rely on them for rides and at one point I was even dragged out of the library by them at night (campus library) for staying too long. It was a wreck but I had around a 2.9.

They also forced me to take 16 hrs and their argument was "you took 6 classes in high school no problem, do it in college now, your classes are even less!". I take responsibility for not standing up to them.

2. Transferred to state flagship where classes were a lot tougher, was adjusting to living alone on my own, and made some awful mistakes. Depression was still a part of my life and was still working on becoming independent from psycho parents that just would not let me go.

3. Got over depression and in the past semester I did better than I ever have. Think I might be ready to pursue grad school now and have interest in med school, I feel like a massive weight has been lifted off of my shoulder and that I am a much better student now that I have the opportunity to focus on my academics.

 

[BarcelonaFan2]

Also guys, now that I am on my own and can focus with my independence and such, I feel like I have grown a love for the sciences. Physics might not be my thing (though I made an A on both of my physics classes) but I feel like now with my parents out of my life, a better mood, and many other things working for me that I want to work in the medical field and get into sciences. I don't want to be a scientist but I would like to pursue a career in medicine even if MD/DO are not realistic possibilities.

It is like now I can actually focus on the sciences and do better in school. I feel better mentally, I can't describe it but it is like I am just a better student now. I rarely procrastinate these days, when I sit down to study, I get work done, and I have done better in the past semester and am doing well this semester.

I know that a 2.2 is a joke and I realize it. I also know that whatever happened to me past the age of 18 was my fault because I refused to break away from my parents immediately. That said, I take full responsibility and would like to make the best of my situation and pursue a career in medicine.

I also want to take this time to thank all of you who responded to this thread for your decency and good advice. I am ready to move forward now and make this best of this awful situation.

 

[GomersGoToGround]

OP, good for you. It takes much courage to be able to stand up to parents that are that controlling. I also am an immigrant, although my parents were not nearly as controlling as yours appear to have been.

If you really want to go into medicine, go for it. Look into other options as well, including Nurse Practitioner (NP), or maybe even Physician Assistant (PA), and decide which career path best suits your goals.

If you really are going to work as hard as you say you are, you can open some doors. With a 2.2, however, understand that it's very much an uphill battle. If you apply DO, they do grade replacement, which would help a ton (unless you hadn't taken any pre-reqs, and the poor grades were all due to other courses).

As others have said, look into Special Masters Programs (but you have to ace these), post-baccs, other masters programs, etc.

Additionally, keep in my that only improving your grades will not get you there; if you really want a school to believe that you want to become a physician, you have to get involved in medical ECs (shadowing, volunteering, whatever), do research, etc. Of course, grades come first. You do not have to do these while in your program. In fact, if these keep you from performing top notch, then maybe hold off on them. You can have tons of ECs, but with s*** grades, no cigar. You can shadow/volunteer on the weekends, if you'd like. If you do a masters program, however, you'll be doing research (well, depending on what program you choose), so that's two birds with one stone.

You've got options, but I can't stress the importance of facing the reality that this is going to be very difficult. Nothing is guaranteed. I strongly suggest you heavily research MD/DO, PA, NP, look at the careers, the applications, and talk with individuals from all. Make sure you know what you're aiming for, because now, you need to be on the ball.

Good luck; feel free to PM me.