In dire need of advice

[msoueid]

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[EDIT]

Ok, so without delving into my whole life story this is the following dilemma i currently face. I am on the cusp of graduating undergrad but my GPA is nowhere near competitive enough to get into my dream schools (nor most medical schools for that matter). I have taken the MCAT once and scored a 32 but i plan on retaking it after further studying.

How can i make myself a more appealing candidate for med school? Is a mid-top tier school out of reach entirely? What have some been able to do get adcoms to overlook such a low GPA ? I have a pretty solid EC resume including shadowing and scribe experience in a hospital.

I am aware of post-bac masters programs to raise GPA but i wasnt intent on going straight to med school anyway. Should i just continue to bulk up my resume by shadowing, research etc?

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!!!

 

[Iso4ane]

Ok, so without delving into my whole life story this is the following dilemma i currently face. I am on the cusp of graduating undergrad but my GPA is nowhere near competitive enough to get into my dream schools (nor most medical schools for that matter). I have taken the MCAT once and scored a 32 but i plan on retaking it after further studying. My question to all you fellow pre-meds (and med students) is since i have a low undergrad GPA what should i do to increase my chances of getting into my reach school (Columbia P&S). I have a pretty solid EC resume including shadowing and scribe experience in a hospital.

I am aware of post-grad masters programs to raise GPA but i wasnt intent on going straight to med school anyway. Should i just continue to bulk up my resume by shadowing, research etc?

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!!!

It would really help to know what your actual GPA is. And if its as low as you say, Columbia may be an astronomical reach.

 

[msoueid]

.

 

[msoueid]

It would really help to know what your actual GPA is. And if its as low as you say, Columbia may be an astronomical reach.

Depending on the grades after this semester i would be at or around a 3.0 .

I dont want to waste your time with why it happened but it did and luckily i did recover from a horrible first two-three semesters. ( you can imagine how poorly i started out ).

I know Columbia is an unfathomable reach to even excellent students but is there any possible way to show them that i am indeed deserving of a seat. Keep in mind i plan on applying in a year to two years at the earliest anyway. If not, would med schools even give me a chance with my current credentials?

 

[msoueid]

I also want to just clear it up a bit but i am completely aware that i would not get into a top tier school like i mentioned with my current credentials. What i am really wondering is if people got into top tier schools when they had a low ugrad GPA.

 

[gyngyn]

A focus on a single school is not healthy. A commitment to service is not dependant on admission to a particular school. If your priority is maximizing your potential, many will help you, if your goal is this school no one can.

 

[msoueid]

A focus on a single school is not healthy. A commitment to service is not dependant on admission to a particular school. If your priority is maximizing your potential, many will help you, if your goal is this school no one can.

Thank you for the response gyngyn. I quickly wrote my initial question and i definitely did not mean to rub any of you guys the wrong way. While i would be eternally elated to be accepted to ANY med school, i was just wondering what those who had a low undergrad GPA did in order to get into their reach schools. My thought process at this point is that since i am a pretty poor candidate at the moment, i want to make sure i do everything in my power to:

A) get into med school first and foremost
B) increase the LIKELIHOOD of getting into my dream school.

I am aware i should not base my efforts on getting into a particular school and i appreciate your wisdom.

 

[JohnFe]

Premeds can't be choosers.

 

[gyngyn]

Your MCAT score is fine. Retaking it will have little effect on your application. Addressing the reason for the low gpa will have the most impact on your outcome.

 

[msoueid]

Premeds can't be choosers.

You're absolutely correct.

Your MCAT score is fine. Retaking it will have little effect on your application. Addressing the reason for the low gpa will have the most impact on your outcome.

I apologize but with whom did you mean i should address my low gpa with? i was always under the assumption that those reading my app would just throw it out after seeing the gpa.

 

[gyngyn]

You're absolutely correct.



I apologize but with whom did you mean i should address my low gpa with? i was always under the assumption that those reading my app would just throw it out after seeing the gpa.

Since your MCAT is fine and you haven't shared your gpa I can only address it in the abstract. Generally speaking, an otherwise good candidate should be able to get into med school with the data you have given us. The only flaw you have implied is the gpa, therefore addressing it is the only hurdle to discuss. Is it really low? How low is it? What are the reasons for the "lowness"?

 

[msoueid]

Since your MCAT is fine and you haven't shared your gpa I can only address it in the abstract. Generally speaking, an otherwise good candidate should be able to get into med school with the data you have given us. The only flaw you have implied is the gpa, therefore addressing it is the only hurdle to discuss.

I listed it in a post to 0Kazak1, after this semester i should be at or around a 3.0

 

[gyngyn]

I listed it in a post to 0Kazak1, after this semester i should be at or around a 3.0

Sorry,
An applicant who can get a 32 on the MCAT only has a limited number of reasons for such a low MCAT. Which is yours?

 

[msoueid]

Sorry,
An applicant who can get a 32 on the MCAT only has a limited number of reasons for such a low MCAT. Which is yours?

I am going to assume you meant low GPA.

Long story short, i opened my own business prior to entering college and failed to allocate my priorities correctly. Fast forward two years, i realized why i came to college in the first place, to follow through with my love of science (specifically neuroscience). I would soon realize this change of heart and subsequent buckling down may have come too late. I have since gotten near straight A's in attempts to counter my early pitfalls but i am at a loss now of what to do to accomplish my dream.

 

[Sabate]

Depending on the grades after this semester i would be at or around a 3.0 .

I dont want to waste your time with why it happened but it did and luckily i did recover from a horrible first two-three semesters. ( you can imagine how poorly i started out ).

I know Columbia is an unfathomable reach to even excellent students but is there any possible way to show them that i am indeed deserving of a seat. Keep in mind i plan on applying in a year to two years at the earliest anyway. If not, would med schools even give me a chance with my current credentials?

Your GPA is right around the cut-off for a lot of schools that don't rank close to Columbia. You definitely still stand a chance to get into an MD program (though I'd also look at DO programs with your GPA). I tanked my GPA before getting serious in college as well but it took me getting a 38 on the MCAT as well as having a lot of ECs, an interesting life path, etc to get interviews at some of the mid-tier schools. It worked out well and I'm matriculating in August to one of my top five choices when I applied.

If you're set on an MD program (in the States) over a DO program, improving your GPA will make a bigger difference than the MCAT. Even if you scored a 40 on the MCAT a lot of programs would be concerned about your low GPA or even just screen you out entirely. Depending on where you live, your state school(s) might be more lenient about GPAs as well. With two years to go you've got plenty of time to boost that GPA and that goes double if you've already figured out what you need to get As in your classes.

 

[One Day MD]

In order to demonstrate you can handle an intense science course load, I'd say your best bet at getting into a mid-top tier school is to do a formal post-bacc program. Doing well will show them that you've indeed changed for the better and can handle a structured course load. With your MCAT score, you can easily get into some of the better post-baccs in the country. In the mean time, make connections, amp up your research, and get good LORs. A good friend of mine did terrible in undergrad, but did well in her post-bacc and was admitted to a top-20 school just last week off the waiting list, among others.

While there's no way to guarantee an acceptance, this method is worth a shot considering you want to take a gap year anyway.