Long story short, I am a junior in college and recently made the decision to pursue a career as a doctor. I have only taken General Chemistry I and received a D for the semester. That's the only science class I have so far but I plan on taking the other per-requisites in the next year and apply at the end of senior year. So my overall GPA at this point is a 2.0. Is is possible for me to get into MD schools if I pull off a 4.0 for my remaining 3 semesters and a 30+ mcat score? If not, what other options do I have?
Is GPA too low?
- Thread starter droidrazr
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You'll need much more than 3 semesters to bounce back from a 2.0 for md and do schools. Your science gpa isn't tarnished, at least.
But if you're barely passing your classes and even the most basic chemistry course, what makes you think you'll ace the harder stuff? I wish you luck, but you're facing quite the uphill battle. Prove me wrong.
But if you're barely passing your classes and even the most basic chemistry course, what makes you think you'll ace the harder stuff? I wish you luck, but you're facing quite the uphill battle. Prove me wrong.
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with an overall GPA under 3.0, admissions to MDs will be excruciatingly difficult, even with a 40+ mythical MCAT and stellar ECs. and it seems that even if you get a straight 4.0 for the next 3 semesters, your overall GPA will still be under a 3.0 when you graduate.
may I ask why your GPA so far is so low? did you just not work hard enough, or did something happen to you that made it difficult to stay focused? did something drastic happen? you can't simply pin a 2.0 on a difficult major/trouble adjusting to college life. if it's a 3.0, then the situation is entirely different.
now, if you truly want MD, consider these steps:
1) your top priority is to get your cGPA above the 3.0 mark. if you have to stay longer/take more college courses to accomplish this, then so be it.
2) MCAT. you absolutely need to ace this exam. a mere 30 will not be enough for someone in your position. do whatever it takes and shoot for a score in the mid/high 30s.
3) once you raise your GPA above the 3.0 benchmark and receive a great MCAT score, apply to SMP programs and do well.
4) in the meantime, build up your ECs! focus on clinical volunteering, community service, and whatever else you can do. your ECs need to be very strong.
if you get your cGPA above a 3.0, do well in a SMP, have a great MCAT score, and offer great and substantial ECs, then you can feel good about your viability for MD scores. but until then, don't even think about applying MD.
good luck, you can do it!
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There is a career in medicine for everyone who wants it. Some will create their career, some will select a role that is defined by a job title. One grade does not disqualify any candidate, but grades matter in application to medical school. There are a lot things that matter in the application to medical school - too many to list here. I would never recommend anyone give up on their dream.
That being said, tjere are a lot of good things to do besides go to medical school. Read a lot, learn a lot, always seek to do things that you love.
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I finished 120 credits at around a 2.88. After 37 ish credits at 4.00 my GPA only went up to a 3.04 or something. It's very difficult to increase GPA.
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Unfortunately, your chances at MD schools are extremely low (<0.01%), because your GPA is very low. Even getting a 4.0 in the next 3 semesters, it won't increase much. I would suggest a post-bacc to improve your grades. Alternatively, retake the grades (get an A), and consider DO, which has a grade replacement policy. Still, I definitely urge you to take some time off before applying.
In that case, OP's GPA will only improve to about 2.2.
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I honestly think if you straight up ACE the rest of your science courses (unlikely) and pull your cGPA up to a 3.1 or so...and a stellar mcat, you might have a shot at low tier MD. Sprinkle in some bombshell ec's while you're at it.
But I'm talking numbers like 3.1c/3.9sci/34 MCAT.
But I can't begin to tell you how unlikely it is that these events would unfold that way. Like literally 1/100 shot.
But I'm talking numbers like 3.1c/3.9sci/34 MCAT.
But I can't begin to tell you how unlikely it is that these events would unfold that way. Like literally 1/100 shot.
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I'll hazard a guess that he needs 2+ years full-time to get his cGPA that high.
I know GPA isn't calculated this way, but simple math tells us that 3 years of 2.00 plus 3 years of 4.00 is the fastest way to get to 3.00
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At least.
I'll add, op, that when I decided to pursue medicine, I had a sub 3.0 gpa. Now I'll be applying with a 3.3c/3.4sci (a point higher in each for DO). The trip has been awful. The past three years have been a stressful, neurotic nightmare for me trying to play catch up. Still, after all this work, I am guaranteed nothing and all of my time may have been for nothing.
Do some honest soul searching and figure out if this is the kind of mindf*** you want to put yourself through over the next 2-3(or more) years.
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Based on the information you gave and assuming you've taken ~75 credit hours at around a C average, you'll need ~75 more hours at 4.0 average to increase GPA to 3.0. That is a HUGE task. However, your science GPA will likely be very high and an upward trend like that is always looked favorably upon. You MUST dedicate yourself, you MUST rock the MCAT, and everything else in your app MUST be flawless. If you're up to the task then best of luck to you.
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Honestly, you're pretty screwed. If you got a "D" in Gen Chem I, which implies it was after you decided on pre-med, you're off to a horrible start. Give yourself a semester with max effort, and if you can't land at least a 3.5, consider yourself done. MD is pretty far fetched with a 2.0 under the belt.
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People who have a 2.0 and get a D in gen chem do not go on to have a 4.0 even for a semester.
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Harsh, but I agree. Not saying that it's 100% impossible, but ppl throw around "I'll get a 4.0 for the rest of college" way too much and don't really realize how hard it is to accomplish this. People have 3.6 GPAs and most likely don't have a 4.0 semester. Keep trying hard though, and wish you the best of luck
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True. iIt largely suggests that the student doesn't have the study habits and work ethic to do well in pre-med pre-reqs.
And since the student only has taken one science class, Gen Chem, and got a D in it, that doesn't bode well for the other pre-med pre-reqs.
Also, if the student is only going to do 3 more semesters, then he needs to squeeze in Gen Chem II, Bio I, Bio II, Orgo I, Orgo II, Physics I and Physics II, and some kind of math. All those science classes also have labs. I don't think you could fit them all in and not be going to class from sun-up to sun-down everyday. And, then when would you have time to study and do homework and write up labs?
Why did you get a D in Gen Chem?
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That's true. Clearly, the goals of getting a stellar MCAT, 4.0 GPA, superb activities etc. are typical for top schools, but in OP's situation, they're unfortunately required.
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