Is It Even Possible To Recover Nowadays??

[SyrianHero]

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I keep hearing that admissions into medical school is getting more and more competitive each year and the stats of applicants is improving each year, so if you're someone like me who needs at least 2 years to recover from 3.1 cGPA and 2.8 sGPA (engineering degree), is it even possible to recover? If applicants continue to have better stats each year, and I am just working to recover then when I apply to medical school in 3 years, I'll have a 3.3 cGPA and sGPA, but matriculating students will have an average cGPA and sGPA of 3.8 (I'm assuming since it's more and more competitive each year). So, is it even possible to recover😕

 

[darklabel]

I keep hearing that admissions into medical school is getting more and more competitive each year and the stats of applicants is improving each year, so if you're someone like me who needs at least 2 years to recover from 3.1 cGPA and 2.8 sGPA (engineering degree), is it even possible to recover? If applicants continue to have better stats each year, and I am just working to recover then when I apply to medical school in 3 years, I'll have a 3.3 cGPA and sGPA, but matriculating students will have an average cGPA and sGPA of 3.8 (I'm assuming since it's more and more competitive each year). So, is it even possible to recover😕

3.8-4.0/32+ MCAT from a respected SMP 2 semesters in a row will get you II. Aside from that, probably not.

 

[BABSstudent]

I keep hearing that admissions into medical school is getting more and more competitive each year and the stats of applicants is improving each year, so if you're someone like me who needs at least 2 years to recover from 3.1 cGPA and 2.8 sGPA (engineering degree), is it even possible to recover? If applicants continue to have better stats each year, and I am just working to recover then when I apply to medical school in 3 years, I'll have a 3.3 cGPA and sGPA, but matriculating students will have an average cGPA and sGPA of 3.8 (I'm assuming since it's more and more competitive each year). So, is it even possible to recover😕

You should be able to recover much higher than just a 3.3. And there are other options available to people, such as having a trend of high grades, doing a postbac or getting a masters.

 

[sinombre]

It's definitely possible. But as you know, it'll be a steep uphill battle. The outcome (like just about everything in life) will be completely dependent on your determination and work ethic.

 

[CognitiveSci]

If you have 3 years left, you should be able to pull it way higher than a 3.3. I have 2 years left, and I'll be able to pull mine up to a 3.64 (our cGPA's are the same). Now, of course, I'll have to make all A's and take max loads in the summer and 17-19 credits every semester until applications are due, but that's what I have to do. If you have the time and resources, I suggest you stack up on sciences, carry max loads when possible, and give up beach frolicking in the summers; that's the only way to do it.

Oh, and a great MCAT score too, like a 35+

 

[deleted127837]

Great MCAT trumps GPA. There's always DO schools or the bottom-tier/unranked MD schools in terms of statistics.

 

[HughMyron]

Great MCAT trumps GPA. There's always DO schools or the bottom-tier/unranked MD schools in terms of statistics.

And you'll get a great education at both. Srs.

 

[Lys Ile Glu Leu]

The ability to raise your GPA depends on how many credit hours you've already taken, i.e., maybe not as rapid an increase as some others. Strong upward trend with high level sciences will help you overcome a low absolute number. It worked for me, and it can work for you. ;-) Good luck!

Sent from my SGH-T769

 

[virtuoso735]

Great MCAT trumps GPA. There's always DO schools or the bottom-tier/unranked MD schools in terms of statistics.

"Bottom tier" MD schools still have median GPA's of 3.6-3.7 and median MCAT's of 31-32.

 

[Xenops]

"Bottom tier" MD schools still have median GPA's of 3.6-3.7 and median MCAT's of 31-32.

Eh, I can think of some schools where the lowest GPA accepted is 3.1-3.2. And then there's brand new schools with no track record.

OP, you need to look at the Non-traditional forum at the Low-GPA acceptance thread. My favorite. 😍

 

[Aerus]

Eh, I can think of some schools where the lowest GPA accepted is 3.1-3.2. And then there's brand new schools with no track record.

OP, you need to look at the Non-traditional forum at the Low-GPA acceptance thread. My favorite. 😍

That's true, but you generally don't want to use the very minimum accepted GPA as your own expectations.

What I've been told is to ignore the bottom 15% or so, since you should assume that they have something that you don't.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

OP, while it's true that average stats get better each year, it's not by a terribly significant amount. We're talking about +0.01 GPA every year here, and maybe 1 MCAT point every 5 years. Year-to-year it's not much of a difference. It's not like two years from now a 3.8 will be the new 3.7 and a 35 will be the new 31.

 

[SyrianHero]

Thank you all for all your thoughtful responses! It's really nice to be part of a community that tries to give honest advice like you guys! The reason why I said my GPA would be raised to about a 3.3 is because I'll be working full time, and I'll be taking a couple of classes each semester, and I have already taken 160 credit hours. So, I'm hoping the upward trend will help somewhat. It's just that I keep seeing significant increases in average MCAT and GPA for matriculated students, so I hope I won't be just keeping up with inflation (sort of speak) lol

 

[Lollygag]

That's true, but you generally don't want to use the very minimum accepted GPA as your own expectations.

What I've been told is to ignore the bottom 15% or so, since you should assume that they have something that you don't.

Exactly +1 never aim to be in the bottom 15% unless there really is no feasible way for you to improve your stats any higher

 

[deleted127837]

"Bottom tier" MD schools still have median GPA's of 3.6-3.7 and median MCAT's of 31-32.

Going off median MCATs, then.

UNew Mexico - 27
Meharry - 25
Morehouse - 26
Howard - 26
Utah - 30
Southern Illinois - 29
Mercer - 28
Louisiana State - 28
Mississippi - 28
Kansas - 29
WVU - 29
Louisiana State - 29
Florida State - 28
Arkansas - 29
Marshall - 29
NE Ohio - 28
Rosalind Franklin - 30
USCarolina - 29
North Dakota - 29

...there's a lot more but I got tired of making my point. Those are medians - they drop down to 22 at a number of school, easy to see on the MSAR. Yeah, some of those don't accept people from OOS, but a fair number do, and OP may live at one. The average matriculant is 31, which means a bunch of people with worse scores are getting accepted to compensate from the ten thousand plus who get in with a 35+

 

[tennischamp822]

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[BABSstudent]

Great post...can you tell me which schools have the 22 median?

Probably some PR schools

 

[mcatforme]

I don't think it is a problem at all. We all have our rough starts, for some its easy to transition from high school to college, for others it is very difficult. Med schools highly favor that upward trend. Although your final GPA may not be as strong as others, make it evident that you really did change, and that steps were made in the right direction. I'd much rather have a student who was trending upwards, but may have had slightly less of a GPA that somebody who had a consistently OK GPA.