Is my plan for GPA repair realistic?

[UnsophisticatedUndergrad1]

Hi everyone! I’ve posted before, so this is sort of a follow-up post.

Background:
I’ve always wanted to be a physician, but I’m concerned about my struggles with the basic sciences.

I’m passionate about helping underserved communities and combining urban planning with medicine. I’ve led volunteer efforts for various projects, worked with local governments (internship + seasonal roles), and have taken urban studies/planning courses. However, my academic performance in basic science courses hasn’t been strong—I’ve received grades below a C in about 15 credits out of 74 completed. My cumulative GPA is currently just below a 3.0 (science GPA: 2.84), though excluding those poor grades would bring them to (approximately) a 3.35 and 3.59, respectively.

I still need to retake prerequisites and vastly improve my study habits. With GPA repair (retaking the failed course, and focusing on courses I do well in for the rest of my undergrad), I think I can reach a 3.1-3.3 cumulative GPA and a 3.1 science GPA by the time I’d be applying to post-bacc programs. I’m considering a post-bacc to focus on science courses after finishing my undergrad, so I can continue my urban planning studies (along with shadowing and volunteering). A post-bacc could then bring my cumulative GPA up to a 3.2-3.4 and my science GPA up to a 3.3-3.6.

My concern is whether GPA repair will make me a competitive med school applicant. Medicine feels like my passion, but I’m also considering other graduate paths that align with my strengths, and I’d appreciate any insights or advice on my situation. In other words, will fixing my learning deficits and repairing my GPA be effective?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Goro]

Hi everyone! I’ve posted before, so this is sort of a follow-up post.

Background:
I’ve always wanted to be a physician, but I’m concerned about my struggles with the basic sciences.

I’m passionate about helping underserved communities and combining urban planning with medicine. I’ve led volunteer efforts for various projects, worked with local governments (internship + seasonal roles), and have taken urban studies/planning courses. However, my academic performance in basic science courses hasn’t been strong—I’ve received grades below a C in about 15 credits out of 74 completed. My cumulative GPA is currently just below a 3.0 (science GPA: 2.84), though excluding those poor grades would bring them to (approximately) a 3.35 and 3.59, respectively.

I still need to retake prerequisites and vastly improve my study habits. With GPA repair (retaking the failed course, and focusing on courses I do well in for the rest of my undergrad), I think I can reach a 3.1-3.3 cumulative GPA and a 3.1 science GPA by the time I’d be applying to post-bacc programs. I’m considering a post-bacc to focus on science courses after finishing my undergrad, so I can continue my urban planning studies (along with shadowing and volunteering). A post-bacc could then bring my cumulative GPA up to a 3.2-3.4 and my science GPA up to a 3.3-3.6.

My concern is whether GPA repair will make me a competitive med school applicant. Medicine feels like my passion, but I’m also considering other graduate paths that align with my strengths, and I’d appreciate any insights or advice on my situation. In other words, will fixing my learning deficits and repairing my GPA be effective?

There are plenty of MD schools (and all DO) that reward reinvention.

Read my post on reinvention for premeds

 

[AsclepiusAdvisingLLC]

What Goro says is correct. Many MD and all DO schools reward reinvention.

I think that your taking a post-bacc is a good idea, especially if you know that you need support and time with the science courses. A Post-Bacc can also help with your MCAT studying, which requires a strong science knowledge base.

It's good to ask yourself: Why medicine?

You say that there are other fields that align with your strengths, do they also align with your goals in helping others? Additionally, is your passion going to last against over 8 years of schooling. Passion is great, but goals, commitment, and relevance should be your determining factors.

Medicine + city planning is ambitious and you could certainly do a lot. It would benefit to consider more specifically what the lifestyle/career pathway for that looks like. Few doctors, if any, will be doing clinic rotations and on the side doing city planning work. You'd likely end up in a public health division and in that case, is an MD worth the cost and time?

You might benefit from considering an MD/MPH program or looking into an MPH or MUP degree. Public health and urban planning.