Lopsided gpa

[hamsammich]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So, my BPCM gpa is around the 3.5-3.7 range. My overall gpa is likely in the 2.6-2.9 range. This is due to the usual story about not being ready for college, immature etc etc. I took a bunch of classes before settling on a major (Nursing). Most of the earlier classes throughout my college career have been non-science, hence the gpa. The only pre-reqs I have left to take are gen chem 2 and both organics. I was wondering if any one else is in this position? I guess I'm just curious as to how much my overall gpa vs science gpa is gonna affect my application in the eyes of schools.

Any advice (besides rock the MCAT)?

SMP?

 

[kami333]

I would see if the overall GPA is above a 3.0 and if not try to at least get it above it. Many schools utilize a 3.0 cutoff so if you are under, you might not even be given a chance.

 

[thePathOfMed]

Take more classes. Take any upper division bio classes that you haven't taken.

 

[Faze2]

I'm in almost exactly the same boat as the OP. I will be finished my post bacc this spring. As long as I don't crap out my brain in the next two months, I should finish with around a 3.7-3.8 post bacc, with an overall science GPA around the same, maybe a point or two lower. Undergrad is the same as OP, 2.6-2.9 range. I have just been doing all I can to get that to a 3.0, but it can prove to be tough with all the credits I have to compete against. I am definately going to apply to some SMPs, and I am thinking/hoping that my ACOMAS gpa will be above a 3.0, since I took some classes over. Obviously my AMCAS will be a little higher as well, but the whole average vs. replace thing makes a difference. The way I look at it, all I need is for one school to see that I've turned it around. That is why I will be applying to about 10,000 schools this summer. 👍 Anyone got any spare cash?

 

[Nasem]

I am not trying to discourage you or anything,
but when I am done with my post-bacc (approx 45 credits, including all my pre-meds (except physics 1&2), and some upper division sciences).... my overall will be about 3.2-3.25 and my BCMP will be 3.5-ish and I honestly don't think I have much of a shot at US MD schools, they are getting so competitive these days, the national avrg is approx 3.6

so due to this reason (and few others), I'll be applying broadly to both MD and DO schools but more DO than MD

good luck

 

[Law2Doc]

Any advice (besides rock the MCAT)?

SMP?

Rocking the MCAT won't really help if your problem is a low GPA. Schools like balance (ie someone who has decent stats in everything), not lopsided credentials. The notion that there is a sliding scale (ie if your GPA is X you need to score a Y), although popular on SDN, doesn't reflect how adcoms actually do things.

The better SMP programs are going to require your total GPA to be over a 3.0. I think you need a string of A's in an informal postbac before this becomes a realistic option.

 

[Isoprop]

Rocking the MCAT won't really help if your problem is a low GPA. Schools like balance (ie someone who has decent stats in everything), not lopsided credentials. The notion that there is a sliding scale (ie if your GPA is X you need to score a Y), although popular on SDN, doesn't reflect how adcoms actually do things.

The better SMP programs are going to require your total GPA to be over a 3.0. I think you need a string of A's in an informal postbac before this becomes a realistic option.

yes medical schools like balance in stats. however, OP's app won't be considered unless he or she does well on the mcat. so it's more critical for the OP to score at or above the national average for matriculants.

 

[Blade28]

You definitely gotta get that GPA up. Agreed that a strong MCAT (as well as the usual extra-currics) are necessary, but know that if your cumulative GPA is around 3.0 by the time you apply, you're going to be WAY behind the 8-ball.

The mean GPA for matriculants is around a 3.5-3.6.

 

[Law2Doc]

yes medical schools like balance in stats. however, OP's app won't be considered unless he or she does well on the mcat. so it's more critical for the OP to score at or above the national average for matriculants.

I'm saying you need to do well on both; that a very high MCAT still does the OP no good unless the GPA comes up. Rocking the MCAT while your GPA is sub-3 is meaningless. You can get into med school with a 3.5/29; you likely won't with a 2.8/43.

 

[ITtoMD]

What about the otherway around. I did most of my base math back in my lazy days. Once I came back to school on my all A stretch, I didn't have any math (well, a graduate level stats class, would that count?).

So I expect my BPCM (that's just counting all Bio, Physics, Chem and Math right?) after these post bacs to be 3.07, and overall at 3.5. I also expect to do well on the MCAT as I test very well.

I really don't care about the DO vs MD debate, and would be fine going to a DO school. I'm in Florida, so by the time I apply I'll have 6 MD and 2 DO programs in state to choose, plus anywhere else I try at.


Am I in trouble here? If they count my graduate stats class, and if I took maybe one other 4 credit class and get an A, I would around 3.17

 

[Law2Doc]

If they count my graduate stats class,

They won't. Graduate stays separate and doesn't help the GPAs considered by med schools.

 

[Nasem]

I'm saying you need to do well on both; that a very high MCAT still does the OP no good unless the GPA comes up. Rocking the MCAT while your GPA is sub-3 is meaningless. You can get into med school with a 3.5/29; you likely won't with a 2.8/43.

Im sorry, but a 3.5/29 is not a good comparison vs a 2.8/43

A 43 on the MCATs WILL get you into some US MD schools and I don't care what GPA you have 1.0, 2.0 or 4.0..... but anyways, this is besides the point, 43 is almost an "impossible" score to get

I think a better comparison is 3.5/29 vs 2.8/35... and in which case obviously the 3.5/29 is the more balanced / better applicant

 

[Law2Doc]

Im sorry, but a 3.5/29 is not a good comparison vs a 2.8/43

A 43 on the MCATs WILL get you into some US MD schools and I don't care what GPA you have 1.0, 2.0 or 4.0..... but anyways, this is besides the point, 43 is almost an "impossible" score to get

I think a better comparison is 3.5/29 vs 2.8/35... and in which case obviously the 3.5/29 is the more balanced / better applicant

Disagree. There is a law of diminishing returns that applies in terms of MCAT. Most places won't want you more because your MCAT is 43 instead of, say, 37. So my point is really just any high number MCAT is meaningless if your GPA is subpar. Because folks with a 2.8 GPA rarely get into allo med schools, and when they do, the MCAT has nothing to do with it. If you truly think a 1.0/43 can get you into a US allo school I think you are quite far off the mark, and putting undue emphasis on the MCAT score rather than the whole package.

 

[Chrissy]

I unfortunately agree with most of what's been said here but I do believe there are important shades of gray that every non-traditional student must consider. I have been in a post-bacc program for 2+ years now and most of what I've come to know as the gauntlet that is med school admissions has come from the perspective of being a post bacc in a similar situation to the OP. I will be applying with an overall of 3.2 and a BCPM of 3.56 and a post-bacc GPA of 3.77. Yes, our BCPM's are average and our overalls are well below. Something that is NEVER mentioned in these "stat" driven posts, however, is the upward trend issue, life experience issue, or time separation from undergrad issue. I can only speak from anecdotes, but I have seen many many people get into allopathic schools with around a 3.0 (as previously mentioned hitting this magic number may be important for cut-off reasons) and a strong post-bacc GPA in a relatively long string of courses (10+). In these cases, the strong post-bacc GPA is usually conveyed in tandem with solid life experiences that have led the older student to medicine as well as a strong MCAT score. Bottom line here is I disagree slightly with the numbers are numbers rule. Yes, admissions highly favors traditional applicants with strong numbers, but there are plenty of people who successfully overcome this by performing strongly in post-baccs or SMP's and usually have a lot to offer in the qualitative sense of life experience and an honest perspective of the profession.

 

[nu2004]

A 43 on the MCATs WILL get you into some US MD schools and I don't care what GPA you have 1.0, 2.0 or 4.0..... but anyways, this is besides the point, 43 is almost an "impossible" score to get

i have to disagree with this. there are lots of people (check your MSAR) that have incredible MCAT scores and don't get accepted to ANY medical school. that's for a number of reasons (applied too narrowly, bad interviewer, no ECs, etc.), but one of those is GPA. just because someone shows that they are very "smart" with a high MCAT does not mean that they can brush off the fact that they're unmotivated (low GPA). the only way to remedy the appearance of being unmotivated is to demonstrate your motivation through shadowing, research, clinical experience, and yes, more undergrad coursework to bring up the GPA.

 

[nu2004]

post

i totally agree, great post

 

[Blade28]

A 43 on the MCATs WILL get you into some US MD schools and I don't care what GPA you have 1.0, 2.0 or 4.0.....

Not so sure about that. At a certain point, a high MCAT score is a high MCAT score - and you need the rest of your app to be at least decent to have any sort of chance.

So a 43 MCAT with a GPA of 2.0? No way.

 

[Sohcahtoa]

im in the same situation and plan on applying to SMP's at the same time i apply to med schools.

 

[Law2Doc]

im in the same situation and plan on applying to SMP's at the same time i apply to med schools.

If your ug GPA is below 3.0, you probably need to take more undergrad courses first before a SMP is going to be of much use. Which is why the better SMP programs tend to recommend at least a 3.0 GPA. I'd consider doing an informal postbac as you next step, and hold off applying to SMPs let alone med schools, until you are more competitive. Applying to med school should only be done when you have a realistic shot, because you are better off going into this process once, and coming out successfully. Get your ducks all lined into a row before pulling that trigger.

 

[Sohcahtoa]

If your ug GPA is below 3.0, you probably need to take more undergrad courses first before a SMP is going to be of much use. Which is why the better SMP programs tend to recommend at least a 3.0 GPA. I'd consider doing an informal postbac as you next step, and hold off applying to SMPs let alone med schools, until you are more competitive. Applying to med school should only be done when you have a realistic shot, because you are better off going into this process once, and coming out successfully. Get your ducks all lined into a row before pulling that trigger.

i agree with you. by the time i apply (for 2010 matriculating class) my UG GPA should be up around a 3.2 and my BPCM should be up around 3.7. for me the hope of possibly getting in somewhere outweighs the stress of reapplying the following year.