Low cGPA - High sGPA | Should I apply or do SMP?

[nontradpremed0171]

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Hi there

I hope I can get some advice and perspective, I'll make it short:

Not an Ivy undergrad. I’m a non-trad with a BS in Business with 3.0 cGPA. Originally started as Bio major with a sGPA 3.70 cGPA 3.65 and ended up switching majors because at the time I was working full-time and kept moving up the corporate positions, and making an income thinking I had made it. Few years later, I regretted and was stuck with my major. I didn't really care for business courses and was just taking them to finish my degree, hence the low cGPA.
8 years later, I’m now doing a post-bacc at WashU and even with 40+ units of post bacc my cGPA will only rise to 3.25-3.3 with projected sGPA 3.70-3.80.
Looking at MSAR median data and not a single school has cGPA range of starting that low. The lowest was 3.47.
I’m afraid I won’t even make the cut for primary and won't even receive a "holistic" review. My expected app cycle will be May 2022.
By then, should I not waste time and money on app and do a SMP right after post bacc? Or should I still apply since I’d have a high sGPA?

 

[Bonne Nuit]

How are your postbac grades? Some programs put more weight on your more recent grades, so you’re not out of the running.

If you get a good MCAT score, you’re fine for DO programs and possibly some MD programs in 2022 without an SMP. I do want to caution you though - an sGPA in the ~3.7 range isn’t all that high for a nontrad. Don’t rest on your laurels quite yet. Ensure your BCPM grades are 4.0s from here on out. Also, your EC experiences and LORs need to be stellar so get to work on those if you haven’t already.

 

[nontradpremed0171]

How are your postbac grades? Some programs put more weight on your more recent grades, so you’re not out of the running.

If you get a good MCAT score, you’re fine for DO programs and possibly some MD programs in 2022 without an SMP. I do want to caution you though - an sGPA in the ~3.7 range isn’t all that high for a nontrad. Don’t rest on your laurels quite yet. Ensure your BCPM grades are 4.0s from here on out. Also, your EC experiences and LORs need to be stellar so get to work on those if you haven’t already.

Postbacc so far is 4.0. In terms of science classes (undergrad + post bacc) I only have two B and the rest all A. Sorry my 3.70-3.80 was just estimate, I haven't entered my numbers on a GPA claluclatr yet, since I am 2 years from applying. But I am aiming for continuing the same trend.

In terms of EC - I have limited clinical volunteering, 9 months of volunteering (because of my professional commitment), however, I am picking that up starting fall and will be more consistent, since I am resiging from my full time job.
Although, I volunteered for 5 years through my employer to facilitate financial education workshops in schools in underserved communities.
And not sure if my 8 years of corporate banking experience, 5 of which I was a manager in my department counts at all when it comes to leadership experience.

 

[curbsideconsult]

It sounds like you're many years removed from undergrad and since then you've shown a steep upward trend. I wouldn't worry excessively about your cGPA. It doesn't look like you need to spend the extra money on an SMP. Increase your clinical volunteering, continue whatever volunteering you're doing with the underserved, and do well on the MCAT.

 

[holdthemayo]

n=1 I'm current M3 at MD school. I had a similar application a few years ago with a lower cGPA than you, 4.0 science postbacc, high MCAT. I had more DO IIs than I could attend and got some MD love.

If you can score well on the MCAT then you will be competitive for every DO school and should have a decent shot at some MD IIs. You've done a great job of writing your reinvention story so far. The MCAT is the punctuation mark at the end of that story. Make sure it is an exclamation point and not a question mark.

 

[nontradpremed0171]

n=1 I'm current M3 at MD school. I had a similar application a few years ago with a lower cGPA than you, 4.0 science postbacc, high MCAT. I had more DO IIs than I could attend and got some MD love.

If you can score well on the MCAT then you will be competitive for every DO school and should have a decent shot at some MD IIs. You've done a great job of writing your reinvention story so far. The MCAT is the punctuation mark at the end of that story. Make sure it is an exclamation point and not a question mark.

Thanks for sharing - Def considering DO schools. How many MD did you apply to and how many MD interviews did you attend? Did you make your MD selection based on MSAR or did you contact each MD school and got their advice on your circumstance to make sure they reviewed your application?
My only concern with DO programs is that I feel there is a preconceived stigma of having a DO for certain residencies, and DO doctors are sort of limited with the specialty they want to practice.
Also, given the pandemic, I think med schools look at my 4.0 post-bacc GPA with a "?" because of online instruction, which makes the MCAT even more important, oh an not to mention the suspension of all EC opportunities.

 

[holdthemayo]

Use the MSAR to guide your MD list. Goro and a few others have posted a list of schools that reward reinvention. I would try to search that as well. You'll have a better idea of where you stand once you have your MCAT score.

I get your concerns with Do discrimination. I would have gone DO in a heartbeat if I didn't have an MD acceptance, but I'm not gunning for something crazy competitive. I want to be a doctor, the letters behind my name don't matter much to me. That being said, DO does make it harder to match in certain specialties. Be honest with yourself about what your goals are, and be aware that they may change.

 

[sw99]

I've said this before and I'll say it again--s. GPA does't matter. It's crap. Your cumulative GPA is all med schools/SMPs pay attention to. Go ahead and apply. SMP will sink your appication w/out a stellar performance. Good luck.