LOW GPA (<3.5) success this cycle?

[WiseOne]

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Hey guys,

I'm looking for some inspirational acceptances by people who had low GPAs this cycle (<3.5).

What do you guys think got you your acceptance despite the low GPA? Upward trend? Applying early/broadly? High MCAT? All of the above?

How were adcoms able to overlook this deficit in your application?

Thanks.

 

[DownHillDirt]

3.36 cGPA. Matriculating to top 25 school. Low 30's MCAT. Ha if I had posted a "chance me" thread everyone would tell me to apply DO. They can kiss my. Nothing is impossible for the Lord. Just remember that.

 

[Cambino]

3.36 cGPA. Matriculating to top 25 school. Low 30's MCAT. Ha if I had posted a "chance me" thread everyone would tell me to apply DO. They can kiss my. Nothing is impossible for the Lord. Just remember that.

nope.

 

[Shmemifly]

3.5/3.4s and 12 interviews, evenly distributed among the tiers. low to mid thirties mcat.

Getting interviews without kickass numbers is about catching someone's attention and making them like you. I worked harder on my personal statement and my activities blurbs than anyone I know. I treated it like a story and filled it with as much passion, wisdom and excitement as I had the ability to express. Most of my interviewers commented on it. I think there is an added layer of sophistication that can come from putting thought into not just WHY you want to go in medicine (since those reasons are all too cliched to touch), but where you see yourself fitting, and how you want to carry yourself.

With that said, i get the feeling that being admitted comes back to the numbers. I only went to 6 of my interviews for cost reasons, but i did end up with 4 waitlists and only 2 acceptances. All were top 30ish schools, though, and my GPA was near the bottom of their pool. I'm happy with how it turned out, and am headed to a program where I think I can become exactly the physician I want to be.

 

[ilovemedi]

3.36 cGPA. Matriculating to top 25 school. Low 30's MCAT. Ha if I had posted a "chance me" thread everyone would tell me to apply DO. They can kiss my. Nothing is impossible for the Lord. Just remember that.

That would be inspirational, but you only have 1 post. o.o
Look OP, if you want to become a doctor, nothing should stop you. Something I'm learning as I apply in June. 🙄

 

[DownHillDirt]

That would be inspirational, but you only have 1 post. o.o

Ha, you're so right.

OP, please allow someone who hasn't even applied yet steer you clear from the exact inspiration you were seeking from someone who has already been extremely successful and completed every aspect of the medical school admissions process.

Gee, I wonder why I never desire to post anything.

BTW: Shmemifly has essentially the perfect advice, and our friend ilovemedi has not told you anything of importance.

Best of luck!

 

[Shakespeare37]

OP- check my mdapps for applications/stats.
I was able to overcome my 3.4 through ec's that were unique. Additionally, the places I had success were schools that had secondaries where I could explain why I thought I would be a good fit, and extrapolate on my upward trend. I think if you have a good upward trend it is important to show and tell what changed with you that made it possible. I also asked my committee letter writer to explain that the I was a different person from the one who got the low grades. Granted, mine were a long time ago (my undergraduate graduation GPA was a 3.0 in 2002), and my my post bac (2009-2012) grades were almost perfect. That said, I just tried to highlight the changes in me as a person that made that possible, and it seemed to work for me.

The other thing you can do that is easy and gives you a good advantage is apply early and return secondaries quickly. It's relatively easy to do (esp. compared to GPA/MCAT changes) and really does help. At one of my interviews, the dean specifically stated they pay attention to how fast people turned around their secondary. So be early and fast, but still make sure you get your secondaries (and primary for that matter) proof-read.

 

[Joe the Plumber]

No chance. For whites and Asians, there is a cutoff at 3.5. Anything below that and they won't even see the rest of your app. For URM it is 2.0.

 

[Soilworkgmbh]

No chance. For whites and Asians, there is a cutoff at 3.5. Anything below that and they won't even see the rest of your app. For URM it is 2.0.

Not sure if serious

 

[Schizotypy]

OP- check my mdapps for applications/stats.
I was able to overcome my 3.4 through ec's that were unique. Additionally, the places I had success were schools that had secondaries where I could explain why I thought I would be a good fit, and extrapolate on my upward trend. I think if you have a good upward trend it is important to show and tell what changed with you that made it possible. I also asked my committee letter writer to explain that the I was a different person from the one who got the low grades. Granted, mine were a long time ago (my undergraduate graduation GPA was a 3.0 in 2002), and my my post bac (2009-2012) grades were almost perfect. That said, I just tried to highlight the changes in me as a person that made that possible, and it seemed to work for me.

The other thing you can do that is easy and gives you a good advantage is apply early and return secondaries quickly. It's relatively easy to do (esp. compared to GPA/MCAT changes) and really does help. At one of my interviews, the dean specifically stated they pay attention to how fast people turned around their secondary. So be early and fast, but still make sure you get your secondaries (and primary for that matter) proof-read.

I absolutely agree with all of this. I had a 3.45/34, with 2 acceptances (there's lots of detailed info in my mdapps). I did have a steep upward trend but also lacked research. Emphasize your uniqueness, how you've grown, and APPLY EARLY and with thoughtful answers to your secondaries. As Shakespeare said, secondaries with lots of room to explain your past are awesome! If you filter MDapps by GPA there are many inspiring stories there.

 

[phltz]

No chance. For whites and Asians, there is a cutoff at 3.5. Anything below that and they won't even see the rest of your app. For URM it is 2.0.

Nope. I applied last cycle, and am currently attending a top 10 med school. I applied with a 3.23 cumulative. I had other things going for me - a strong upward trend, a 42 MCAT, good activities including the Peace Corps, good research experience, and stellar LORs. I'm white, for what it's worth. I got interviews at Mayo, UPenn, Columbia, and UMich. There is certainly not a hard cutoff at 3.5.

 

[Nymphicus]

OP- check my mdapps for applications/stats.
I was able to overcome my 3.4 through ec's that were unique. Additionally, the places I had success were schools that had secondaries where I could explain why I thought I would be a good fit, and extrapolate on my upward trend. I think if you have a good upward trend it is important to show and tell what changed with you that made it possible. I also asked my committee letter writer to explain that the I was a different person from the one who got the low grades. Granted, mine were a long time ago (my undergraduate graduation GPA was a 3.0 in 2002), and my my post bac (2009-2012) grades were almost perfect. That said, I just tried to highlight the changes in me as a person that made that possible, and it seemed to work for me.

The other thing you can do that is easy and gives you a good advantage is apply early and return secondaries quickly. It's relatively easy to do (esp. compared to GPA/MCAT changes) and really does help. At one of my interviews, the dean specifically stated they pay attention to how fast people turned around their secondary. So be early and fast, but still make sure you get your secondaries (and primary for that matter) proof-read.

Supahstah

 

[Hemorrage]

Nope. I applied last cycle, and am currently attending a top 10 med school. I applied with a 3.23 cumulative. I had other things going for me - a strong upward trend, a 42 MCAT, good activities including the Peace Corps, good research experience, and stellar LORs. I'm white, for what it's worth. I got interviews at Mayo, UPenn, Columbia, and UMich. There is certainly not a hard cutoff at 3.5.

Which undergrad did you attend? And could you tell us how you prepared for the MCAT?

 

[MegMurry]

Hey guys,

I'm looking for some inspirational acceptances by people who had low GPAs this cycle (<3.5).

What do you guys think got you your acceptance despite the low GPA? Upward trend? Applying early/broadly? High MCAT? All of the above?

How were adcoms able to overlook this deficit in your application?

Thanks.

I'm an ORM reapplicant, sub 3.0 undergrad GPA, but I had a very strong MCAT and survived a SMP. Additionally, I had strong ECs and non-traditional experiences. I agree with Shakes - how you write your story and how individual schools respond to it is a big factor. It definitely came up in every non-MMI interview of mine. My high MCAT/SMP performance were both important in mitigating the GPA - LizzyM score is an important consideration. Apply early and broadly if you can, and certainly at the very least, prewrite secondaries so you can turn them around within a 72 hour timeframe.

No chance. For whites and Asians, there is a cutoff at 3.5. Anything below that and they won't even see the rest of your app. For URM it is 2.0.

Agree with phltz. This is totally false - I can attest to this seeing as how half my SMP class was ORM with GPA's <3.5, and ~95% of them are in medical school now. I got past the blatant GPA cutoff for Michigan even though technically, I really shouldn't have.

I've had 11 II's, attended 10, and I'm sitting at 4 acceptances now. Don't get lazy - apply early.

 

[citrusguy2010]

Hey guys,

I'm looking for some inspirational acceptances by people who had low GPAs this cycle (<3.5).

What do you guys think got you your acceptance despite the low GPA? Upward trend? Applying early/broadly? High MCAT? All of the above?

How were adcoms able to overlook this deficit in your application?

Thanks.

undergrad grades: 3.38 upga/3.28 sgpa; MCAT: 32S; 3.8something ggpa
interviews: 5 interview offers (3 early, 2 late), attended 4 (NYMC, USUHS, UMN, USC; didn't attend UVM)
results: 1 acceptance (in november), 1 waitlist, 1 rejected post wait list, 1 still waiting to hear from

so i finished my first year of undergrad with a 2.8 and brought it up to a 3.38 by the end (with a high of 3.41). i think what helped me get my acceptance despite this low GPA is (in no particular order - except for the last one):

1. my extracurriculars - i know everyone says that their EC's are special, but mine were truly unique and special in terms of clinical and research experiences
2. letters of recommendation - i had 8 - 6 very close and very personable letters, and the last two were just grad school professors all of whom knew that i needed to have a letter from grad school
3. personal statement and reasons for wanting to go into medicine
4. separating graduating undergrad and applying to medical school - not being the normal age of 21-22 when applying and having had a graduate education in public health experience to show that i've seriously considered medicine and the alternatives of a future profession
5. upward trend of grades, really good graduate school grades
6. applying early (1st day!) and very broadly (did almost 40 secondaries)
7. being able to explain the poor grades in a coherent and non-excuse way and in a way that where it shows that you truly learned from the experience
8. the ivy league school name of my graduate school (lame, I know, but I think it really mattered)

hope that helps. feel free to PM me if you have any questions. best of luck to you! don't be discouraged - it can be done. you just have to be a little neurotic, prepared, and take every edge you can get. applying to med school with a bad gpa is like playing blackjack - you got to learn how to take every edge you can get over the house.

 

[TriagePreMed]

3.36 cGPA. Matriculating to top 25 school. Low 30's MCAT. Ha if I had posted a "chance me" thread everyone would tell me to apply DO. They can kiss my. Nothing is impossible for the Lord. Just remember that.

1 post? I call BS on you. Just saying 3.36 is misleading too. Nobody knows what other circumstances or activities were around.

For anyone that wants to believe this story, go look at the MSAR and see how improbable it is for someone with a 3.36 to make it into a top 25. Up to you if you apply.

 

[holsdd8]

Hey OP, I was wondering the exact same thing a year ago before I applied this past cycle. I certainly wouldn't suggest entering the application process with below a 3.5 if at all possible but good things do happen, despite what you hear on SDN.

I was recently accepted to a "TOP 10" school with a 3.37 GPA and 33 mcat. Of course, there were some circumstances which helped me out. I'm from a very sparsely populated state which has no medical school and has a program which sends us to the aforementioned medical school with basically in-state consideration. Because of how few people are in my state, and the subsequent decrease in competition, I had much better odds at this school than other applicants.

Besides that, I studied for about a month for the mcat to make sure I did well, and had some unique EC's and lots and lots of hours shadowing, but I really think it came down to the interview for me. I just tried my best to show how excited I was for the opportunity to interview at their school and how pumped I am about a career in medicine.


Don't worry, OP. Acceptances happen, even to "top tier" schools without being a perfect applicant. Sometimes the stars have to align, but it is possible. Last year I discovered SDN and about had a heart attack (and actually did have a minor panic attack) at what people here say you need to get in. I wouldn't say that these people are wrong, but they are playing the odds, and there are always outliers. Having browsed the Allo forum, I'll be much more prepared in terms of knowing what kind of odds I have in terms of Residency matching, and hopefully won't have to rely again on good luck and fortune for my next step.

 

[Alejandro]

hi all,

Stats: 3.4 GPA (sGPA/cGPA alike), 35 MCAT

I applied to about 20 schools (completed), got interviewed at 8. accepted at 2, waitlisted at 5, rejected recently by one.

It's not impossible. When I posted my stats, lots said I should do DO. But reflecting back on my experiences, I think I had experiences that probably would've put me in the upper quartile of applicants. (yea yea yea i'm being snooty and pretentious-sorry!) But if you have like the average premed activities, volunteer here and there, did a science major, and just did the prereqs, then i think chances are hard. I think what is important is to have something that sets you apart from the others (academics, activities, life experience, etc).

I spent a lot of time trying to reflect on my experiences at work, being a healthcare administrator as well as a clinician (MA). I believe that was what helped me the most. I also recall writing a lot about my volunteer experiences, but I tried to make the most of them: I tried to bring out anecdotal stories of "connecting with patients," and the challenge of trying to be empathetic even thought you'll never have the experience to understand what they're going through.

I tried to make my application very "patient focused," to give it some continuity and relevance to my clinical experiences.

The next point will make some of you gag, but I think a lot of what I did was not necessarily as an "means" to medical school, but it was just an "end in itself." For example, I didn't volunteer just to have hours on my resume, or just to observe people getting their chests cracked open during an thoracotomy...I just did it because I wanted to interact with the patients. (believe it or not, I actually wanted to go to pharmacy, but I they told me they didn't have any spots in the pharmacy to volunteer-so they thought I would benefit from patient contact) Lots of them are sitting around, bored, some nervous, some frustrated. It gave me an opportunity to get better at striking up a conversation with whoever was in the ED at the time.

I think it gave me an opportunity to reflect on something that is usually said as "very mundane" on the SDN forums. But I personally think that helped me out a lot.

I will say being an ED tech that a lot of people come in so eager to "do stuff," but by and large miss the whole human/patient aspect of healthcare. And weird as it is, a lot of them say they want to do primary care. 😕 Yeah, I'm not impressed. I could see some surg-bound volunteer not care about patients, but FP-bound? gimme a break.

Sorry for all of the sappy stuff above. It is all true for me, but I know there are days when I too feel burnt out and crabby with a dysfunctional healthcare system, and patient interaction goes by the wayside. (frustrating) But ultimately, I think if you can reflect, and put meaning into the activities you do, i think they can go a LONG way for you.

 

[HoltMD]

No chance. For whites and Asians, there is a cutoff at 3.5. Anything below that and they won't even see the rest of your app. For URM it is 2.0.

Just great! Yet, another idiot.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Just great! Yet, another idiot.

Well, he is Joe the Plumber.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

No chance. For whites and Asians, there is a cutoff at 3.5. Anything below that and they won't even see the rest of your app. For URM it is 2.0.

Not sure if serious or just a ******.

 

[Alejandro]

Does Joe the Plumber want to be a urologist?

 

[blue0rchid]

I think i graduated with a 3.3c and maybe 3.0s gpa. Worked in computer industry for a few years, then wanted to switch career. Went back to school for a self post-bac to complete prereqs while working. Took me almost 2 years to finish all the bio and chem and ochem classes. Brought GPA up to 3.4/3.4. MCAT 30 (with an 8VR). Very average EC's (perhaps 50-100 hours of shadowing, maybe 100-150 hours hospital volunteering, some other stuffs like team sport and whatnot..., no research, no club,...).

I only applied to one school. And I knew from the start that it was a huge challenge. So I sought out all the help I could get (advisor, adcom, professors, etc...) and slowly built my network. I think I showed the adcom and the school my serious effort and commitment. And I'm thankful they saw it and gave me a chance. I put a lot of effort into my PS, and the whole application. I actually spent more time writing up the EC's section than my PS. Anyhow, can't believe that I'm gonna start med school in a couple of months. I hope I will survive it and come out whole at the other end.

 

[FrenchyM.D/D.O]

He is more than able!!!

3.36 cGPA. Matriculating to top 25 school. Low 30's MCAT. Ha if I had posted a "chance me" thread everyone would tell me to apply DO. They can kiss my. Nothing is impossible for the Lord. Just remember that.

 

[DylanE]

3.3 Cgpa, although a 3.7 Sgpa, and a 33 mcat. I had a big upper trend after city college and a good sized worked history, which I think helped a ton. I had pretty unique ecs as well. I submitted the first day and never held onto a secondary longer than a week. I also applied to about 25 schools from every tier, being from California. I ended up with 11 interviews and am going top 25 with a generous scholarship.