Low GPA but good EC's? How will this play out?

[Calbear2]

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3.4X GPA 3.3SGPA, 515 MCAT, strong research, CA URM?(North African)/FG, gap year research fellowship

Hi everyone, I’d love some feedback on my current position and future chances. I’m a recent graduate from a T10 undergrad known for grade deflation, with a cumulative GPA of 3.4X and an upward trend (3.7 my final semester). I just scored a 515 on the MCAT.

My background is strong in research. I’ve completed over 1000 hours through lab work, a senior thesis, and summer research fellowships. I haven’t published yet, but I’ve been accepted into a competitive two-year cancer research fellowship at a major academic center. The position is grant funded and involves both clinical and lab research. It includes strong mentorship and a guaranteed publication. I’m very interested in academic medicine, so this feels like a good fit. I will probably have an extra 3000hr of research from the fellowship.

Clinically, I have around 600 hours volunteering in urgent care. On the non-clinical side, I’ve logged about 1000 hours through paid mentorship and tutoring during undergrad. I’m also a first-gen college student and North African (URM? still a little unclear on how that’s viewed).

My concern is that my application might seem too research focused, especially given my GPA. On the other hand, the MCAT score and research opportunity could help balance things out.

Would appreciate any advice or school suggestions, especially from people with similar GPAs and a strong research background. Thanks so much.

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post new to the forum.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

Why don't you finish your two-year fellowship first? Why didn't you wait to that the MCAT so you don't waste a couple of eligibility years?

Yes you app may look too research focused, but you haven't mentioned your community service activities. (No WAMC profile.)

What's wrong with pursuing research as a career?

 

[Calbear2]

Welcome to the forums.

Why don't you finish your two-year fellowship first? Why didn't you wait to that the MCAT so you don't waste a couple of eligibility years?

Yes you app may look too research focused, but you haven't mentioned your community service activities. (No WAMC profile.)

What's wrong with pursuing research as a career?

Thanks for the response. Just to clarify, I'm not applying this cycle. I took the MCAT when I felt ready after an upward GPA trend and wanted flexibility with timing.

I’ll complete the full two-year fellowship before applying, which should include strong mentorship, a publication, and more clinical exposure.

Would the 1000 hours of paid mentorship and tutoring count as a community service activity? I was employed directly by the college for this. And I'm looking to add more hours at the urgent care volunteering during the next 2 years.

I really enjoy research and see myself pursuing academic medicine, but I really don't see myself doing it at the same level I honestly don't find it enjoyable. I appreciate the feedback and welcome any advice from others with a similar background.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Would the 1000 hours of paid mentorship and tutoring count as a community service activity? I was employed directly by the college for this.

You were paid for your academic skills and competencies in helping other students. The line may be blurred if you were paid to mentor grade school children through a mentoring program run by your student engagement office or a club, but it's still teaching/tutoring (academic competency).

Non-clinical ommunity service covers a wide spectrum of activities where you give time to help your community (pick up trash from the highways, voter registration, plant conservation); non-clinical service orientation directly involves activities addressing others' societal needs (food distribution, shelter volunteer, job/tax preparation, legal support, transportation services, or housing rehabilitation). (Most clinical activities have a natural service orientation as would customer service retail jobs.)

I warn those who want to go into academia but don't like to do research... academia isn't a fun place, and the current political climate has made it much less welcoming.

 

[Faha]

In the coming year you should accumulate 200+ hours of non clinical volunteering such as food bank, homeless shelter, etc. since some schools screen at 150 hours. I suggest these schools when you apply next year:
Vermont
Quinnipiac
Albany
New York Medical College
Hackensack
Penn State
Drexel
Temple
Jefferson
Geisinger
George Washington
Virginia Commonwealth
Eastern Virginia
Wake Forest
Methodist
NOVA MD
Belmont
Alice Walton
Roseman
TCU
Creighton
Ponce (St. Louis)
Rosalind Franklin
Medical College Wisconsin
Western Michigan
Wayne State
Oakland Beaumont
Arizona (Phoenix)
California University
Kaiser
UC Davis
UC Riverside (if you are from that region)
If you have not received 3 or more interviews by November 2026 then apply to DO schools also and I suggest these:
WESTERN
TUCOM-CA
TUNCOM
AZCOM
KCU-COM
ATSU-KCOM
DMU-COM
CCOM
MU-COM
CUSOM
NYITCOM
PCOM
Touro-NY

 

[Goro]

FYI, North Africans (ie, Arabs) are not considered URM.

What are your year by year GPAs?

 

[Calbear2]

FYI, North Africans (ie, Arabs) are not considered URM.

What are your year by year GPAs?

Cumulative GPA (AMCAS):

• Freshman: 3.12 (60 credits)
• Sophomore: 3.18 (109 credits)
• Junior: 3.27 (142 credits)
• Senior: 3.38 (192 credits)
• Postbac: 3.40 (198 credits)
• Undergraduate Cumulative GPA: 3.40 (198 credits)

Science GPA (AMCAS):

• Freshman: 2.98 (43 credits)
• Sophomore: 2.92 (74 credits)
• Junior: 3.07 (102 credits)
• Senior: 3.27 (152 credits)
• Postbac: 3.29 (155 credits)
• Undergraduate Cumulative Science GPA: 3.29 (198 credits)

Im also taking some DIY postbac classes at UCLAEx My gpa at the end should be a 3.5CGPA and 3.4SGPA

 

[PickaGodnPray]

My concern is that my application might seem too research focused, especially given my GPA. On the other hand, the MCAT score and research opportunity could help balance things out.

As someone who's initial application was called out for being too research focused, the additional research (clinical or bench work) will not ease an admissions committees mind, even if you want to do academic medicine. The focus is still on patient care so continue finding ways to volunteer in a clinical setting. As another user said, also make sure to gain non-clinical hours in underserved areas as the whole point as a physician is to help those in need. Outside of that, you have plenty of time to add these activities and build experiences from them, so you will do well when it comes time to apply.

 

[Goro]

Cumulative GPA (AMCAS):

• Freshman: 3.12 (60 credits)
• Sophomore: 3.18 (109 credits)
• Junior: 3.27 (142 credits)
• Senior: 3.38 (192 credits)
• Postbac: 3.40 (198 credits)
• Undergraduate Cumulative GPA: 3.40 (198 credits)

Science GPA (AMCAS):

• Freshman: 2.98 (43 credits)
• Sophomore: 2.92 (74 credits)
• Junior: 3.07 (102 credits)
• Senior: 3.27 (152 credits)
• Postbac: 3.29 (155 credits)
• Undergraduate Cumulative Science GPA: 3.29 (198 credits)

Im also taking some DIY postbac classes at UCLAEx My gpa at the end should be a 3.5CGPA and 3.4SGPA

I cant sugarcoat this, the lack of a strong rising GPA trend, and the weak performance in the postbac, makes you a good DO school candidate, but probably lethal for MD, except for your own state schools.

You still need to get in nonclinical volunteering, and figure out what is impeding you from doing better academically. You might want to consider a SMP.

Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities. The key thing is service to others less fortunate than you. And get off campus and out of your comfort zone!

Examples include: Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Humane Society, crisis hotlines, soup kitchen, food pantry, homeless or women’s shelter, after-school tutoring for students or coaching a sport in a poor school district, teaching literacy or ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Meals on Wheels, mentoring immigrant/refugee adults, being a friendly visitor to shut-ins, adaptive sports program coach or Special Olympics.

 

[Calbear2]

Cumulative GPA (AMCAS):

• Freshman: 3.12 (60 credits)
• Sophomore: 3.18 (109 credits)
• Junior: 3.27 (142 credits)
• Senior: 3.38 (192 credits)
• Postbac: 3.40 (198 credits)
• Undergraduate Cumulative GPA: 3.40 (198 credits)

Science GPA (AMCAS):

• Freshman: 2.98 (43 credits)
• Sophomore: 2.92 (74 credits)
• Junior: 3.07 (102 credits)
• Senior: 3.27 (152 credits)
• Postbac: 3.29 (155 credits)
• Undergraduate Cumulative Science GPA: 3.29 (198 credits)

My uc berkely gpa is a
Im also taking some DIY postbac classes at UCLAEx My gpa at the end should be a 3.5CGPA and 3.4SGPA

I cant sugarcoat this, the lack of a strong rising GPA trend, and the weak performance in the postbac, makes you a good DO school candidate, but probably lethal for MD, except for your own state schools.

You still need to get in nonclinical volunteering, and figure out what is impeding you from doing better academically. You might want to consider a SMP.

Check out your local houses of worship for volunteer opportunities. The key thing is service to others less fortunate than you. And get off campus and out of your comfort zone!

Examples include: Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Humane Society, crisis hotlines, soup kitchen, food pantry, homeless or women’s shelter, after-school tutoring for students or coaching a sport in a poor school district, teaching literacy or ESL to adults at a community center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Meals on Wheels, mentoring immigrant/refugee adults, being a friendly visitor to shut-ins, adaptive sports program coach or Special Olympics.

I believe I formatted my GPA wrong earlier. I got the calculation from the mapped website. I just calculated myself right now individualizing the years and this is what it looks like.

Most of the post bac units I have now are from CC because while I was at university I was taking some CC classes so I separated the column.

I don’t know if it plays a difference, but my undergrad was UC Berkeley and even though my GPA is low it’s above the average for my major.

• Freshman: 3.20 GPA
• Sophomore: 3.22 GPA
• Junior: 3.38 GPA over 24 units
• Senior: 3.71 GPA over 28 units
• Postbac: 3.90 GPA over 31 units

 

[Goro]

I believe I formatted my GPA wrong earlier. I got the calculation from the mapped website. I just calculated myself right now individualizing the years and this is what it looks like.

Most of the post bac units I have now are from CC because while I was at university I was taking some CC classes so I separated the column.

I don’t know if it plays a difference, but my undergrad was UC Berkeley and even though my GPA is low it’s above the average for my major.

• Freshman: 3.20 GPA
• Sophomore: 3.22 GPA
• Junior: 3.38 GPA over 24 units
• Senior: 3.71 GPA over 28 units
• Postbac: 3.90 GPA over 31 units

Oh, that's a very different story now!!! Great job at reinvention.

Will post school list later

 

[chilly_md]

Moved to WAMC