Low GPA... How to explain

[iceman132]

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I just talked to a doctor and he says I have got to explain my low GPA.... (3.0)

Some people have death stories but the only explanation I have is my priorities changed and I decided socializing and working was more fun.

Let's say you get a low gpa and somehow get an interview. I am just stuck as to what a "good answer" is. Maybe there just isn't any. My last semester was fantastic and my priorities did straighten up.... But IDK how to show that (Maybe the only way is a masters)

 

[V5RED]

Actions speak louder than words. As I read your post, I gather you had subpar grades up until your senior year.

The action I would take is to begin a post-bacc program(not necessarily an official one, but just taking more classes like upper division sciences) and do well in it for 1-2 years.(edit: or I would retake any terrible grades so that you could rapidly make yourself a good candidate for DO schools)

No words can make up for the lack of consistent high grades. Medical school matriculants usually have 3-4 years of great grades under their belt before being accepted. You have one.

 

[nabeel76]

I just talked to a doctor and he says I have got to explain my low GPA.... (3.0)

Some people have death stories but the only explanation I have is my priorities changed and I decided socializing and working was more fun.

Let's say you get a low gpa and somehow get an interview. I am just stuck as to what a "good answer" is. Maybe there just isn't any. My last semester was fantastic and my priorities did straighten up.... But IDK how to show that (Maybe the only way is a masters)

Your going to have to take more undergrad courses to not only improve your GPA, but to also show a strong upward trend. With your GPA you might need close to another 2 years of coursework, or at the very least 1 full year including summers. Another alternative is to take the MCAT and apply to a 1 year SMP program and kick ass in that.

Assuming you do very well in either the postbacc or SMP then you can explain it as it is - you weren't as serious a student as you should of been but have since changed and realized that medicine is your calling and hence your strong upward trend to prove it.

 

[iceman132]

I completely understand and appreciate your advice.

However, on the OFF CHANCE I get an interview at a DO/MD school what could I possibly say. I just don't see any good answer.

 

[V5RED]

I completely understand and appreciate your advice.

However, on the OFF CHANCE I get an interview at a DO/MD school what could I possibly say. I just don't see any good answer.

With a 3.0, no post bacc work, and not being a celebrity/child of the dean of admissions/donor of >$5,000,000 to the school your odds of getting an interview to any MD school are roughly on par with the odds of me sleeping with Tyra Banks. I am not wondering what I will do with her because I know it will not happen.

If you are black and do well on the MCAT, maybe you will get interviews at DO schools. Otherwise you have almost no shot as you stand, and worrying about what to say about your GPA is silly.

 

[UnclePhil]

That's because there is no real good answer, because you don't really have a good reason for not making the grade.

Tell them that you re-prioritized, because that's what you did. It's a very legitimate explanation.

 

[Morsetlis]

"The classes were challenging, and I didn't review the materials even when I didn't fully understand them. I changed my study habits and visited more professors during their office hours. This really helped me grasp the material and perform well. I know that having good study habits and methods is important in medical school, so I sought help when I knew I needed it."

 

[Kaustikos]

With a 3.0, no post bacc work, and not being a celebrity/child of the dean of admissions/donor of >$5,000,000 to the school your odds of getting an interview to any MD school are roughly on par with the odds of me sleeping with Tyra Banks. I am not wondering what I will do with her because I know it will not happen.

If you are black and do well on the MCAT, maybe you will get interviews at DO schools. Otherwise you have almost no shot as you stand, and worrying about what to say about your GPA is silly.

Do you have a strong upward trend? Did you experience a period where you didn't get good grades? Why? I don't understand how it's difficult to come up w/ an answer of why you got better grades.

 

[CodeBlu]

Looks like it's post bacc for you... or it's good bye broadway. I'm glad you cleaned your act up. And now you're doing well, but you need to show adcoms that you can handle med school curricula.

Plus... med schools are notorious for being stats focused to increase their "selectivity rating" meaning that they are very selective with their students. The more people they reject, the better.

Doing a post bacc will certainly increase your chances. Check into Georgetown, Case Western, Northwestern etc. Or you can do an informal post bacc. Some med schools like Wayne State require 20 credit hours of post bacc work and they will use that as a science GPA for admission. Other schools may require 40-60.

My suggestion is to pick up and MSAR and then start with 5-10 schools and find out how they treat post-baccs. Best of luck!

 

[iceman132]

With a 3.0, no post bacc work, and not being a celebrity/child of the dean of admissions/donor of >$5,000,000 to the school your odds of getting an interview to any MD school are roughly on par with the odds of me sleeping with Tyra Banks. I am not wondering what I will do with her because I know it will not happen.

If you are black and do well on the MCAT, maybe you will get interviews at DO schools. Otherwise you have almost no shot as you stand, and worrying about what to say about your GPA is silly.

I agree, but on the off chance I get a great MCat score in September and I get a tan......

"The classes were challenging, and I didn't review the materials even when I didn't fully understand them. I changed my study habits and visited more professors during their office hours. This really helped me grasp the material and perform well. I know that having good study habits and methods is important in medical school, so I sought help when I knew I needed it."

Thank you! This is the best answer I've given (Pretty much true)

Do you have a strong upward trend? Did you experience a period where you didn't get good grades? Why? I don't understand how it's difficult to come up w/ an answer of why you got better grades.

It did get better..... But IDK if it's good enough to say "Strong".

O Chem 2 destroyed me and my confidence. I had about a 3.6 before that class and it all came crashing down after that. I met a girl and started working (Terrible terrible timing for all 3)

I got better grades in my last few semesters but it's not like it was all A's. I did learn to prioritize and that I must learn the material BY MYSELF and not be spoon fed information.

 

[Morsetlis]

Don't meet girls. Meet guys instead! 😀

 

[V5RED]

It did get better..... But IDK if it's good enough to say "Strong".

O Chem 2 destroyed me and my confidence. I had about a 3.6 before that class and it all came crashing down after that. I met a girl and started working (Terrible terrible timing for all 3)

I got better grades in my last few semesters but it's not like it was all A's. I did learn to prioritize and that I must learn the material BY MYSELF and not be spoon fed information.

Why not post your semester by semester GPA? I am sure someone could give you more specific advice if you give more info.

The impression I got from your prior posts is your GPA went something like this:
Freshman: ~2.7(Fall) ~2.7(Spring)
Sophomore: ~2.7(Fall) ~2.7(Spring)
Junior: ~2.7(Fall) ~2.7(Spring)
Senior: ~4.0(Fall) ~4.0(Spring)

 

[iceman132]

Why not post your semester by semester GPA? I am sure someone could give you more specific advice if you give more info.

The impression I got from your prior posts is your GPA went something like this:
Freshman: ~2.7(Fall) ~2.7(Spring)
Sophomore: ~2.7(Fall) ~2.7(Spring)
Junior: ~2.7(Fall) ~2.7(Spring)
Senior: ~4.0(Fall) ~4.0(Spring)

This is really rough but the trend went like this somewhat

Fall Spring
Freshman: 3.6 3.4
Sophmore: 3.2 2.38
Junior: 2.1 1.8
Senior: 3.2 3.7

 

[Morsetlis]

You can explain that low GPA however you want...

...it's still a low GPA.

Explaining a low GPA allows it submission. It doesn't alter the fact that you will probably need to reconsider the schools you're applying to (think DO?) or consider post-bacc / SMP classes. <--Those will prove your worthiness without a doubt.

Now I'm not saying it's impossible. While the average for matriculation hovers somewhere slightly above a 3.6 for MD schools, the average doesn't tell the whole story. Perhaps you have amazing EC's, is a URM, and published 3 papers in Nature.

 

[iceman132]

You can explain that low GPA however you want...

...it's still a low GPA.

Explaining a low GPA allows it submission. It doesn't alter the fact that you will probably need to reconsider the schools you're applying to (think DO?) or consider post-bacc / SMP classes. <--Those will prove your worthiness without a doubt.

Now I'm not saying it's impossible. While the average for matriculation hovers somewhere slightly above a 3.6 for MD schools, the average doesn't tell the whole story. Perhaps you have amazing EC's, is a URM, and published 3 papers in Nature.

Published 2 papers and am trying to get more community service. I'd be more then happy with DO. SMP is definitely what I'm thinking of since I probably won't get in anywhere this year.

 

[Morsetlis]

Not impossible to get into DO with a 3.0.

 

[trojanman217]

I'm in the same boat as you and I have a year left. If I get an interview (BIG IF) Im going to be up front and say I was immature and take full responsibility. You need to have an up ward trend in your grades though.

but good luck

 

[iceman132]

Not impossible to get into DO with a 3.0.

Hopefully my Mcat in a month will be good news.... Just talked to a former guy on the admissions board who is a DO.... He went straight into talking about an SMP program....

I completely understand that I buried my own grave btw. I know how stupid a B average looks.

 

[Morsetlis]

An SMP is not a grave, it's a proving ground.

 

[kpcrew]

Don't meet girls. Meet guys instead! 😀

this is rather takei

 

[music2doc]

Looks like your only good semesters were your first and last.

Well...at least he has the primacy and recency effects going for him....



OP, honestly, you need to do a post-bacc or SMP. If you are currently trying to apply, save your money. You need to build a systematic approach, get perfect grades (all As) for awhile, build solid LORs, etc. before even thinking about applying.