Low GPA Student Athlete

[Reubenh94]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey All,

OK, so I am almost done with my 1st semester of my junior year and my GPA and sciGPA is lacking big time ( horrible freshman year gpa 2.0). Long story short, I am a underrepresented minority student athlete at a top 30 school. I have done research, shadowed a physician, I tutor, and do other volunteer work for the community around my school and back at home. I was planning on taking the MCAT next summer for the new MCAT, August 6, but I was wondering if i should wait until my grades are better? I only need a few classes toward my major left to graduate so my senior year I was thinking of taking classes to boost my gpa along with upp div science classes. What should i do????Put off MCAT? Do SMP? Post- Bac???

 

[AlteredScale]

Hey All,

OK, so I am almost done with my 1st semester of my junior year and my GPA and sciGPA is lacking big time ( horrible freshman year gpa 2.0). Long story short, I am a underrepresented minority student athlete at a top 30 school. I have done research, shadowed a physician, excelling in track ( competiting for African country in 2016 olympics), I tutor, and do other volunteer work for the community around my school and back at home. I was planning on taking the MCAT next summer for the new MCAT, August 6, but I was wondering if i should wait until my grades are better? I only need a few classes toward my major left to graduate so my senior year I was thinking of taking classes to boost my gpa along with upp div science classes. What should i do????Put off MCAT? Do SMP? Post- Bac???

What is your current GPA right now presently to this day?

 

[Reubenh94]

currently 2.7 gpa with 2.65 sciGPA

 

[AlteredScale]

currently 2.7 gpa with 2.65 sciGPA

If you want to go to an MD school then I would suggest doing an SMP at an allopathic school. If you are set on DO then either an SMP or post-bac will do. Take the MCAT when you feel ready (scoring at the range you are seeking). If you need to take a break from your ECs and/or work to study for the MCAT then you definitely should.


At this point on, you need to continue with an upward trend which I'm assuming is already happening. Best of luck OP.

 

[Reubenh94]

Thank you so much!

 

[bioman1275]

do the best you can. your chances for MD is non existent at this point and your DO chances don't look much better unless you do ALOT of maturing and GPA repair. Then it would still take some work. your Extra curriculars look great, but that's about all you have.. sorry to say it. there is no excuse for poor academic performance through out your college years aside from laziness. You clearly didn't apply yourself and it shows. maybe focus less on track and running in the Olympics and focus more on your education. That is what will make a difference, not that you ran for some obscure African country in the Olympics.

I know it sounds harsh, but life is harsh. Shape-up OP. Your education should be your #1 priority.

 

[Reubenh94]

Thank you for the feedback. It is definately no exuse but I am working on an upward trend in my GPA. I will do my best and figure out what I need to do to get it done.

 

[doapplicant2015]

I was/am in this situation as a non-URM. Graduated with below a 3.0 after four years as a D-1 athlete. I had not taken any pre-reqs prior to graduating so I went and did my own post-bacc at CC, retook classes I had done poorly (C- and worse) and took all of my pre-reqs.

I am assuming you are competing at the D-1 level, if you are not, adcoms will not have any sympathy and if you are they will have little (more than zero, but close) sympathy. Your first priority for your remaining time in undergrad is going to be to pull that GPA up while you are still on scholarship if you are, so that you don't have to pay out of pocket for a post-bacc. At this point, your MD chances are close to zero barring 3-4 years of almost 4.0 work.

From this cycle, I can tell you from experience finishing college strong will be to your benefit as will doing well (above 30) on the MCAT. Since you have a whole year (and summer) left, do your best to retake some of those poor freshman year courses while it's still convenient to do so. Goodluck!

Edit: If you are able to take an easy online course over summer that you did poorly on and get an "easy" A while you study for your MCAT go for it. If not, use the summer to dedicate 2-3 months solely to the MCAT and take an extra course or two during your senior year. The MCAT is going to be more important than a 0.01 or less increase in GPA (assuming you can get it above 3.0)

 

[IslandStyle808]

currently 2.7 gpa with 2.65 sciGPA

If you pursue an SMP, first raise both GPAs to at least a 3.0. A lot of schools have an auto screen for a certain GPA, most of which are at 3.0. After you do, then look into an SMP.

 

[Reubenh94]

I am competing at a D1 level right now. I more or less have a full year ( 2 semesters appx 32 credits) my senior year because I will have finished up my major. Should I retake the classes I didnt do well in like gchem where i got a C in that last year? Also can I apply to SMP with under a 3.0 as in If i were to apply now? Should i still take the MCAT this summer? I am going to take a prep course and get an MCAT tutor to ensure proper perpetration for the MCAT.

 

[doapplicant2015]

I am competing at a D1 level right now. I more or less have a full year ( 2 semesters appx 32 credits) my senior year because I will have finished up my major. Should I retake the classes I didnt do well in like gchem where i got a C in that last year? Also can I apply to SMP with under a 3.0 as in If i were to apply now? Should i still take the MCAT this summer? I am going to take a prep course and get an MCAT tutor to ensure proper perpetration for the MCAT.

Retake all the courses you didn't do well in, including gen chem 1/2, bio, physics, art history, whatever will bring your GPA up the most. Since you had a 2.0, I assume your freshman classes will have a variety to pick from and an A in those class will help your GPA tremendously. I'm not sure about the SMP but it is in your best interest to have your undergrad GPA as high as you can get it.

If you're able to bring your GPA up to 3.2 or higher over the next year and a half I'm not going to suggest dropping any money on a SMP unless it bridges into a school you're especially interested and you're positive you will do well (3.5+) in graduate level science classes.

Take the MCAT whenever you have time to study for it and will do your absolute best. Check out the MCAT section of this forum if you haven't already and take it seriously because your future career depends on it redeeming your past grades.

 

[Reubenh94]

II think in going to try to take easier classes and bring that gpa up along with retaking gen chem n bio 1. Will doing well on the MCAT help makeup for the sciGPA a bit?

 

[doapplicant2015]

II think in going to try to take easier classes and bring that gpa up along with retaking gen chem n bio 1. Will doing well on the MCAT help makeup for the sciGPA a bit?

Nothing is going to completely make up for it but it will help your case. I am in a bit of a different situation where my sGPA is significantly higher than my cGPA (~0.8 higher) so I can't answer that from experience. However having your GPA as high as possible will only help you and you have plenty of time left to bring that up, so start with your general science classes from freshman year and work your way up. Make sure you are getting A's in these classes to make it worth your time.

 

[Reubenh94]

That is definately doable. There was no exuse but not taking it serious freshman year but now I realise the importance