Low GPA... Suggestions

[Lengluiii]

I recently graduated with a 2.6 uGPA and was wondering what I could do to increase my chances of getting into an allopathic school. In my first 3 years of school I did engineering and received a 1.8 gpa... Since then I went to community college and got an AA degree with a GPA of 3.8... I transferred to a 4 year university and ended with a 3.08. My cGPA stands not as a 2.6 combined and I am still finishing my organic chem and physics classes for two more semesters. I plan on applying for DO and Allopathic Schools but want to increase chances of getting into an allopathic school.

I've been working at a research lab and am EMT certified and looking to do volunteer service. As of right now, I have a lot of experience under my belt, but my last semester before graduating I got a C and C+ in calc and chem. I'm looking to take the GRE in the winter and the MCAT either next spring or the spring afterwards and see if I can go to grad school and take an SMP.

I plan on trying to really ace my MCAT and these last semester grades to pull a 2.84 at the end.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

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[sisko]

the SMP is a good idea if you get in one and want to spend the time/money. the thing that sucks about GPA as I'm sure you know is once you have a bunch of credits under your belt it's so hard to change. I did undergrad about 10 years ago and so my GPA cake is pretty much baked. I'm raising it in a post-bacc now but there's only so much you can do, as each new class barely moves the dial overall.

the really nice thing about the DO option though is the grade replacement, so you have a shot to actually move the dial on your GPA

 

[LifeTake2]

I recently graduated with a 2.6 uGPA and was wondering what I could do to increase my chances of getting into an allopathic school. In my first 3 years of school I did engineering and received a 1.8 gpa... Since then I went to community college and got an AA degree with a GPA of 3.8... I transferred to a 4 year university and ended with a 3.08. My cGPA stands not as a 2.6 combined and I am still finishing my organic chem and physics classes for two more semesters. I plan on applying for DO and Allopathic Schools but want to increase chances of getting into an allopathic school.

I've been working at a research lab and am EMT certified and looking to do volunteer service. As of right now, I have a lot of experience under my belt, but my last semester before graduating I got a C and C+ in calc and chem. I'm looking to take the GRE in the winter and the MCAT either next spring or the spring afterwards and see if I can go to grad school and take an SMP.

I plan on trying to really ace my MCAT and these last semester grades to pull a 2.84 at the end.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Honestly: focus on DO. It is possible to get into an allopathic program sub 3.0, but it might as well be impossible. Furthermore, unless you have an amazing story to explain how you failed 3 years of an engineering program the odds are not in your favor.

You could try and SMP, but if you want a suggestion: calculate your GPA using the DO grade replacement, figure out how to get it 3+, do well enough on the MCAT to prove you can hack medical school and apply widely DO.

 

[LPpostbacc]

Honestly: focus on DO. It is possible to get into an allopathic program sub 3.0, but it might as well be impossible. Furthermore, unless you have an amazing story to explain how you failed 3 years of an engineering program the odds are not in your favor.

You could try and SMP, but if you want a suggestion: calculate your GPA using the DO grade replacement, figure out how to get it 3+, do well enough on the MCAT to prove you can hack medical school and apply widely DO.

I agree with two previous posters. I graduated with a 2.9 gpa a long time ago, but hadn't taken any science classes. All of my post-bacc classes, which I did much better in, pulled up my GPA above 3.0. Unless you're URM, you'll have a pretty tough time getting into any school with a GPA below 2.75, and almost any allopathic school below a 3.0.

The grad school/SMP thing confuses me a bit. Are you going to go for another degree, or just an SMP? A MAMS-type program (where you would end up with an MA)? I don't think you need the GRE for that.

Have you taken any upper level bio courses? Genetics/Cell Bio/Biochem/Immuno/Anatomy? Those can help to show a firm grasp of the biological sciences, and bring up your GPA.

Bottom line: If you can show an upward trend, bring the GPA above 3.0, and kill the MCAT (32+), MD schools are definitely a possibility. (that's a mouthful, I know, but it can be done).

Make a plan, and take it one day at a time.