Low GPA through halfway junior year

[inFredible]

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Hello everyone,

I'm worried about what I should do, and I wanted your advice. I am currently enrolled in UC Irvine and majoring in biological sciences. My cumulative GPA is 2.95. I know that I was extremely lazy throughout my first two years, and I want to really get my **** together. If I were to get straight A's from this point onwards, my cumulative GPA by the end of my senior year should be ~3.4.

I haven't taken the MCATs yet, but according to diagnostic tests it should be around 33. As for my extracurriculars, I am currently a Resident Advisor at a housing community and a Clinical Care Extender intern at Hoag (@Hoag since beginning of sophomore year). I have no research experience just yet.

So a few questions:
1) Besides striving to get straight A's from this point on, what other things can I do to improve my chances?
2) And which med schools are/should be within my reach assuming I can get straight A's?
3) ^Or is med school even possible with my numbers?
4) Should I consider taking post-bacculerate programs provided that I can probably afford them?
5) ^If so, which programs do you recommend?

With legit sincerity,
inFredible

 

[Pacna]

Lol @ "legit sincerity."

But real talk. Medical school is still definitely in your reach. You should find some research to be a part of (not mandatory. Many schools do not put a huge weight on research). You need to shadow. You need to get straight A's (if you study enough, that'll be cake. Hard science is the easiest to ensure good grades in. There is little subjectivity). You need to kill the MCAT (no "s" unless you're going to take it more than once). I'd do a prep course. A 33 won't make you stand out.

With a 3.4, your options will still be significantly limited even if you do all of the above. I can't tell you which schools exactly you should apply to. I suggest applying to state schools and otherwise deciding where you'd like to live and apply to schools around there that are in your range. Also, definitely apply DO. I can't comment on postbacc stuff.

Good luck!

 

[papi89]

I would think mostly A's (3.3 range) and a good MCAT would be sufficient (with strong ECs / recs), 33 and a 3.3 will get you in somewhere... I've looked at the stats for mid-tier or lower-tier MD schools and they generally aren't as impressive as you'd think.

 

[Goro]

pick interesting ECs. And not the usual cookie cutter stuff. And by no means merely do what's convenient. You need to show us you know what you're getting into, and display your humanism and altruism. Research counts too.

1) Besides striving to get straight A's from this point on, what other things can I do to improve my chances?

ALL DO programs, and all low-tier and new MD schools. Don't forget your state school (if any).

2) And which med schools are/should be within my reach assuming I can get straight A's?

As of right now, no. With solid MCAT and stellar upward trend, yes. There are schools that value reinvention.


3) ^Or is med school even possible with my numbers?

Only if you end your UG career with a GPA below 3.4, and are dead set on MD schools.
4) Should I consider taking post-bacculerate programs provided that I can probably afford them?

They're a dime a dozen, so do your homework.

5) ^If so, which programs do you recommend?