Low GPA, what path forward to take?

[yalite102]

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Hi there! I have a low GPA and my dream is to go to med school. I'm sure you've heard it all before so sorry about that, but it really is true. I screwed myself undergrad. I didn't try, did BME at a top program for the prestige which messed up my GPA, and am finally pulling myself up by the bootstraps senior year. If I had to get another bachelors, if I had to take a 6th year, if I had to fight tooth and nail for 10 years to get into med school I absolutely would.

So here I am. I have a 2.8GPA and am graduating soon. I (realistically) won't be able to bring it over a 3 by the time I'm done. A lot of the classes pulling me down are my freshman/sophomore prereqs that I most likely slept through.

I plan on taking a 5th year of undergrad to bring myself up to a 3-3.1 and then apply to an SMP.
However, in your opinions, would it be wise to re-take the prereqs I bombed in (to show med schools I'm capable/MCAT prep) or just leave them in the past and get A's in future classes and then go to an SMP. I don't know whether it's feasible to get into med school without proving my ability in some of the more minor classes despite having an upward trend and better grades in MUCH harder classes that build off of the principles established in some core ones (thermodynamics, biomechanics, systems biology, pharmacodynamics, biochemistry, modeling, etc)

I appreciate any input as to what my path forward should be!! Thanks so much. My schools premed advising is extremely unhelpful especially to people that aren't ug superstars.

Edit: I will not consider DO schools

 

[Dr. Meliodas]

Your current plan sounds good. Doing an extra year will allow you to bring your GPA high enough to apply to special masters programs and if you can continue a strong upward trend this year during your extra year and in the special masters I am sure you will receive a few interviews. This time will also allow you to build up volunteering, (active) clinical experience, shadowing, research if you are interested.

As far as retaking pre-req courses that really depends on what you actually got on them. Anything lower than a C HAS to be retaken for most schools. Also keep in mind that your GPA - although a big part of your application - is only one part of your application. If that is going to be relatively week you need to make sure the rest of your app is glowing in all other areas, and do something that is relatively unique. Fitting a schools mission is also really important and it might be helpful to do some self reflection and think about what you want to do in your life. Going to medical school should not be your dream it should be the path that will allow you to reach your actual goal. Med school is not the ultimate destination.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me

 

[yalite102]

Your current plan sounds good. Doing an extra year will allow you to bring your GPA high enough to apply to special masters programs and if you can continue a strong upward trend this year during your extra year and in the special masters I am sure you will receive a few interviews. This time will also allow you to build up volunteering, (active) clinical experience, shadowing, research if you are interested.

As far as retaking pre-req courses that really depends on what you actually got on them. Anything lower than a C HAS to be retaken for most schools. Also keep in mind that your GPA - although a big part of your application - is only one part of your application. If that is going to be relatively week you need to make sure the rest of your app is glowing in all other areas, and do something that is relatively unique. Fitting a schools mission is also really important and it might be helpful to do some self reflection and think about what you want to do in your life. Going to medical school should not be your dream it should be the path that will allow you to reach your actual goal. Med school is not the ultimate destination.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me

thanks! You're right - I should have clarified but my dream is to be a surgeon. I have 3+ years of research experience as well as 2 medical device patents and a portfolio of art/designs/prototypes which is what I hope will strengthen my application. I'm the kind of student who has low GPA but high test scores (smart but not the hardest working, though that has changed with age). Thanks for your advice! I have one C- in Chem 2 because I was in the hospital in and out for 2 semesters so I might retake that. I hope to put this on my record somewhere as it really hurt me academically.

 

[Dr. Meliodas]

thanks! You're right - I should have clarified but my dream is to be a surgeon. I have 3+ years of research experience as well as 2 medical device patents and a portfolio of art/designs/prototypes which is what I hope will strengthen my application. I'm the kind of student who has low GPA but high test scores (smart but not the hardest working, though that has changed with age). Thanks for your advice! I have one C- in Chem 2 because I was in the hospital in and out for 2 semesters so I might retake that. I hope to put this on my record somewhere as it really hurt me academically.

Why do you want to be a surgeon? What do you hope to accomplish? That is what your dream is. Being ___ type of physician should enable you to accomplish whatever your dream is.

Definetly retake that course then. Other than that focus on upper level science courses and show them you aren't the student you were when you first started.

For some of the schools I applied to they ask to explain any pre req grades B- or lower. Other than that many schools have space in their secondaries to tell them anything that might have affected your performance.

 

[bears1992]

Edit: I will not consider DO schools

You are looking at a long road ahead of you if you are gunning for MD with a 2.8. You could probably snag DO with an extra year or two of 4.0 postbac and a decent MCAT.

 

[physicianhopeful123456]

Why are you against going DO? Just curious if it's because you are looking in to competitive specialties and don't believe as a DO you can snag a residency, or if it is their approach to medicine?

 

[yalite102]

Why are you against going DO? Just curious if it's because you are looking in to competitive specialties and don't believe as a DO you can snag a residency, or if it is their approach to medicine?

it is their approach to medicine. It's not my passion

 

[candbgirl]

Edit: I will not consider DO schools

As @Goro says “always have a Plan B”.

 

[Goro]

it is their approach to medicine. It's not my passion

Beggars can't be choosy.

 

[Walter Raleigh]

You are looking at a long road ahead of you if you are gunning for MD with a 2.8. You could probably snag DO with an extra year or two of 4.0 postbac and a decent MCAT.

There are some schools that reward reinvention, but he needs to put a couple years of 3.8+ behind him and get a 515+ MCAT. A formal SMP with linkage might get him into an MD school, but that's do or die. And of course he's got to have a few hundred hours of clinical volunteering, some nonclinical volunteering, and shadowing.