Low GPAs that got into medical school?

[Eddy10188]

I'm curious if you have had a low GPA and got into med school, what was it? And how do you think you overcame that?

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[Etzio]

I'm curious if you have had a low GPA and got into med school, what was it? And how do you think you overcame that?

Curious about this as well, but bear in mind that this is a pretty subjective question. Most people here are neurotic enough to consider a 3.6 low. You may want to specify on what you consider to be low.

 

[eagles22]

I'm curious if you have had a low GPA and got into med school, what was it? And how do you think you overcame that?

Search function. Use it.

 

[LoveTheRunner]

this thread should take over for the other floating around. so to that end:

small boost needed / sgpa needed? post-bacc can do the trick
really have trouble during undergrad? special master's program can prove you can handle material. more expensive and risky b/c it's useless degree

Lots of people have done it. browse the forums for a few minutes and you'll find all the advice you need

 

[Eddy10188]

Curious about this as well, but bear in mind that this is a pretty subjective question. Most people here are neurotic enough to consider a 3.6 low. You may want to specify on what you consider to be low.

Good point.. I was thinking definitely below 3.5, maybe even in the 3.3's. I think anything around or below 3.4 most would consider low

 

[Eddy10188]

this thread should take over for the other floating around. so to that end:

small boost needed / sgpa needed? post-bacc can do the trick
really have trouble during undergrad? special master's program can prove you can handle material. more expensive and risky b/c it's useless degree

Lots of people have done it. browse the forums for a few minutes and you'll find all the advice you need

That's a good point I have looked into getting a masters, I have a 3.46 overall and a 3.24 science gpa (I am taking some easier classes this semester so i'm assuming i'll get 3 more A's, 2 in sciences).

I really wasn't sure whether or not it would really be helpful, I might have to do it though.

 

[fishbait63]

Well I got in with a 3.1ish no masters no post-bacc (this is the exception not the rule) and a 32 mcat, was working in a research position while applying the year after I graduated ORM if anyone cares about that.

my advice
apply broadly (I applied to close to 50 schools I was working so half of paycheck= rent+food, other half= apps)

waiting you will wait a lot, if you have less then stellar stats you will not rock yourself to the top of the pile

E.C. very very imp but will not make up for the GPA, its somewhat of a savior for me I did a lot of research in many diff labs and ended up with several pubs/ presentations volunteering I had a lot of too. But these were things I was passionate about and did not do for a simple checkmark

Good Letters.... you need very good letters if the letters are even a little weak you dont have much in the way of keeping your app on the pile

Interviews: No one asked about my GPA I tried to drive the conversation early to a strenght either research or working with underserved communities show your strengths and your fit and your passion about medicine (duh for the last one)

EDIT: Wanted to add comment on Update letters...
They are not a bad idea.... ironically the two schools which I sent nothing gave me interviews and the schools I kept updating every month.... rejections. Just make them about something meaningful alwaysanangel has a very good example in their mdapps page

 

[getdown]

3.3/27 are my stats but it did take me 2 cycles to get in and a postbac program. So, it's not impossible just takes a little work.

 

[hiphaupt]

My cGPA was a 3.03, and my BCPM GPA was a 3.4. I'm waitlisted at 2 schools and have 2 acceptances now out of 6 interview invitations. There's only one other school I'm waiting to hear from, both literally and because its the highest ranked school I haven't heard a decision from yet (they claim to interview through April).

A poor GPA isn't insurmountable, but the rest of your application needs to be spectacular and different. At every interview I was asked to describe the discrepancy in my GPA and MCAT score or why my GPA was weak. Some schools even sent me addenda to my secondary apps to address this in writing.

SMPs/PostBacs are for people with better MCAT scores and poor GPAs looking to make up for it (Both have their pros/cons). If you have an avg GPA and MCAT score, you need to do other things that differentiate you from other applicants instead of just worrying about the numbers.

**edit: I had all my stuff together to apply to the Gtown SMP, BU MAMS, and a few postbac programs because I wanted a backup (I was ready to address my GPA if it held me out of medical school). Luckily I'll save that $60k

 

[fishbait63]

Wow they never sent me an addeneum.... I forgot to add my BCPM GPA 3.15...

It was my plan that if I didn't get in I would apply to masters programs.... I think its very important to have a backup plan just in case too...

 

[fullset]

My cGPA was a 3.03, and my BCPM GPA was a 3.4. I'm waitlisted at 2 schools and have 2 acceptances now out of 6 interview invitations. There's only one other school I'm waiting to hear from, both literally and because its the highest ranked school I haven't heard a decision from yet (they claim to interview through April).

A poor GPA isn't insurmountable, but the rest of your application needs to be spectacular and different. At every interview I was asked to describe the discrepancy in my GPA and MCAT score or why my GPA was weak. Some schools even sent me addenda to my secondary apps to address this in writing.

SMPs/PostBacs are for people with better MCAT scores and poor GPAs looking to make up for it (Both have their pros/cons). If you have an avg GPA and MCAT score, you need to do other things that differentiate you from other applicants instead of just worrying about the numbers.

**edit: I had all my stuff together to apply to the Gtown SMP, BU MAMS, and a few postbac programs because I wanted a backup (I was ready to address my GPA if it held me out of medical school). Luckily I'll save that $60k

What was your MCAT score, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[hiphaupt]

33 - 12/9/12 (s)

 

[Bravetown]

I just got accepted with a 3.7 and heard that was the lowest ever

 

[Perrotfish]

2.8/34T. Did a very good SMP at a midrange allopathic school and got in to the school that hosts the SMP the next year. Still amazed and grateful they accepted me to either the SMP or the school.

 

[MilkmanAl]

3.15/35 here. I used a combination of solid writing, (apparently) excellent rec letters, and ridiculously good luck to squeeze in. A couple schools also noted the difficulty of my school and classes (UNC, physics/bio double major).

 

[oldyogurt]

3.15/35 here. I used a combination of solid writing, (apparently) excellent rec letters, and ridiculously good luck to squeeze in. A couple schools also noted the difficulty of my school and classes (UNC, physics/bio double major).

3.26BCPM and 33 here. not quite as wide a spread as yours!

Around this time last year I was scouring this forum for application advice. Feels so long ago!

 

[Slade]

Same position 2 years ago! There are some really great threads out there for low GPA applicants.

I had a 3.09 GPA coming out of college, with a nonbio major. So I took 1 year to get all my prereqs (bio and ochem), and did a 1-year MS program.
This bumped my GPA up to a 3.2 or 3.3. I took the MCAT twice and ended up with a 40.
Applied widely, and received 3 acceptances.

If your GPA is really low, you might have to do a postbac or Masters to bring it up. Otherwise, rock the MCAT and apply early to many schools.

Good luck!