Low MCAT and GPA. Unsure which path is best and which is a waste of money.

[ThunderUp94]

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Hello,

I am a 24 year old South Asian male from Oklahoma. Graduated in summer 2018. I took my MCAT in September 2018 and applied to only one osteopathic school in November. I did not get an interview. My MCAT is 498: 122 C/P 126 CARS 125 B/B 125 P/S. My cGPA is 3.21 and my sGPA is 2.95.

I am looking to apply DO schools this year (also my state MD schools) and was exploring which path would be the most beneficial for me, and which paths aren't as necessary/will waste my money.

I plan on retaking my MCAT by middle of July (would this be late for MD schools?). I also had the opportunity to get a pre-medical committee letter this year from OU (last year my stats were too low so I got 3 professor LOR).

I had been researching on SMP and post-bacc programs that certain schools offer. I wasn't sure if my GPA was in the realm of someone that absolutely needed to do a SMP/Post-Bacc?

My main question for the forum is if I should just solely take my MCAT and reapply, or if I need to do a post-bacc? I understand I can take a few classes here and there but my financial situation will not make that very feasible. The formal Post-baccs at least gave the option to take out loans that way I didn't have to work. Ultimately, If taking a few classes in the fall can help boost my application, I am open to that but I know those grades would not be released until end of December.

Also, I was wondering if I should reapply to DO schools the first day the applications open with my current MCAT? Or If should wait until my new score. Were there any osteopathic schools that I might meet the cutoff for given my 498 and low gpa if I applied early?

My gpa is so low due to a mix of family struggles, time constraints, and arrogance. I had a lot of family struggle occur during my undergrad and I often found myself juggling an almost full-time job, family obligations, and school. Unfortunately, I retook Gen Chem 1 between my 1st and 2nd year of college and got a C both times. To make matters even more ridiculous, I failed physics 1 at two different schools, and retook it a third time at the original institution and got an A (fall,spring,summer). At the time, I foolishly believed that the former AACOMAS grade-replacement policy was going to forgive my mistakes, and I kept telling myself that I need to get an A in physics 1 and nothing else would cut it. Thus, I intentionally failed my first physics class knowing I wouldn't get an A, and then when I retook physics the second time at a different school, I just had too much on my plate and again thought I wouldn't get an A. I tried to get a W and was approved by the professor, but was ultimately not given one by the Dean of my college due to having used multiple Ws in a row. To this day I still wish I could have stopped myself from making those choices. Fortunately, I got an A in physics 2 the first time. These are my only retake classes. I have 3 other Cs, but the rest are As and Bs. I did not nearly have the drive I do now. I was able to achieve a 3.7 gpa in my last two semesters.

I believe I have gotten an adequate amount of medical exposure. Aside from shadowing numerous amount of MD and DOs from different specialities, I have been working the past 6 months as a Medical Assistant. I not only engage in hands-on patient care and assist in office procedures, but also handle insurance-related issues and schedule surgeries. I also volunteer at two free health clinics and help out at a homeless shelter.

I appreciate all advice and insight, even the harshest.

 

[Faha]

You need to do a post bacc before you apply. Your sGPA is too low and you will be screened out at many schools. You could do a DIY post bacc at a local college (community college is fine) and take enough science courses to raise your sGPA over 3.0 . Do not retake the MCAT until your practice scores are consistently over 505. Post your new score here when available. The earliest you will able to apply is June 2020.

 

[deleted480308]

Why is your sgpa so low qnd how can you guarantee that won’t keep happening?

You need to know that before dropping more tuition money

 

[ThunderUp94]

V

You need to do a post bacc before you apply. Your sGPA is too low and you will be screened out at many schools. You could do a DIY post bacc at a local college (community college is fine) and take enough science courses to raise your sGPA over 3.0 . Do not retake the MCAT until your practice scores are consistently over 505. Post your new score here when available. The earliest you will able to apply is June 2020.

Thanks for the reply. I see that if I take 6 credit hours and achieve an A, I could raise my sGPA up to a 3.0.

I'm genuinely curious as to why you recommend I wait another year to apply (2020) and not try to apply this coming cycle after retaking my MCAT? Would my low sGPA of 2.95 outweigh a 505+ MCAT this cycle, still leading me to be screened out?

 

[deleted967981]

V


Thanks for the reply. I see that if I take 6 credit hours and achieve an A, I could raise my sGPA up to a 3.0.

I'm genuinely curious as to why you recommend I wait another year to apply (2020) and not try to apply this coming cycle after retaking my MCAT? Would my low sGPA of 2.95 outweigh a 505+ MCAT this cycle, still leading me to be screened out?

Many schools have an automatic screen of 3.0 for both cGPA and sGPA. Also, your 505+ MCAT is theoretical. All the advice you’ve been given so far is based on the next steps you need to take now, so you can get to advice for someone with a 3.0 and a 505+.

Med schools aren’t going anywhere. A gap year to improve your gpa, spend quality time raising your MCAT, and maybe adding in a few other app boosters can only be looked on favorably IF done correctly.

 

[ThunderUp94]

You need to do a post bacc before you apply. Your sGPA is too low and you will be screened out at many schools. You could do a DIY post bacc at a local college (community college is fine) and take enough science courses to raise your sGPA over 3.0 . Do not retake the MCAT until your practice scores are consistently over 505. Post your new score here when available. The earliest you will able to apply is June 2020.

Hey Faha,

I am taking your advice and doing a DIY post-bacc this upcoming fall. I have to continue to work, but I found that a local community college by me offers cell biology (3 credit hours) and microbiology (5 credit hours) that would work with my work schedule. Both courses are 2000 level courses though. Would this be viewed negatively since they are 2000 level and at a community college?

I calculated that if I was to earn an A in both courses, my sGPA would jump from 2.95 to 3.04.

I have adopted better study habits for my MCAT and received a 502 on my first Kaplan practice exam last week, I know I still need to improve. I am testing on August 30th.

I still plan to apply this cycle when my MCAT score is released, to my state DO school and the newer DO schools with no minimum GPA, as some I have contacted would wait for those December grades to come in to give a decision.

I unfortunately missed the deadline for formal SMPs, but that was something I considered for next year.

Do you believe my plan sounds good, and would this be a sufficient increase of science GPA?

 

[ThunderUp94]

Hey Faha,

I am taking your advice and doing a DIY post-bacc this upcoming fall. I have to continue to work, but I found that a local community college by me offers cell biology (3 credit hours) and microbiology (5 credit hours) that would work with my work schedule. Both courses are 2000 level courses though. Would this be viewed negatively since they are 2000 level and at a community college?

I calculated that if I was to earn an A in both courses, my sGPA would jump from 2.95 to 3.04.

I have adopted better study habits for my MCAT and received a 502 on my first Kaplan practice exam last week, I know I still need to improve. I am testing on August 30th.

I still plan to apply this cycle when my MCAT score is released, to my state DO school and the newer DO schools with no minimum GPA, as some I have contacted would wait for those December grades to come in to give a decision.

I unfortunately missed the deadline for formal SMPs, but that was something I considered for next year.

Do you believe my plan sounds good, and would this be a sufficient increase of science GPA?

@Goro could you possibly offer some insight on my situation? I will be reapplying for DO this year, previously had a 3.21 cGPA/ 2.95 sGPA and 498 (122/126/125/125). Making strides to improve my GPA this fall to a 3.04 if I take 8 credits at my local community college while continuing to work. I also am working to improve my MCAT to 505-510 range.

 

[Faha]

Those biology courses at a local community college are fine.

 

[Goro]

@Goro could you possibly offer some insight on my situation? I will be reapplying for DO this year, previously had a 3.21 cGPA/ 2.95 sGPA and 498 (122/126/125/125). Making strides to improve my GPA this fall to a 3.04 if I take 8 credits at my local community college while continuing to work. I also am working to improve my MCAT to 505-510 range.

Do not apply until you improve those stats.

 

[MyOdyssey]

@Goro could you possibly offer some insight on my situation? I will be reapplying for DO this year, previously had a 3.21 cGPA/ 2.95 sGPA and 498 (122/126/125/125). Making strides to improve my GPA this fall to a 3.04 if I take 8 credits at my local community college while continuing to work. I also am working to improve my MCAT to 505-510 range.

Those GPA and MCAT score increases are all aspirational and hypothetical. If you take the MCAT on August 30, you won't get your score back until early October.

Can you get 8 credit hours over the summer while working full time and get 2 A's? Time will tell.

 

[Dr. Faust]

Do a post-bac for classes geared towards improving your MCAt score, then retake MCAT. With a sGPA that low, you will not score a 505-510 just by doing practice questions and reading test prep books. Take some bio-chem/molecular bio courses. Good luck and happy studying!