Low Science GPA, could use some advice

[GypsyHummus]

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Hey everyone,

I am currently a Jr. majoring in a non science. While my overall GPA is low but acceptable for MD schools (3.5ish), my science gpa is very low (3.0).

I still would like to go to MD school, but I feel that my science GPA at this point will screen me out of most places. I have taken 32 hours of science classes. I have about 20 hours left in science classes left to go. If I were to get all As in the science classes, I could end up with somewhere around a 3.3 science gpa. Would this be enough to make cutoffs? Non URM, non disadvantaged.

My question is, for those of you with strong upward grade trends, what study habits did you change to get there?

If I double majored in a science, then the potential for raising my grade is even higher. The risk with that is every non A would hurt my science GPA, which is one of the reasons I ended up switching to a non-science major.

I have yet to take the mcat. I heard that this can be a determining factor.

I am fully aware of the DO option, however, I would like to go to MD school if at all possible.

Would you guys recommend an SMP?

Thanks in advance.

 

[gunner1]

smp would help but try to understand ur basic sciences before taking advanced courses....look at what made you do bad in ur science courses so far. were you lazy? didn't get material? etc. and work on it before taking on another science course.

 

[GypsyHummus]

smp would help but try to understand ur basic sciences before taking advanced courses....look at what made you do bad in ur science courses so far. were you lazy? didn't get material? etc. and work on it before taking on another science course.

Most of it was laziness and not knowing how to study, at least for Bio. That was my only C. For the physical sciences, I got nervous on chemistry tests and the labs really brought my grade down. Physics is better, but I still cant crack an A, which is what I know I need to get into MD programs.

Would it be wise to retake the prerecs?

 

[NeuroSpeare]

Most of it was laziness and not knowing how to study, at least for Bio. That was my only C. For the physical sciences, I got nervous on chemistry tests and the labs really brought my grade down. Physics is better, but I still cant crack an A, which is what I know I need to get into MD programs.

Would it be wise to retake the prerecs?

I applied this cycle with a cGPA and sciGPA very near to your current numbers: it hasn't been fun. Even with a high MCAT (37), solid ECs/LORs, and a wide range of schools, I've still gotten a lot of silent treatment and only a few interviews. When it comes down to it, your GPA, in all its different forms, is an extremely important part of your application. (EDIT: I should add that with my numbers I was able to make it past most number screens...however, that doesn't mean you won't get lost in a pile of low-priority candidates after that screen.)

However, you have time:

Take an honest look at your study habits. Meet with an advisor. Go to office hours. Latch on to someone who gets solid A's and borrow their methods. Studying, like anything else, is a skill - you need to develop yours. The closer you can get to that 3.3 sGPA, the better

Destroy the MCAT You'll need a strong score to draw attention away from a mediocre cGPA/low sGPA. Devote a summer. Find a study partner. Take a class (if you have lots of money)

Look into post-graduate GPA remediation. I wouldn't jump into SMP-land just yet. Maybe an informal post-bacc at a local state school or wherever you can take upper division science classes cheaply (though, stay away from CC's). You have time to bring your GPA up to a decent place; couple that with a strong MCAT and an MD program is very possible. (Granted, don't expect Harvard or some other highly ranked school; apply broadly...there are many great schools that don't even have a rank.

Best of luck.