Low science GPA, decent overall, no MCAT yet

[thanawalt]

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I just saw all of the similar threads and the problem is the other way around.

Anyway,

I started college as a psychology major but changed to bio when I became interested in the health sciences.

I just calculated all the science courses thus far, and it comes to 2.99 after 36 hours of coursework. My overall is a 3.65.

I did a little math and if I can get a 4.0 for the next two years my science GPA will rise to a 3.62 by the time I get my bio degree. How much would the upward trend for about 60 units compensate for?

However, I'm not sure if I should take more upper division courses towards my degree, or if I should switch my major back to psych and take only the science pre-reqs after I graduate (~24 units). The reason for switching back to psych would be the quicker route to getting a bachelors.

 

[drizzt3117]

You're going to want to take as many science courses as possible as you want your BCPM to be higher. Taking less science classes when you have a 3.0 isn't a good idea.

 

[Stratego]

Once you graduate you will no longer have preference for class registration, if you plan to take your science classes at the same school. Also, as a non-degree seeking student, you may not be eligible for financial aid.

The higher you get the BCPM GPA the better, but with a steep upward trend, you'd likely be fine with a 3.4+. Besides raising your GPA, you are also proving to adcomms that you can handle a mostly-science curriculum.

 

[Mobius1985]

What do you project your overall GPA will be by the time you apply? Do you need to repeat any prerequisites that you did poorly in?

If keeping a perfect 4.0 turns out to be impossible, remember that DO med schools are more forgiving of past academic difficulty. They will replace a retaken grade with the new one and not include the first effort when calculating your application GPA, unlike the MD med schools.

 

[thanawalt]

If I do get 4.0 all semesters while getting my bio degree, the overall would be 3.78. If I'm realistic it'd probably be around 3.70

That's probably pretty good, but it's the science GPA I'm worried about.

I did withdraw from Calculus II, organic chemsitry II (twice), and then a whole semester of only bio classes (I went through depression/inpatient, etc). My worst grade is a D in physics II, followed by a C in general biology.

I am planning on retaking those classes after the upper division courses for the reason that they would be easy after the difficult courses are done.