Low undergrad GPA... Gimme some hope.

[wyzeguy]

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I have an undergrad science gpa of 3.1, an overall gpa of 3.3 and a 30 MCAT. Although my major is generally believed to be the most competitive at UCLA (average gpa of 2.8), I don't have much hope that AdComs will take this into consideration. Anybody else with a low gpa get any interviews or acceptances???????

 

[UCLAstudent]

Your GPA is on the low side, but I don't think it will kill your application. Are you applying in June? If so, you still have time to raise your GPA a little this quarter, and even next quarter, if you are willing to wait until we get our spring grades to submit AMCAS. (This is assuming that you are still in school.) Are you an MIMG major?

 

[wyzeguy]

Your GPA is on the low side, but I don't think it will kill your application. Are you applying in June? If so, you still have time to raise your GPA a little this quarter, and even next quarter, if you are willing to wait until we get our spring grades to submit AMCAS. (This is assuming that you are still in school.) Are you an MIMG major?

Yes, I am an MIMG major. I have actually already applied and most of my files were complete around mid-november to mid-december. I have received a few rejections and a couple of holds. No interviews yet.

 

[UCLAstudent]

Yes, I am an MIMG major. I have actually already applied and most of my files were complete around mid-november to mid-december. I have received a few rejections and a couple of holds. No interviews yet.

Okay. You're kind of in a tough spot. Interview invites are still being given out, but definitely not at much as before. The fact that you were complete relatively recently is reassuring, though. How many schools did you apply to?

 

[newhavenjake]

I think alot of places give serious cosideration to your statement and rec letters.

My overall gpa is a 3.37, but I think my other stuff is pretty good.

So far I've gotten 5 interviews and no rejections.

If you spoke to your shortcomings in your app and have good letters, you still have a shot.

 

[uclabruin2003]

hmm i thought the hardest major at ucla was chemical engineering.

 

[UCLAstudent]

hmm i thought the hardest major at ucla was chemical engineering.

Maybe chemical engineering is harder, but I'm pretty sure that the average GPA for MIMG majors is the lowest at UCLA. I'd attribute it (at least partially) to the pre-med factor.

 

[wyzeguy]

hmm i thought the hardest major at ucla was chemical engineering.

It may be... there's really no way to tell. I just read an article in the Daily Bruin last year that suggested it was MIMG and that MIMG had the lowest average GPA of all the departments.

 

[gujuDoc]

Maybe chemical engineering is harder, but I'm pretty sure that the average GPA for MIMG majors is the lowest at UCLA. I'd attribute it (at least partially) to the pre-med factor.

Just out of curiosity what is the MIMG major?????

 

[wyzeguy]

Just out of curiosity what is the MIMG major?????

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. When I meet people on campus and they ask me what my major is, I find that they're either asleep or gone before I can finish my answer.

 

[abraxas20]

It is so interesting to me that CA schools are such a problem. My scores are slightly lower than yours all around and I got into my state school, but I am in KY.

Good luck

 

[tupac_don]

I have an undergrad science gpa of 3.1, an overall gpa of 3.3 and a 30 MCAT. Although my major is generally believed to be the most competitive at UCLA (average gpa of 2.8), I don't have much hope that AdComs will take this into consideration. Anybody else with a low gpa get any interviews or acceptances???????

NO need to panic, you are golden for the Carribiean!!!

 

[Premed2500]

NO need to panic, you are golden for the Carribiean!!!

why even bother to reply if u r gonna be sarcastic and mean get a life.

Did u apply late into the cycle maybe thats ur problem

 

[uclabruin2003]

does an avg lower gpa equate to the hardest major? my roommate was a MIMG major...he thought it was no big deal. ha. then again maybe he was terribly smart.

 

[wyzeguy]

does an avg lower gpa equate to the hardest major? my roommate was a MIMG major...he thought it was no big deal. ha. then again maybe he was terribly smart.

You have a point. It's not necessarily the hardest. But the bottom line is that it was a huge factor in my low gpa (although I admittedly could have worked harder) and most med schools will probably not take this into account.

 

[synapse lapse]

I think you still have a shot. I can sympathise with Cali being the worst place to apply, however. I have a 3.3 GPA (overall and science) and I have recieved 5 interviews. Of course, 4 of those are Tx schools so I have that going for me. Your undergrad institution is strong, and so I feel that with a 30+ MCAT and good EC's hopefully you will get in somewhere. I don't know about any acceptances for msyelf yet, the TX match is in 7 days! Good luck!🙂

 

[shuzee]

hi wzguye!
im an MIMG at UCLA too and have around the same GPA. i think the major is competitive!~! i think we can still boost that up by summer. do you ahev research experience??

 

[firebird69guy]

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. When I meet people on campus and they ask me what my major is, I find that they're either asleep or gone before I can finish my answer.

I hear ya.. I felt the same way when I would tell people my major was "Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior." Then I'd have to explain that it was ONE major, not three.

=)

 

[Perrin]

I have a 3.15 overall, 3.2 BCMP, and a 32 MCAT. I got into my state school two weeks after my interview. It was probably because my last interviewer (the associate dean of admissions) was rolling on the floor laughing at some of my remarks about the admissions proceedure. My advice, practice stand up comedy.

 

[ornis4]

I'm in a similar spot, though I've probably been complete most places for a bit longer than you (which is probably a bad thing for me). I had a 3.4 undergrad and a 30 MCAT, and so far I've done well with osteo schools, but out of 15 allopathic schools, I have 5 rejections, no interviews, and I'm running out of hope too. Not even an interview from my state school UConn yet. It's tough, but I still think things will fall into place...it just takes awhile for us "borderline" folks to find spots. Good luck!

 

[abcxyz0123]

I have a 3.15 overall, 3.2 BCMP, and a 32 MCAT. I got into my state school two weeks after my interview. It was probably because my last interviewer (the associate dean of admissions) was rolling on the floor laughing at some of my remarks about the admissions proceedure. My advice, practice stand up comedy.

please share

 

[cammy1313]

Let's see, I'm a re-applicant and the first time I applied with my 3.4 overall (3.5 science) and 28 MCAT I recieved one interview, no acceptances (duh). This time, after pursuing a post-bac at BU: ~10 interview invites, handful of waitlists, 1 acceptance (so far, I hope there's more!). I'm a UCSD grad, Biochem major. Moral of my story is that if this cycle brings you no good news then definately have high hopes for the next. So for now, there's still time for interviews, I know several med students who interviewed and were accepted in the last months of the interview cycles. But, maybe start thinking of what you can do between app cycles should you have to apply again. Just my pragmatic two cents 🙂

 

[wyzeguy]

hi wzguye!
im an MIMG at UCLA too and have around the same GPA. i think the major is competitive!~! i think we can still boost that up by summer. do you ahev research experience??

This past fall and current winter quarters are my last ones and I am taking some of the hardest classes I have taken yet. So, there is no chance of bumping up my gpa. I just hope I don't do any more damage. I have one year of research experience in immunology and some in botany. But I think the value of research experience to the AdComs is overrated.

 

[Floseph]

I'm applying this year with a 3.2 from UC Santa Barbara. August MCAT (34) , so all my secondaries were in late. So far I've gotten nine interview invites, none from UCs-I'm on pre-interview hold at UCI. But I've gotten three invites since New Years, so they're still going out. Hope that's encouraging.

 

[BOHICA-FIGMO]

I'm in a similar spot, though I've probably been complete most places for a bit longer than you (which is probably a bad thing for me). I had a 3.4 undergrad and a 30 MCAT, and so far I've done well with osteo schools, but out of 15 allopathic schools, I have 5 rejections, no interviews, and I'm running out of hope too. Not even an interview from my state school UConn yet. It's tough, but I still think things will fall into place...it just takes awhile for us "borderline" folks to find spots. Good luck!

First bit of advice.....DO NOT PANIC!!!
Second bit of advice...with all of the grade inflation these days, GPA is an absolutely worthless indicator of how good a doctor you will be (unless you go to a school that is just looking to pad their stats). I have a much lower GPA than most people in this thread and I've been invited to interviews at 10 out of 40 schools applied (6 D.O. and 4 M.D. for what it's worth). It is more about WHO you are, not WHAT your grades say you are. Smart admissions comittees will know the difference.

 

[lightnk102]

I have a 3.1 undergrad GPA also as an engineering major (average GPA is also ~2.8) and premed. I did a post-bacc master's program as well, and I've had ~10 interview invites, and 1 acceptance so far.

Don't worry. It's definitely do-able. I'd suggest re-taking the MCAT also. Having a higher MCAT score can rectify any damage your GPA may be doing.

 

[stoic]

i got in with a 3.35 overal and 3.3 science. (mid 30's mcat)