Originally posted by ttac
I actually think it's pretty much impossible to get into a top 50 with a GPA of 2.8 (although I did get an interview at UC Davis)...there are far too many premeds who were much better students with GPA's of ~3.6+. My BCPM was much lower than my AO, actually... 1F, 4D's, 9C's, and nothing higher than a B in any science classes as an undergrad. One semester I had 3 D's and a C, and was put on academic probation.
Still, that's probably why it took me 3 years of applying (I'm class of '97...hence the username: Third Times a Charm 🙂 ) and 7 postbac classes at UCSD to prove to adcoms that I finally had my head screwed on straight. I don't care that my med school will probably never be in the top 50...I'm extremely fortunate to be at _any_ US med school at all.
I guess going from absolute rock bottom to having the privilege of being able to study medicine makes me really appreciate things that much more...especially starting with a clean slate.
-ttac