My GPA 3.25 from Berkeley, should I apply to schools above 3.5 GPA???

[christinej]

So I have the MSAR....so I know the stats of each school. I have a GPA of about 3.25 from UC Berkeley... however, I have numberous volunteer, abroad, and hospital volunteer experiences...
WHAT SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST GPA SCHOOL TO WHICH I SHOULD APPLY??? IN OTHER WORDS, SHOULD I APPLY TO SCHOOLS WITH GPA'S OVER 3.5????
😉

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[hardy]

WHAT SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST GPA SCHOOL TO WHICH I SHOULD APPLY??? IN OTHER WORDS, SHOULD I APPLY TO SCHOOLS WITH GPA'S OVER 3.5????
😀

jeez... no need to yell!

 

[RubRoss LSU]

Your MCAT score also plays an important factor in where you should apply. If you have an MCAT of 30 +, then that will definately help you, along with your ec's, volunteer, sesrvices etc. Also if you have a gradual improvement of your gpa, such as 2.0 first semester, then continually improving, then that will also help you. Either way, apply to all of your state schools because you probably have the best chance at one of those.

In regards to your question, admissions are quirky so you never know what will happen. However, the chances could be slim that an applicant with a lower gpa would be able to matriculate at a school with a high gpa average. For example, I do not think that anyone with a 3.4 would matriculate into Johns Hopkins, but please if I'm wrong then correct me!

I'm applying to as many schools as I can so I can get the best chances. I suggest that you do the same because eventually the application process will become easier and hopefully you will have good experiences. Best of luck to you!

Hope that helps!

 

[crazy_cavalier]

So I have the MSAR....so I know the stats of each school. I have a GPA of about 3.25... however, I have numberous volunteer, abroad, and hospital volunteer experiences...
WHAT SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST GPA SCHOOL TO WHICH I SHOULD APPLY??? IN OTHER WORDS, SHOULD I APPLY TO SCHOOLS WITH GPA'S OVER 3.5????
😀

Well, first you should recognize that a school's average or "mean" gpa is simply that; if a school has a mean gpa of 3.5, that means there will be people who fall above that number, along with people who fall below it. by no means does a mean gpa of 3.5 serve as an absolute criterion that excludes you from possibly being accepted at that school.

having said that, I would say you should keep your options open and consider the other areas of your application as you mull over which schools you want to apply to. there's so much more in your application than just the numbers, honestly. the personal statement, LORs, EC's all serve to paint a greater picture of who you are; MCAT and GPA are only two pieces in the whole puzzle.

although I am generally advocating that low GPA's and low MCATs are not hte end of the world, I should mention that there is only such a degree that this holds true. There are certain limits to the application process, and reviewing 9000 applications in full depth is simply not realistic. as a consequence, some schools simply have to use cut-off numbers, just for the sake of practicality, but those cut-off numbers are usually at the 3.0 gpa mark so even a 3.25 should make it pass the "automatic-computer-filter" pre-screening.

Well good luck. Do not get discouraged! 🙂 👍

 

[Sundarban1]

No, you should not apply. You should, however, go directly to post-bacc place. Do not pass go and do not collect $200.

Unless you happen to be URM, in that case...

In all seriousness, think about a post-bacc or applying to DO schools as an alternative.

So I have the MSAR....so I know the stats of each school. I have a GPA of about 3.25... however, I have numberous volunteer, abroad, and hospital volunteer experiences...
WHAT SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST GPA SCHOOL TO WHICH I SHOULD APPLY??? IN OTHER WORDS, SHOULD I APPLY TO SCHOOLS WITH GPA'S OVER 3.5????
😀

 

[DrBuro]

Tell everyone your other information before you ask whether or not you should apply. If you have a 33+ on the MCAT, you have a good shot at getting in somewhere as long as you have a good background.

 

[KingTutATL]

hey do you think that you could look up the admission MCAT and gpa for Medical College of Georgia. Thank if you do.

 

[domukin]

Bah, apply where ever you want, don't worry about the numbers. If you have a good MCAT and good ECs you'll have a chance almost anywhere, so much of the process is random that you really never know what matters and what doesn't.

 

[hmgcoa]

to the OP. i too, went to berkeley. it's not an easy place...

go ahead and just do it. if your mcat score is 30+, you have a decent shot. as for applying to your state schools, i'm not so sure about that. while most states have schools that are easy to get into if you're a resident there, cali (in my honest opinion) is the exception...

their schools are HARD to get into, even if u are a cali resident.
1. because the schools are all pretty top notch.
2. they're cheap
3. so many people want to stay in cali ( or go back to cali if you're an out-of-stater like me).

i'm in a similar situation. hoping that my mcat will let adcom members know that the school was just a tough place to get As. (never got an A in Physics or Gchem...but got a 13 on ps?!?...that HAS to say something..i hope? 😕 )

 

[AxlxA]

I too went to berkeley and i agree, it's not easy to hit those A's or even the A-'s. B+ is pretty good in my book if u'r one of my fellow classmates. I agree with everything hmgcoa said about our state schools, cheap, so many of us are applying, even people with much higher stats and are still afraid they wont get in.

You should seriously think about DO schools, they end up working in about the same area anyways. It would be a lot better if you provide us with what MCAT score you got, the breakdown, and any trends you had with ur gpa. And also, if you have an extremely good personal statement and some good LORs from the berkeley professors, that'll be great. I notice now that if you want a good LOR, you just have to give the professor some hints of what you want to talk about. I told one of mine to talk about my dedication as a student and also as a person in general. I haven't read that letter yet since it's confidential but one day, i'll find a way to read it.

Just remember, it's the whole package they want, not only ur stats(of course this doesn't go for top 10 schools, if ur stats aren't good, they might not even bother. jk)

 

[KatyGrl1]

As someone in the same boat last year (Berkeley student with so-so GPA), I would apply to a few but (sorry to be a pessimist) after that don't waste your money. The application process is expensive and it is not too likely that a 3.2something will get you into a school with a 3.7something GPA, unless of course you have remarkable MCATs. Don't give up hope, but remain realistic... the story of the applicant's life. Hope this helps.

 

[hmgcoa]

it's cool to know that i'm not the only one that got crushed by this machine known as berkeley 😀

although, sometimes i do wonder if i would have been better off going to UT my state school. (MUCH cheaper and easier from what i hear from others)

As someone in the same boat last year (Berkeley student with so-so GPA), I would apply to a few but (sorry to be a pessimist) after that don't waste your money. The application process is expensive and it is not too likely that a 3.2something will get you into a school with a 3.7something GPA, unless of course you have remarkable MCATs. Don't give up hope, but remain realistic... the story of the applicant's life. Hope this helps.

 

[PrincetonRocks]

A 3.5 and a 30 are the minimum scores that make a person competitive to most med school, especially a person with CA residency. However, these minimum scores do not guarantee admissions. Most schools publish the mean scores/GPAs on their websites. To get the average, there has to be a group getting below a 3.5 and a group getting 4.0s. Never count yourself out even if you have a low GPA...what you do need are MCAT scores over 30. Remember that activities such as volunteering, published research, and leadership experiences only enhance an already competitive applicant. Extracurricular activities will not salvage low numbers because numbers show to SOME extent how you will perform on Step 1 (pride for your school if you do well) and performances in med school.

My suggestion is also considering applying to D.O. programs at the same time you're applying to MD programs. I have heard quite a few people getting into Touro and Western with scores below a 27 and a 3.5.

Best of luck.

 

[Nakhrewali]

it's cool to know that i'm not the only one that got crushed by this machine known as berkeley 😀

although, sometimes i do wonder if i would have been better off going to UT my state school. (MUCH cheaper and easier from what i hear from others)

haha...hey there fellow golden bear! are you applying this summer as well? 😉

 

[BOBODR]

Some of the stuff being said on this thread is not true. APPLY! I know someone who has a 3.2 overall, 3.3 science gpa from a small liberal arts school in NC (wake forest) who just got into a very good school (wake Forest med). As long as you have a mcat above a 30 you will be "competitive" especially since you came from a good school. If you came from a generic state school and has a 3.25 then it might be tougher. You never know in this process. Supposedly a 3.5 and 30 is competitive. Well someone should have told that to the adcoms looking at my app. (3.54 overall, 31S MCAT with above average reccs and EC's). Know how many schools I got into? Answer: 0. SO now I am reapplying while people with stats alot lower than mine are going to med school. So apply, be one of those people.

 

[AxlxA]

See, in cases like BOBODR, i really want to know why the adcom rejected such a fine student, because i dont want to fall into the same boat. I MUST go to med school!!!!!

 

[BOBODR]

See, in cases like BOBODR, i really want to know why the adcom rejected such a fine student, because i dont want to fall into the same boat. I MUST go to med school!!!!!

I tried finding out.... they had no reason. It sounds funny but its true. The only thing one adcom said was that there was some concern with my freshman year bio grade. Too bad i graduated with a 3.8 in bio fro ma top 30 school, was given a biology scholarship for my senior yr, and got a 13 on the MCAT in bio/orgo. I am guessing I had too much research/publications for my state schools (was New JErsey) now it will be UNC since I changed residency. They emphasize primary care so perhaps too much research was a turn off (4 semesters worth of bio credit, volunteer in neuro dept at wake med school, research tech 2 in rheumatology now, Wake Forest Fellowship Recipient, etc)..... I am reapplying now to places like Case Western, Rochester, so hopefully they will give me some love

 

[AxlxA]

wow seems like u had a great background. I now fear my own acceptances.

 

[Law2Doc]

Some of the stuff being said on this thread is not true. APPLY! I know someone who has a 3.2 overall, 3.3 science gpa from a small liberal arts school in NC (wake forest) who just got into a very good school (wake Forest med). As long as you have a mcat above a 30 you will be "competitive" especially since you came from a good school. If you came from a generic state school and has a 3.25 then it might be tougher. You never know in this process. Supposedly a 3.5 and 30 is competitive. Well someone should have told that to the adcoms looking at my app. (3.54 overall, 31S MCAT with above average reccs and EC's). Know how many schools I got into? Answer: 0. SO now I am reapplying while people with stats alot lower than mine are going to med school. So apply, be one of those people.

How many schools did you apply to? Were they mostly top tier? Did you get any interviews?

 

[adamdowannabe]

Don't forget.......

You can have awesome marks, and if you sit down to interview and the interviewers (for whatever reason) get a bad vibe.... you ain't getting in.

Proven by the 4.0 40mcat that gets turned down by Stanford and Harvard, while getting into UCSF.

So much comes to the table once you get that interview.

Example 2.... girl I met in a bar, 22 years old, already finishing year MSII, admitted to me she had a 3.1 and a 23 MCAT, she got into school....and at such a young age, so it wasn't a wealth of life experience that did it.

If you want to go to medschool... Save up 1,000 bucks, apply to 10 high end schools, and 10 mids, and 5 "good bets"........... something might catch any one of these schools attention.... a really awesome personal statement might spark some adcoms sympathy vote. (those work too)

It's so random, (admissions) you can't assume anything!

 

[zhaf86]

op, apply to a wide range of schools, 1-2 dream schools and at least 10-15 from the mid-lower tiers. just do it and don't think too much.

 

[curlykid]

i am sorry to hear that BOBODR :-(
best wishes this year!
were there any weaknesses in your application?
did you apply to only really competitive school?
(a friend of mine was an incredibly strong candidate, but didn't get into any med school this year - she was so confident that she was get into a top tier school that she really didn't have any safeties so she's trying again this fall)

 

[BOBODR]

i am sorry to hear that BOBODR :-(
best wishes this year!
were there any weaknesses in your application?
did you apply to only really competitive school?
(a friend of mine was an incredibly strong candidate, but didn't get into any med school this year - she was so confident that she was get into a top tier school that she really didn't have any safeties so she's trying again this fall)

To answer all your questions. No I specifically asked about my interview skills. They all said I did extremely well ( I am a laid back pre med... ) and Uinveristy of Illinois went as far as to say that during that day , there were 40 interviewees, that I was one of their favorites and did the best for their panel interview. I did not apply to any top schools except Dartmouth. I applied to Tufts, BU, Wake, UMDNJ (ok this was not a good interview but it was not my fault, the lady hated me for some reason) , RWJ ( great interview) , Illinois, Temple, Jefferson, G-Town. (10 total). 4 interview invites but they were all in the spring. I was an August MCATER.

EC's = Research as told before, full time job during school year working with Austistic Children through Team Care, all the obvious honor socities, Shadowing, tutoring underpriveleged children, volunteer at Lupus Foundation, 150 hours in the OR/ER/Children Onbcology, other misc volunteering. NO pity needed, it happens. PS was good as my health adviser and few others read it. Not amazing (this yr it might be) but def good. Oh well. This year I have applied to 17 schools. All it takes is one.

 

[BOBODR]

What do you guys think of this list? Any to add?

SUNY - Upstate
Suny - Downstate
Albany MC
SUNY - Buffalo
Wake
UNC
Pitt (no chance but I can dream 🙂 )
ROchester
Tufts
GW
Drexel
NYMC
Tulane
Univ of Illinois
ST Loius
Case Western
Cinci

 

[Law2Doc]

What do you guys think of this list? Any to add?

SUNY - Upstate
Suny - Downstate
Albany MC
SUNY - Buffalo
Wake
UNC
Pitt (no chance but I can dream 🙂 )
ROchester
Tufts
GW
Drexel
NYMC
Tulane
Univ of Illinois
ST Loius
Case Western
Cinci

Any reason you are nixing most of the ones you applied to previously (the Jersey schools & Temple and Jefferson in particular)? I would think a showing of persistence and strong interest at a school could work at some places. Also I think you applied to too few schools last time, so I would personally be inclined to go overboard this time and apply to 20+ if you have the money and time. (But that's just me).
Assuming everything in your application was as good as you said (and you can never be sure of how your PS or LORs were perceived), the only hindrances I can think of could have been applying to too few schools, applying later, and your presumably unbalanced MCAT score.

 

[BOBODR]

Any reason you are nixing most of the ones you applied to previously (the Jersey schools & Temple and Jefferson in particular)? I would think a showing of persistence and strong interest at a school could work at some places. Also I think you applied to too few schools last time, so I would personally be inclined to go overboard this time and apply to 20+ if you have the money and time. (But that's just me).
Assuming everything in your application was as good as you said (and you can never be sure of how your PS or LORs were perceived), the only hindrances I can think of could have been applying to too few schools, applying later, and your presumably unbalanced MCAT score.

1) Yeah my MCAT is a little unbalanced i will concede (9-9-13) S
2) I am applying to 17 schools which is already breaking the budget. I think I picked a good 17 and included many of the considered lower tiers
3) I am not applying to Jersey again because I am no longer a Jersey resident. If I couldnt get in as a resident, I will have no chance out of state. I think that would be throwing money away.
4) I have already applied this yr through AMCAs (JUME 8th) and finished the avaliable secondaries (SUNY - upstate, tulane , etc)
5) I am not applying to JEfferson again as I emailed the dean several times stating my interest in the school, when I was rejected I asked what I could do to improve my app, and I never got a response one time.
6) I am applying to many of the same schools actually (Illinois, Wake, GW, Tufts). I am not applying to G-town or BU again because I believe I do not have a real shot at either of those schools. SO besides BU, G-town, Jefferson, NJ state schools I am reapplying to the same schools and then more.
7) You are right, I dont know how my LOR's or PS were handled.....

 

[paradiselost]

Some of the stuff being said on this thread is not true. APPLY! I know someone who has a 3.2 overall, 3.3 science gpa from a small liberal arts school in NC (wake forest) who just got into a very good school (wake Forest med). As long as you have a mcat above a 30 you will be "competitive" especially since you came from a good school. If you came from a generic state school and has a 3.25 then it might be tougher. You never know in this process. Supposedly a 3.5 and 30 is competitive. Well someone should have told that to the adcoms looking at my app. (3.54 overall, 31S MCAT with above average reccs and EC's). Know how many schools I got into? Answer: 0. SO now I am reapplying while people with stats alot lower than mine are going to med school. So apply, be one of those people.

Hi BOBO,

I thought I'd say hi, as someone who's been totally burned by the NJ public schools. As a NJ resident: three years, three applications, three waitlists -> three rejections. And I'm in the UMDNJ MS program. Hurts, huh? 😳) Me = top 10 undergrad, low GPA balanced out by high MCAT score, decent ECs and recs.

For various reasons, my first two applications were to the NJ schools only. This time, I diversified and got 2 acceptances. It's possible. Good luck this year.

-pl