my previous transcript: very depressing

[zoner]

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Hi everyone.

So today, I've been calling all the community colleges I attended since graduating from undergrad 11 years ago to find out what my grades were. I was recently told that I would have to submit transcripts from ALL colleges and universities I've attended.

The thing is, when I attended those community colleges, I did not care at all about my grades. I took them for fun and hobbies. So I have various grades from A to F to W, so not only do I have uGPA of 3.2, I have to add in additional 2-3 years of community college units GPA of 3.2

This means, I really can't, by any mean, raise my overall GPA to any decent level to above 3.5, including the current Post Bach GPA of 4.0 I've been getting and will be getting. I have too many unit hours of bad GPA to overcome whatever I can do now.

Therefore, it really feels sucky to think that my whole med school acceptance is totally depended on luck and horribly unfair 60 % con and 40 % pro chance of being able to get in. Even with all the extra curricular and internships that I am doing and will be doing for the next two years, I have to admit that some schools will just reject me flat out because although my Science GPA will be 3.9 ish, my overall GPA will be 3.4 ish. This really blows and I just had to vent.

I just do not understand why med schools will care to look at some old not- important GPA to determine who gets in or not.

Sorry for whining, it was one of those days...

 

[JnCrWe]

I'm in a vaguely similar situation, but I just have about three semesters' worth of bad grades under my belt, heh. When I go back to get my BS, I intend to excel. My overall GPA still won't be extremely high at the end, I believe.

I'm sure your trend towards better grades will work in your favor, though. At least, that was the opinion of my medical director (who's also on the admissions committee for our local med school) when I talked to him about my situation.

Don't lose hope, just do the best with what you have and go for your goal.

Best of...luck to you, regardless. 😛

 

[QofQuimica]

I just do not understand why med schools will care to look at some old not- important GPA to determine who gets in or not.

Med schools do not have a uniform policy concerning how they consider old grades for nontrads. Some may only look at total GPA, but many, including mine, look at trends. If you're getting a 4.0 in your postbac, that would be taken into consideration, as would your MCAT score. Also, a net GPA of 3.4 really isn't that horrible; the national average for matriculated allo students is around 3.6. Regardless, you cannot do anything to change your old grades, so focus on making your app as strong as you possibly can. Keep making As in that postbac, get some clinical experience, and make sure you prepare well for the MCAT. When it's time to apply, have a plan and choose your schools strategically. Adcoms *are* looking for accomplished people, but we don't expect perfection. 🙂

 

[zoner]

When it's time to apply, have a plan and choose your schools strategically. Adcoms *are* looking for accomplished people, but we don't expect perfection. 🙂

I don't understand what you mean by applying strategically. Do you mean to apply as broadly as possible or know what schools accept higher percent of nontrads or lower gpa? Would it be wise to apply to all the schools in California?

 

[NTF]

Therefore, it really feels sucky to think that my whole med school acceptance is totally depended on luck and horribly unfair

To be fair it wasn't luck but your own doing. I'd try to avoid sentiments of entitlement like "luck" or "horribly unfair". There are an ass-load of applicants for med school and for every capable person like you with mediocre past grades there are tons who demonstrated excellence throughout. Take responsibility for your past and show adcoms that you've learned from it. Humility will go a long way. Nobody's entitled to a spot in med school.

That being said, your GPA isn't that bad and adcoms do take into account upward trends. You seem to be doing all the right things to show your past is past. My GPA was worse than yours. I did well in an informal post-bacc and nobody ever questioned my academic worthiness in interviews.

As far as strategic, I believe Q was referring to applying broadly and early. Apply to a wide range of schools geographically and MD/DO. California schools are legendary for being hard to get into because of the enormous instate applicant pool, so strategic means you'll have to cast your net all over the country not just in Cali. My class has a sizeable portion of Cali transplants with great numbers (GPA>3.7, MCAT 30+) who couldn't get into any Cali schools but got into our school which is an instate preference public school. So that should give you a sense of how competitive Cali schools can be.