Need Advice for Low GPA, but strong upward trend

[SizzB]

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cGPA: 3.48
sGPA: ~3.1
MCAT: Taking in September
Clinic Hours (Scribe and MA): 800+
Shadowing Hours: 200+
Letters of rec (MD): 2
Research Hours: 0
I have recently graduated from my undergraduate program with the stats above and was looking for advice. I have a strong upward trend, going from a 3.0 my sophomore year to my 3.48 by time of graduation. I did poor in my lower level science classes, but excelled in my upper level/more difficult science courses. I have a list of the grades below. I got accepted into a Masters in Epidemiology program at my university and am debating doing that while also taking upper level science courses. I also got accepted into a SMP (Masters in Medical Science) at my University, and am aware that this is recommended and that MPH aren't useful for med school application. However, the SMP is the same cost as the Epidemiology program, would delay me taking the MCAT and extend my application cycle by a whole extra year, and I would not be able to work during the SMP. So my thought would be to do the MPH while also taking hard science classes to boost my application and get research and volunteering hours. Is that a bad idea? Should I go with the SMP? Am honestly very lost right now. I understand I messed up greatly by doing poor in my beginning years, but have done a lot to try and make-up for my mistakes. I also have no preference for DO or MD, I know my chances of MD are extremely slim so I will mostly be applying to DO.

Undergraduate science courses:
Gen Chm 1: D-, retook and got A
Gen Chm 2: C+
Life Science Calc: C
Pre Calc: B-
Bio 1 and 2: C and B-
Orgo 1 & 2: B and B+
Genetics: B+
Microbio: A
Biochem: A
Cell Bio: A
Physics 1: B+
Physics 2: A-
Statistics: A+
College Algebra: A

 

[SizzB]

I will add I am extremely interested in Epidemiology so that is another reason I applied for it.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

If your goal is to go into public health, do the Masters in Epi. If your goal is to become a doctor, do the SMP. Look for linkages to programs that could give you access to MPH/Epi courrses if you do well enough in medical school.

Ask your SMP director if you can have the option of a two-year plan so you could take some of the Epi courses in your second year once you pass the SMP.

 

[Goro]

Go with the SMP if you want to be a doctor IF they're part of a medical school.

If money is an issue, do a DIY postbacc.

Read my post on reinvention for premeds for more details.

 

[SizzB]

Go with the SMP if you want to be a doctor IF they're part of a medical school.

If money is an issue, do a DIY postbacc.

Read my post on reinvention for premeds for more details.

That's another problem with the SMP at my university is that it is not linked to the med school.

 

[SizzB]

If your goal is to go into public health, do the Masters in Epi. If your goal is to become a doctor, do the SMP. Look for linkages to programs that could give you access to MPH/Epi courrses if you do well enough in medical school.

Ask your SMP director if you can have the option of a two-year plan so you could take some of the Epi courses in your second year once you pass the SMP.

Do you think the SMP is necessary or could I get away with a DIY post-bacc?

 

[SizzB]

Go with the SMP if you want to be a doctor IF they're part of a medical school.

If money is an issue, do a DIY postbacc.

Read my post on reinvention for premeds for more details.

Do you think the MPH while doing upper level science courses is a total no go? To do a DIY I would have to apply for the spring of 2026, so I don't want to miss out on a semester just in case.

 

[Goro]

Do you think the MPH while doing upper level science courses is a total no go? To do a DIY I would have to apply for the spring of 2026, so I don't want to miss out on a semester just in case.

It will not help for MD, but there are DO schools that will count that GPA.

 

[LizzyM]

The SMP is a bet that you can out-perform the average medical student in med school classes. Do you want to take that bet? If you lose the bet, the sad fact is that the coursework is generally not marketable (there aren't a bunch of jobs for people with MS degrees in physiology). But if you feel that you could do well in medical school classes, take the SMP.

The MPH will be there when you are ready to do a fellowship in preventive medicine (as well as some other fellowships) and in all likelihood, it will be paid for! From there you can go on to a fellowship as an EIS officer with the CDC.

 

[SizzB]

It will not help for MD, but there are DO schools that will count that GPA.

Alright thank you. I’ll most likely do a diy post bacc. Prob will start out at a cc for 1 semester then switch to my undergrad university to finish it out

 

[SizzB]

The SMP is a bet that you can out-perform the average medical student in med school classes. Do you want to take that bet? If you lose the bet, the sad fact is that the coursework is generally not marketable (there aren't a bunch of jobs for people with MS degrees in physiology). But if you feel that you could do well in medical school classes, take the SMP.

The MPH will be there when you are ready to do a fellowship in preventive medicine (as well as some other fellowships) and in all likelihood, it will be paid for! From there you can go on to a fellowship as an EIS officer with the CDC.

I think I can do well, but it’s also the gamble. Do you think my stats are nuclear and I need the SMP? Or do you think a post bacc can repair it to where I need to be.

 

[LizzyM]

@Goro is the specialist for reinvention. Read his post on the topic.

 

[SizzB]

It will not help for MD, but there are DO schools that will count that GPA.

Hey Goro one last question. Do you think I need to do an SMP with my stats? Or can a post bacc get me to where I need to be. Thank you for the help I appreciate it.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Not seeing your transcript, your sGPA favors you pursuing an SMP IMO. Ask SMP program directors.

 

[Goro]

Hey Goro one last question. Do you think I need to do an SMP with my stats? Or can a post bacc get me to where I need to be. Thank you for the help I appreciate it.

I lean to SMPs, even as they are high risk but high reward. If $ is an issue, do the DIY post-bac. IF you try the latter, and get shut out, then do a SMP next cycle.

 

[SizzB]

I lean to SMPs, even as they are high risk but high reward. If $ is an issue, do the DIY post-bac. IF you try the latter, and get shut out, then do a SMP next cycle.

Money isn’t the biggest issue, it’s also just nerves and time sink (especially since it isn’t med school and isn’t a for sure med school acceptance)

 

[SizzB]

Not seeing your transcript, your sGPA favors you pursuing an SMP IMO. Ask SMP program directors.

Yeah my sGPA is low. I got good grades in my upper level science courses, but tanked lower level. Idk how the process works with post-bacc and taking an extra 30 credits of science courses to raise it