Need some advice regarding the next steps in my GPA reinvention.

[premedthings12]

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Hello.

I graduated from university summer of 2024 with a cgpa of 2.78 and sgpa of 2.44. My transcript is really a mess, unfortunately, as I struggled throughout college for various life reasons + personal irresponsibilities. I know that I am in big need of reinvention, so I am currently doing a DIY postbacc. I was originally planning on applying this upcoming cycle that starts in the summer of 2026, but I am now worried that I have not done enough reinvention.

I have made a request for retrospective late drops of two courses in which I received a D in undergrad. If these requests are accepted and if I finish the upcoming spring semester with a 4.0 gpa, I can raise my cgpa to a 3.01. My sgpa would be 2.82. However, my postbacc GPA (total 41 credits) will be a 3.37, which is probably not high enough to be considered reinvention. If I apply this upcoming cycle with these stats, my "last 32 credits" would be a 3.59 (saying this because I know some schools have a 32-hour "rule").

I realize that I need to do better because this is my chance to prove that I have improved myself. I have a really big problem with juggling too many responsibilities and then struggling because I have way too much on my plate. I am applying for ADHD/OCD accommodations for next semester, and I am properly medicated now. I have also made sure to establish better boundaries between my family and me. Anyways, I feel as though I am in a better place to get better grades in the future.

I am also planning take the MCAT in February or March, though I am a bit worried because I will be taking 18 credits and also working. Thankfully, my shifts are pretty infrequent (I have 340 hours of clinical experience as a scribe so far). I am planning to use this winter break to study a lot.

Should I apply this upcoming cycle if I can raise my gpa to a 3.0 and get a good MCAT score, and then apply to SMP programs if I don't get in? Or I should I do another year of DIY postbacc and then apply next cycle? I know that there are a lot of hypotheticals in this post, but I have been overthinking a lot and if I don't ask, I will continue to spiral. I don't mind grinding for the next few months to apply this upcoming cycle, but I'm worried that it'll be too much and I'll end up struggling. I'm also thinking of quitting my job but idk. Sorry for the long ramble!

 

[nobadwaves]

This post would be better in Goro's Guide to Reinvention. The mods will likely move it there.
Since you are a younger and very close to being a traditional student, line items like research and volunteer hours will also matter a great deal more for your application. What are your stats (aside from the clinical experience)? Additionally, do you have any ECs that stand out?

Furthermore, your academic performance doesn't bode well for taking 18 credits and being successful with the MCAT. To be considered for an MD spot you'll need a truly stellar score to be looked at seriously - assuming you have some other wow factors in your application. Based on your GPA, I would assume you have some large knowledge gaps in terms of your MCAT material, so having a long and thorough content review with the subsequent Q-banks and practice tests with review will be the only way to move forward. Considering this, those test dates seem aggressively unwise.

I would really consider taking a gap year or two to buff your resume. Have more than the minimum hours for the key components of ECs, gain some significant life experiences to create a wow factor (maybe do some time in the Peace Corps, Red Cross, etc.), and have some time to dedicate to learning the MCAT material to ace the exam. Even then, you may still be looking at an SMP to be able to demonstrate academic ability.

 

[Med Ed]

I have a really big problem with juggling too many responsibilities and then struggling because I have way too much on my plate.

I am also planning take the MCAT in February or March, though I am a bit worried because I will be taking 18 credits and also working.

This is a recipe for disaster, made worse because you will repeat a pattern that has already caused you a lot of problems.

Finish your coursework, get yourself sorted out, then think about the MCAT.

 

[premedthings12]

This post would be better in Goro's Guide to Reinvention. The mods will likely move it there.
Since you are a younger and very close to being a traditional student, line items like research and volunteer hours will also matter a great deal more for your application. What are your stats (aside from the clinical experience)? Additionally, do you have any ECs that stand out?

Furthermore, your academic performance doesn't bode well for taking 18 credits and being successful with the MCAT. To be considered for an MD spot you'll need a truly stellar score to be looked at seriously - assuming you have some other wow factors in your application. Based on your GPA, I would assume you have some large knowledge gaps in terms of your MCAT material, so having a long and thorough content review with the subsequent Q-banks and practice tests with review will be the only way to move forward. Considering this, those test dates seem aggressively unwise.

I would really consider taking a gap year or two to buff your resume. Have more than the minimum hours for the key components of ECs, gain some significant life experiences to create a wow factor (maybe do some time in the Peace Corps, Red Cross, etc.), and have some time to dedicate to learning the MCAT material to ace the exam. Even then, you may still be looking at an SMP to be able to demonstrate academic ability.

I have 2 years of research in undergrad and published (my name is on a research paper). I was vice president of a spoken word/poetry club, and poetry is a big part of my life, but IDK if that counts as an EC that makes me stand out.

Thank you for your advice. Do you think it would be a good plan to take fewer credits next semester and maybe take the MCAT over the summer (that way I'll be able to study full-time for the MCAT)? And then take more postbacc credits next year?

 

[premedthings12]

This is a recipe for disaster, made worse because you will repeat a pattern that has already caused you a lot of problems.

Finish your coursework, get yourself sorted out, then think about the MCAT.

I understand. will spread out my work so that I am not doing everything at once and then suffering from the consequences. I personally don't mind taking the longer route, but I often worry about disappointing others. Yesterday, when I posted this, I was worried about what the doctors I work with would think if I don't apply this upcoming cycle! But I know that's not a logical thought. Thank you for your advice.

 

[nobadwaves]

I have 2 years of research in undergrad and published (my name is on a research paper). I was vice president of a spoken word/poetry club, and poetry is a big part of my life, but IDK if that counts as an EC that makes me stand out.

Thank you for your advice. Do you think it would be a good plan to take fewer credits next semester and maybe take the MCAT over the summer (that way I'll be able to study full-time for the MCAT)? And then take more postbacc credits next year?

Is your postbacc going to consist of retaking the bio, chem, physics, orgo, and biochem? If so, I would definitely recommend to take your MCAT after that. If not, I would truly dedicate to living in that material and mindframe for 4-6 months. In your case, you cannot do poorly on your MCAT due to your prior academic misgivings so I would not take on distractions like other classes that require your attention while you need to be focused on the MCAT.

Again, you are looking at likely two gap years to truly dedicate yourself to correcting for the past.

 

[premedthings12]

Is your postbacc going to consist of retaking the bio, chem, physics, orgo, and biochem? If so, I would definitely recommend to take your MCAT after that. If not, I would truly dedicate to living in that material and mindframe for 4-6 months. In your case, you cannot do poorly on your MCAT due to your prior academic misgivings so I would not take on distractions like other classes that require your attention while you need to be focused on the MCAT.

Again, you are looking at likely two gap years to truly dedicate yourself to correcting for the past.

No, I am just taking the science classes (mostly upper-level) that a local 4-year university offers. Just to clarify, when you advise me to "truly dedicate to living in that material and mindframe for 4-6 months," does that mean studying for the MCAT after I have taken my classes? Sorry, just wanted to make sure.

 

[sardinetoast]

I understand. will spread out my work so that I am not doing everything at once and then suffering from the consequences. I personally don't mind taking the longer route, but I often worry about disappointing others. Yesterday, when I posted this, I was worried about what the doctors I work with would think if I don't apply this upcoming cycle! But I know that's not a logical thought. Thank you for your advice.

This mindset is going to drive you to do things you aren't prepared for, and will cause you to fail, not just in this process but other areas of life as well. This is your life, only yours. You are the one doing the work, and you have to be ready and in the right space to take on the challenges, and it's your future on the line. It doesn't matter what literally anyone else thinks, yes, EVEN your family. You making sound choices for your future is more important than any possibility of disappointing people. I know it's so hard to wrap your mind around this when you are younger, but let me tell you, it took me the entire decade of my 20s to figure this out, and it's one of the reasons it took me until 30 to start my post-bacc.

Looking at your posts, I would suggest at least 2 gap years. You are still young and have plenty of time to apply to medical school. Apply once, when you are 100% ready, so you don't have to do it again. You need to get your grades sorted out, like 4.0 in all future classes, no matter what. Figure out how to do that and work your schedule around it, dedicate all of your energy outside of work/ECs to repairing your grades.

The MCAT is not something you can study for over a christmas break, or for a few months in the summer, unless you have a super strong foundation in science, which it doesn't look like you do ( I didn't either!!). It took me 7 months to study. I was working full time throughout, but I studied 4-6 hrs a day every single day, and more throughout the last month. It took 100% of my time, effort and dedication to get the score I wanted. With your gpa, you want to get as high of a score as possible, and it is possible! I truly believe with the correct amount of time (this will vary for every single person) and discipline, anyone can get their goal score. But you can't compare timelines with others, or expect yourself to meet some arbitrary schedule that doesn't work with how you study/learn.

 

[nobadwaves]

No, I am just taking the science classes (mostly upper-level) that a local 4-year university offers. Just to clarify, when you advise me to "truly dedicate to living in that material and mindframe for 4-6 months," does that mean studying for the MCAT after I have taken my classes? Sorry, just wanted to make sure.

Yeah, this is what I recommend.