old college course work concern

[meddhopeful]

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Hey, so I have old college work from 6-9 years ago, before I knew anything about anything. I was all over the map and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, and it shows in my grades. Being from Canada, this wasn't a concern because medical schools here don't care (you have to submit it but its not included in GPA) about your college experience and focus specifically on university. I have been successful in University and am sitting at 3.44 cGPA with my last two years at 3.87 but with my college courses included it brings my overall down quite a bit, like 3.0 🙁 ! So, I'm just wondering how this looks to medical schools...can my university grades kind of trump my college grades? Should I retake courses? Do a second bachelors? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Turkishking]

I don't understand what you're trying to say.

 

[gyngyn]

In the US, all grades after high school will be considered.

 

[Doudline]

Are you applying in Canada or the US?

Certain Canadian schools have policies in place to overlook your worst year GPA-wise, or only consider the last X years of coursework, etc.
In the US, as an international you are fried with that GPA unless you do grade replacement for DO.

Of course, your MCAT will matter too.

 

[meddhopeful]

@Doudline

I am planning to apply to both, until yesterday I wasn't aware that college courses counted towards my GPA for the states because it doesn't in Canada. I was just mostly wondering if US med schools favour University course work over college course work? Or for example, if I took biology in University after taking biology in college how that would fair? (mind you my college work is 6+ years old ... I know it counts, but is more current work favoured at all?)
I am writing the MCAT this summer.

 

[meddhopeful]

In the US, all grades after high school will be considered.

would you recommend a second bachelor?

 

[gyngyn]

would you recommend a second bachelor?

No.
If your cumulative undergraduate gpa is very low, you may be screened out before your trend can be appreciated, though. This will be especially problematic as an international applicant. https://students-residents.aamc.org...ool/article/applying-international-applicant/

 

[frosted_flake]

Are you applying in Canada or the US?

Certain Canadian schools have policies in place to overlook your worst year GPA-wise, or only consider the last X years of coursework, etc.
In the US, as an international you are fried with that GPA unless you do grade replacement for DO.

Of course, your MCAT will matter too.

Must be nice....

 

[meddhopeful]

No.
If your cumulative undergraduate gpa is very low, you may be screened out before your trend can be appreciated, though. This will be especially problematic as an international applicant. https://students-residents.aamc.org...ool/article/applying-international-applicant/

is there anything I can do to improve my situation?

 

[Doudline]

@Doudline

I am planning to apply to both, until yesterday I wasn't aware that college courses counted towards my GPA for the states because it doesn't in Canada. I was just mostly wondering if US med schools favour University course work over college course work? Or for example, if I took biology in University after taking biology in college how that would fair? (mind you my college work is 6+ years old ... I know it counts, but is more current work favoured at all?)
I am writing the MCAT this summer.

I don't understand. College = university in the USA. What do you mean by "college" exactly?

Must be nice....

The average matriculant GPA is also through the roof. 😉

 

[xc_stallion92]

The average matriculant GPA is also through the roof. 😉

How much of that is because of the removal of poor performance though?

 

[Goro]

As mentioned above, in the US, we don't make the distinction between colleges and universities. The latter are only defined as "post-graduate degree granting institutions"

Hey, so I have old college work from 6-9 years ago, before I knew anything about anything. I was all over the map and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, and it shows in my grades. Being from Canada, this wasn't a concern because medical schools here don't care (you have to submit it but its not included in GPA) about your college experience and focus specifically on university. I have been successful in University and am sitting at 3.44 cGPA with my last two years at 3.87 but with my college courses included it brings my overall down quite a bit, like 3.0 🙁 ! So, I'm just wondering how this looks to medical schools...can my university grades kind of trump my college grades? Should I retake courses? Do a second bachelors? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[gyngyn]

is there anything I can do to improve my situation?

There are about a dozen DO schools that will consider internationals. They will replace an older weak grade with a stronger recent grade for the same course. This will dramatically improve your gpa at these schools. The 64 MD schools that consider internationals will not.