Plan to get into medical school with currently low GPA

[Biochem18!]

My science GPA is 2.95 and overall 3.2 as a chemistry and spanish major and I have not taken the MCAT yet. My plan is to raise my science GPA to at least a 3.0 taking post-bacc classes, take the MCAT, then apply to special masters programs. I have everything else including research, volunteering, publications, and leadership down.

I am perfectly capable of getting As in difficult courses so I am not worried about whether or not I can do well in the future. I rarely studied for my courses as an undergrad due to illness and just not being sure if I wanted to go to medical school. I am 100% sure now and looking for some advice.

Is this a good plan? Are there other ways I can go about getting into med school with where I am currently?

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[Goro]

Plan is fine. Good luck!!

 

[Robin-jay]

Why take post-bac. classes if you plan on doing an SMP anyway?

 

[Biochem18!]

Why take post-bac. classes if you plan on doing an SMP anyway?

because most SMP require a min GPA of 3.0 or 3.1

 

[DrDumbDrum]

Why take post-bac. classes if you plan on doing an SMP anyway?

I suspect that the SMPs OP is looking at have minimum GPA requirements. Also, no harm in supplementing undergraduate performance.

(EDIT: Just before I post this, OP confirms my suspicions!)

Best of luck, OP, and may you find great health and success in your endeavors!

 

[Robin-jay]

because most SMP require a min GPA of 3.0 or 3.1

E-mail prospective SMP colleges and ask if they'll accept a 2.95 GPA.

 

[Rei02sDinnerParty]

My science GPA is 2.95 and overall 3.2 as a chemistry and spanish major and I have not taken the MCAT yet. My plan is to raise my science GPA to at least a 3.0 taking post-bacc classes, take the MCAT, then apply to special masters programs. I have everything else including research, volunteering, publications, and leadership down.

I am perfectly capable of getting As in difficult courses so I am not worried about whether or not I can do well in the future. I rarely studied for my courses as an undergrad due to illness and just not being sure if I wanted to go to medical school. I am 100% sure now and looking for some advice.

Is this a good plan? Are there other ways I can go about getting into med school with where I am currently?

no one has mentioned this yet but obviously if you do very, very well on your MCAT (515+) after acing your post bac coursework, you could always opt for another year of post bac or a lower risk masters program in lieu of the SMP.

this would be my recommendation!

 

[Robin-jay]

no one has mentioned this yet but obviously if you do very, very well on your MCAT (515+) after acing your post bac coursework, you could always opt for another year of post bac or a lower risk masters program in lieu of the SMP.

this would be my recommendation!

A 515 MCAT with a 3.0 sGPA and a 3.2 cGPA would actually be worth applying to DO schools imo.

Don't want to pay for a 50-60k SMP if you don't have to.

 

[Biochem18!]

no one has mentioned this yet but obviously if you do very, very well on your MCAT (515+) after acing your post bac coursework, you could always opt for another year of post bac or a lower risk masters program in lieu of the SMP.

this would be my recommendation!

what do you mean by low risk masters?

 

[Robin-jay]

what do you mean by low risk masters?

I think he means:

Like a biology masters where its easy to get 3.7+ GPA.

Not like a physics masters where you could be scrambling to keep a 3.0 GPA.

 

[BigBoss]

A 515 MCAT with a 3.0 sGPA and a 3.2 cGPA would actually be worth applying to DO schools imo.

Don't want to pay for a 50-60k SMP if you don't have to.

OP’s MCAT doesn’t have to be that high. Something close to 510 would be fine.


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[Rei02sDinnerParty]

A 515 MCAT with a 3.0 sGPA and a 3.2 cGPA would actually be worth applying to DO schools imo.

Don't want to pay for a 50-60k SMP if you don't have to.

MD could be viable with an MCAT above 515. Mine was below a 515 and my post-bac work was probably fewer credits than what I'd recommend for others.. I had many DO interviews and acceptances, a few MD interviews and one acceptance.

what do you mean by low risk masters?

I mean a masters of biomedical science sort of program where you are not competing against hundreds of other students for x number of linked spots to medical school. I know a number of people who went this route after having a bad performance in undergrad and only further dug themselves into a hole by not producing the numbers they needed (i.e. 3.7+) in difficult, med school level coursework.

The only SMP that should be on your radar is Temple's ACMS program, which is analogous to being offered acceptance to a 5 year MD program.