Post-baccs that accept a low science GPA?

[chowchilla]

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I recently contacted Gtown about their SMP program and asked them about my chances of admission. I told them that my science GPA is around 2.1.

They replied, "If you are below a 2.8 science GPA, it will affect your chances."

This is a real blow since I'm well below their cutoff. So now I'm forced to look elsewhere. Note that my first year GPA was also around 2.1 because I took all my pre-req science courses in that year. In later years my GPA went up to 3.4~3.5 but of course, having that one D in my first year does little to help my cGPA.

Does anyone know of any other post-baccs that will accept a low science GPA?

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[medicomel]

Loyola accepted me in 2000 based on my cumulative gpa, not science. Call them up and ask.

 

[Braveheart]

I recently contacted Gtown about their SMP program and asked them about my chances of admission. I told them that my science GPA is around 2.1.

They replied, "If you are below a 2.8 science GPA, it will affect your chances."

This is a real blow since I'm well below their cutoff. So now I'm forced to look elsewhere. Note that my first year GPA was also around 2.1 because I took all my pre-req science courses in that year. In later years my GPA went up to 3.4~3.5 but of course, having that one D in my first year does little to help my cGPA.

Does anyone know of any other post-baccs that will accept a low science GPA?

Any help would be much appreciated.

are u a URM(DON'T MEAN ANY HARM, JUST A QUESTION) because there are a lot of programs that will give u a shot based on low GPA. just my 2 cent

 

[sunnyjohn]

are u a URM(DON'T MEAN ANY HARM, JUST A QUESTION) because there are a lot of programs that will give u a shot based on low GPA. just my 2 cent

Never put this in writing again. It will only cause an SDN flame war.


😛

 

[chowchilla]

what does urm stand for?

and thanks for the loyola suggestion, i will look that up. any more programs? i need all the help i can get. thanks again.

 

[ajt2003]

what does urm stand for?

and thanks for the loyola suggestion, i will look that up. any more programs? i need all the help i can get. thanks again.

underrepresented minority.

 

[TiggidyTooth]

I recently contacted Gtown about their SMP program and asked them about my chances of admission. I told them that my science GPA is around 2.1.

They replied, "If you are below a 2.8 science GPA, it will affect your chances."

This is a real blow since I'm well below their cutoff. So now I'm forced to look elsewhere. Note that my first year GPA was also around 2.1 because I took all my pre-req science courses in that year. In later years my GPA went up to 3.4~3.5 but of course, having that one D in my first year does little to help my cGPA.

Does anyone know of any other post-baccs that will accept a low science GPA?

Any help would be much appreciated.

What's your cum? I finished school with a cum of 2.2 and didnt even bother applying to SMP programs. You need to fix your undergrad GPA so if its like mine was then I would advise 1 year of intense undergrad course work (all upper division science classes) then apply to SMP.

If you have a around a 3.0 cum GPA then you should be able to get into an SMP program somewhere as long as your MCAT is decent (around 27 or higher). I could be more help if you could be more specific with your background.

Good Luck!!

Tooth

 

[Braveheart]

What's your cum? I finished school with a cum of 2.2 and didnt even bother applying to SMP programs. You need to fix your undergrad GPA so if its like mine was then I would advise 1 year of intense undergrad course work (all upper division science classes) then apply to SMP.

If you have a around a 3.0 cum GPA then you should be able to get into an SMP program somewhere as long as your MCAT is decent (around 27 or higher). I could be more help if you could be more specific with your background.

Good Luck!!

Tooth

Where did u end up applying to after u pulled ur GPA up

 

[sunnyjohn]

I recently contacted Gtown about their SMP program and asked them about my chances of admission. I told them that my science GPA is around 2.1.

They replied, "If you are below a 2.8 science GPA, it will affect your chances."

This is a real blow since I'm well below their cutoff. So now I'm forced to look elsewhere. Note that my first year GPA was also around 2.1 because I took all my pre-req science courses in that year. In later years my GPA went up to 3.4~3.5 but of course, having that one D in my first year does little to help my cGPA.

Does anyone know of any other post-baccs that will accept a low science GPA?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Try EVMS... Eastern Virginia School of Medicine. it's in Norfolk, VA

Great weather, near the beach.

It's a small one-year program. You get a Master's degree upon completion. You take class with the MS1's. If you do well you get into EVMS and they give you some credit for those classes you took. Last time I checked the fact book I "borrowed" over half the class gets in at EVMS and almost all get in somewhere. Dig up the thread here.

One drawback, it is $$$.

 

[Lindyhopper]

Your best bet is probably to focus on DO programs. Mant DO programs offer post-baccs. The admissions requirements tend not to be too rigorous, but once in, a strong performance can get you into the parent program. But bring your A game.

 

[llort]

why do you want to be in a formal post bac program? You can do all the post reqs at your state university for cheaper, and they are just as valid

 

[chitown82]

i know half a dozen people in the bu program with under 2.5 science gpa...they accepted anyone with a pulse last year....

 

[medicomel]

http://services.aamc.org/postbac/

try this on for size. 👍

 

[mR LaZy]

does post bacc really help, lets say you have a low gpa around 2.5-3.2, a post bacc only offers a year or so of courses. if you get 3.8-4.0 in all the courses, it wouldn't significantly raise your gpa right? so do medical school give more preference to those who did post bacc?

 

[sidewalkman]

I believe you already know about Penn's Special Science Program but Calbear15 got into this program with a very low science GPA (2.3?).

 

[sunnyjohn]

does post bacc really help, lets say you have a low gpa around 2.5-3.2, a post bacc only offers a year or so of courses. if you get 3.8-4.0 in all the courses, it wouldn't significantly raise your gpa right? so do medical school give more preference to those who did post bacc?

The more credits you have, the harder it is to take classes to boost the GPA.

Do the math before you invest the money or the time.

Sometime it's better to retake the prereq's then close the door and start fresh in an SMP.

With that said, My fav's are Penn CGS and EVMS Medical Masters.

 

[chowchilla]

What's your cum? I finished school with a cum of 2.2 and didnt even bother applying to SMP programs. You need to fix your undergrad GPA so if its like mine was then I would advise 1 year of intense undergrad course work (all upper division science classes) then apply to SMP.

If you have a around a 3.0 cum GPA then you should be able to get into an SMP program somewhere as long as your MCAT is decent (around 27 or higher). I could be more help if you could be more specific with your background.

Good Luck!!

Tooth

my cGPA is around 3.05. i'm going to do a fifth year and try and bring up my marks up a bit, but it's still pretty hopeless--even if i did get a 4.0 each year (near impossible), my gpa would still be less than spectacular because of my crappy first year science marks.

unless, of course, there exist medical schools that will accept applicants with a 2.1 science gpa but an overall 3.05 gpa and a decent mcat score (i write them this august, i hope i do well).

also, i pulled up my marks after first year, so if you ignore my first year marks, i'd have a gpa of 3.4~3.5. i'm guessing there aren't any schools that look at improved overall performance either, eh?

and finally, i haven't heard nice things about loyola, from what i remember in old posts, is that true?

 

[sunnyjohn]

my cGPA is around 3.05. i'm going to do a fifth year and try and bring up my marks up a bit, but it's still pretty hopeless--even if i did get a 4.0 each year (near impossible), my gpa would still be less than spectacular because of my crappy first year science marks.

unless, of course, there exist medical schools that will accept applicants with a 2.1 science gpa but an overall 3.05 gpa and a decent mcat score (i write them this august, i hope i do well).

also, i pulled up my marks after first year, so if you ignore my first year marks, i'd have a gpa of 3.4~3.5. i'm guessing there aren't any schools that look at improved overall performance either, eh?

and finally, i haven't heard nice things about loyola, from what i remember in old posts, is that true?

Loyola , Chicago? I think I remeber Phil-A aaying once that the program was too new for anyone to have gotten a good feel on it.

For all we know it could be outstanding. Don't they guarantee an interview with a certain GPA?

 

[mR LaZy]

The more credits you have, the harder it is to take classes to boost the GPA.

Do the math before you invest the money or the time.

Sometime it's better to retake the prereq's then close the door and start fresh in an SMP.

With that said, My fav's are Penn CGS and EVMS Medical Masters.

i meant post bacc as SMP, not just taking prereqs over. so medical school would look highly on a SMP with someone who has low stats? i mean is it really worth getting a SMP, are there like particular schools that have good acceptance rates after completion to good medical schools, what about those top "tier" ones?

 

[sunnyjohn]

I think the general SDN thinking is it depends on your #'s and the SMP.

Some folks think it looks good because it proves you have what it takes to do well in hard-science classes or in classes alongside the first year med students. They may improve the chances so someone with a so-so undergrad performance by opening a whole new graduate category of grades on the app.

Just stuff I read here and around.

 

[TiggidyTooth]

Where did u end up applying to after u pulled ur GPA up

I applied to EVMS, Georgetown, Rosalind Franklin, Drexel. Have been waitlisted at EVMS and have an interview with Drexel and that's all ive heard.

To the OP, you have trended up nicely and with a good MCAT showing you are a shoo in for any SMP. You would probably get in osteopathic schools with those marks. If I were you I would kick some serious pre-med tail and get a 4.0. Why do you think its a long shot? I did it with 39 credits and I came up from a 2.2!! You have got to believe brother otherwise you don't have chance!! My prediction is if you score around a >30 and get all A's next year with a rigorous course load (i.e. all science courses) you will not even need a SMP and will be presently surprised how sweet your application will look. CUM GPA's are not everything as long as there is a nice story that indicates strong upward trends, like yours will.

Tooth

 

[medicomel]

Don't confuse Loyola's post-baccalaureate program with their new MAMS program. The latter is their new masters program designed to establish a strong graduate gpa, not undergraduate. If you took your pre-reqs and you want to show adcoms that you can do the science work, on par with a medical curriculum, then you might want to consider a masters program like the above posters have stated.

It seems that you have some options here, either beef up your undergraduate record by retaking some basic science prereqs, in which adcoms will see a solid upward trend, or you can just bite the bullet and go for a strong graduate showing. I say talk to a counselor at Loyola or at your undergrad institution. Loyola really is awesome in their advising, and I think somebody can help you make the right decision about which pathway to take.

 

[vaik]

The more credits you have, the harder it is to take classes to boost the GPA.

Do the math before you invest the money or the time.

Sometime it's better to retake the prereq's then close the door and start fresh in an SMP.

With that said, My fav's are Penn CGS and EVMS Medical Masters.

I have a gpa of 2.9cum. mcat 32. Is there still time to apply to any SMP program, what schools will take this low gpa, thanks

 

[Orchid 209]

Your MCATs is good enough to balance out your low GPA if you apply to RFU's Applied Physiology program. You have until June 1st to do so. I postmarked my app June 1st last year and had my file (basically LOR's, transcripts and MCAT scores) be fowarded from my application to the med school. I was notified of my acceptance less than two weeks later.

Go apply! now!

 

[vaik]

Your MCATs is good enough to balance out your low GPA if you apply to RFU's Applied Physiology program. You have until June 1st to do so. I postmarked my app June 1st last year and had my file (basically LOR's, transcripts and MCAT scores) be fowarded from my application to the med school. I was notified of my acceptance less than two weeks later.

Go apply! now!

thanks Orchid for the help, I will check in to Rfu's applied physiology program. thanks

 

[Want_2Bcom_a_dr]

I am one hopeful applicant that LOTS of information here, better than any website, and absolutely better than any med advisors woh are like puppets sometimes. I just came to USA 5 months ago WITH my green card, so I shouldn't have any problem in terms of residency. I got a BS in my home country in microbiology (graduated 9 years ago) with evaluated US gpa of 3.17. I was in hope that I can go on applying to med school, but since last week I was just reading 10-12 hours a day on this website and I am AMAZED by the info here. I found out that I should RUN to a postbac (specially the guaranteed ones, or at least the ones with high rates) before doing anything or even thinking about applying to med school now. Have not take the MCAT yet, although planning to take it in this August.
Do you guys think there is any school suitable for me (after a lot of reserach, I found out that postbac is definitely my choice) that I still can apply, or can get into at the soonest time, or I missed this year and have to apply for next fall🙁
From what I got here, I found EVMS and RFU be the best alongside with GTown, and maybe Layola, tufts, BU, Temple, and of course drexel DPMS
and Creighton for guaranteed ones.
I just don't know in my case which one is the best SPECIALLY IN TERMS OF DEADLINES AND LOSING TIME AS LESS AS POSSIBLE.

Any input, specially by more experience members would be HIGHLY APPRICIATED.
Thanks guys,

 

[TiggidyTooth]

I am one hopeful applicant that LOTS of information here, better than any website, and absolutely better than any med advisors woh are like puppets sometimes. I just came to USA 5 months ago WITH my green card, so I shouldn't have any problem in terms of residency. I got a BS in my home country in microbiology (graduated 9 years ago) with evaluated US gpa of 3.17. I was in hope that I can go on applying to med school, but since last week I was just reading 10-12 hours a day on this website and I am AMAZED by the info here. I found out that I should RUN to a postbac (specially the guaranteed ones, or at least the ones with high rates) before doing anything or even thinking about applying to med school now. Have not take the MCAT yet, although planning to take it in this August.
Do you guys think there is any school suitable for me (after a lot of reserach, I found out that postbac is definitely my choice) that I still can apply, or can get into at the soonest time, or I missed this year and have to apply for next fall🙁
From what I got here, I found EVMS and RFU be the best alongside with GTown, and maybe Layola, tufts, BU, Temple, and of course drexel DPMS
and Creighton for guaranteed ones.
I just don't know in my case which one is the best SPECIALLY IN TERMS OF DEADLINES AND LOSING TIME AS LESS AS POSSIBLE.

Any input, specially by more experience members would be HIGHLY APPRICIATED.
Thanks guys,

Not to be crude but you have got to do your homework. Hearing it from people here is all second hand knowledge. Call those schools you listed and find out when their deadlines are!! I know Drexel's is in July, but that's in like 2 weeks!! This website is no substitute for speaking with administrators. In addition, a lot of those programs you mentioned require an MCAT score. You may consider doing an A La Carte post-bac at your local state school.

Good Luck!!

Tooht

 

[NRAI2001]

my cGPA is around 3.05. i'm going to do a fifth year and try and bring up my marks up a bit, but it's still pretty hopeless--even if i did get a 4.0 each year (near impossible), my gpa would still be less than spectacular because of my crappy first year science marks.

unless, of course, there exist medical schools that will accept applicants with a 2.1 science gpa but an overall 3.05 gpa and a decent mcat score (i write them this august, i hope i do well).

also, i pulled up my marks after first year, so if you ignore my first year marks, i'd have a gpa of 3.4~3.5. i'm guessing there aren't any schools that look at improved overall performance either, eh?

and finally, i haven't heard nice things about loyola, from what i remember in old posts, is that true?

You can spend a year and retake a large portion of the classes u did bad in, and then apply to DO schools. DO schools will replace the old grades with the new grades.

 

[themimi]

You might want to check out the GEMS program, also at Gtown Med - check out the link @ http://www3.georgetown.edu/som/student/gems.html. It's designed for students who are disadvantaged in some way or another and who are not your traditional high-GPA, high-MCAT-scoring med school applicants. I was in the program last year (and will be a 1st-year at Gtown Med in August!) and it was a FANTASTIC experience. The basic point is that the program identifies students with great potential and gives them the opportunity to excel in medical school that other med schools don't provide b/c you don't meet their cut-off standards.

 

[Want_2Bcom_a_dr]

Themimi,
Congradulations! Now I understand why if you can get into SMP program, you can eventually go to med school (suppose that you do great). That's because getting into those damn programs are also VERY competetive. Damn! So IFF you can get in, then you ...only if...
I have came from another country (middle east) to US, less than a year ago. Do you think they might consider me as a URM?

 

[help me please]

I will be graduating this May with my bach in biology. My overall gpa is a 2.3 and i have not takin the gre. what can of program (prep program or post) could i get in. please help me

 

[riceman04]

The more credits you have, the harder it is to take classes to boost the GPA.

Do the math before you invest the money or the time.

Sometime it's better to retake the prereq's then close the door and start fresh in an SMP.

With that said, My fav's are Penn CGS and EVMS Medical Masters.

I am in the special sci prog. now....It is awesome.

I am taking classes like Histology (a med school class) and Clinical Research in Emergency Medicine (I have shifts in the ER and I am enrolling patients into "research studies"...great experience"

 

[GoJoeyMojo]

Look into SIU Medprep. I think all you need is a 2.0.