Put in my best efforts..is it still not enough?

[jlocker83]

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I posted this over in the DO forum, but I'd especially like to hear from some of you guys over in MD.

To summarize, I've been out of school a while, went back to take most of my pre-reqs + some additional classes - 42 credits in total. I've put my full heart and soul into these classes and have given it my all. As such, my post-bacc GPA is a 3.9.

Unfortunately, due to some pretty atrocious grades roughly 10 years ago, my cGPA was a 2.8 when I started this journey. After my post-bacc I've raised my gpa's to a cGPA of 3.2 and sGPA of 3.75.

I know the MCAT will be a huge factor, and I'm currently studying for it...but my worry is my crap GPA will preclude me from MD schools unless I manage to pull 38-40 MCAT (which would be silly to count on).

 

[aishtr1295]

I think they will see your post-bac GPA and give it more consideration than your cGPA. Your sGPA is still pretty good.

 

[jlocker83]

I think they will see your post-bac GPA and give it more consideration than your cGPA. Your sGPA is still pretty good.

Thanks for the feedback.

Am I right in my assumption that med schools place more emphasis on cGPA than on sGPA?

Also, when schools see my grades, do you know how it is displayed? Is it just cGPA/sGPA? Or do they actually get to see the post-bacc GPA extrapolated from the rest of the data?

 

[Goro]

I think if you just do well (>33) on MCAT, then your chances for those MD schools that reward reinvention will be fine. Aim for all low-tiers, all new, and your state schools (if any) as well.

And yes, you're fine for any DO program.

I posted this over in the DO forum, but I'd especially like to hear from some of you guys over in MD.

To summarize, I've been out of school a while, went back to take most of my pre-reqs + some additional classes - 42 credits in total. I've put my full heart and soul into these classes and have given it my all. As such, my post-bacc GPA is a 3.9.

Unfortunately, due to some pretty atrocious grades roughly 10 years ago, my cGPA was a 2.8 when I started this journey. After my post-bacc I've raised my gpa's to a cGPA of 3.2 and sGPA of 3.75.

I know the MCAT will be a huge factor, and I'm currently studying for it...but my worry is my crap GPA will preclude me from MD schools unless I manage to pull 38-40 MCAT (which would be silly to count on).

 

[jlocker83]

I think if you just do well (>33) on MCAT, then your chances for those MD schools that reward reinvention will be fine. Aim for all low-tiers, all new, and your state schools (if any) as well.

And yes, you're fine for any DO program.

Thank you, sir 👍

 

[eagerstudent]

Im still in my undergrad but Ive done my research and feel like I have a pretty good understanding on what to strive for to get into med school. Also I worked in an ER for two years and picked every single MD's brain about what I should be doing.

I think youre in pretty good shape as far as your GPA, especially because you did well once you went back and knew what you wanted. My school just had an MD/Phd who is on the admissions board for a med school and he stressed the fact that they're humans too. They understand things like maybe you had a bad start to school and what not.

Also, if you're that concerned about it, doing things like getting involved in research, volunteering and shadowing are beneficial. Not just to build your resume but to build character and life experience

 

[gyngyn]

Also, when schools see my grades, do you know how it is displayed? Is it just cGPA/sGPA? Or do they actually get to see the post-bacc GPA extrapolated from the rest of the data?

We see science, all other and a combined gpa year by year, Post bac grades are on a separate line, then added in.

 

[jlocker83]

We see science, all other and a combined gpa year by year, Post bac grades are on a separate line, then added in.

Thank you very much.

 

[sobored]

I posted this over in the DO forum, but I'd especially like to hear from some of you guys over in MD.

To summarize, I've been out of school a while, went back to take most of my pre-reqs + some additional classes - 42 credits in total. I've put my full heart and soul into these classes and have given it my all. As such, my post-bacc GPA is a 3.9.

Unfortunately, due to some pretty atrocious grades roughly 10 years ago, my cGPA was a 2.8 when I started this journey. After my post-bacc I've raised my gpa's to a cGPA of 3.2 and sGPA of 3.75.

I know the MCAT will be a huge factor, and I'm currently studying for it...but my worry is my crap GPA will preclude me from MD schools unless I manage to pull 38-40 MCAT (which would be silly to count on).

I have a similar experience and I had a lot of success with MD programs. Going back to school and excelling in science courses casts you in a very positive light to ad coms. Throw in a nice MCAT (>30), and you are an attractive candidate for many schools. If I may, 2 pieces of advice could really help you:

1) Fantastic job with the 42 credits, but if you can take more upper division science courses (in the same semester) and ace them, that will help you substantially.
2) You made no mention of ECs, but being 10 years removed from college I have to assume you have done some things since then. Hopefully you have one or two things that you are/were passionate about that you can talk about in your app to make you stand out a bit.

Good luck OP. I bet you snag some acceptances.

 

[jlocker83]

I have a similar experience and I had a lot of success with MD programs. Going back to school and excelling in science courses casts you in a very positive light to ad coms. Throw in a nice MCAT (>30), and you are an attractive candidate for many schools. If I may, 2 pieces of advice could really help you:

1) Fantastic job with the 42 credits, but if you can take more upper division science courses (in the same semester) and ace them, that will help you substantially.
2) You made no mention of ECs, but being 10 years removed from college I have to assume you have done some things since then. Hopefully you have one or two things that you are/were passionate about that you can talk about in your app to make you stand out a bit.

Good luck OP. I bet you snag some acceptances.

I did leave EC out because I was looking for a straight opinion on GPA alone. I do feel I have a pretty good EC which will help me out, although I'll let you be the judge..

I've spent the past 6 years running an internet company I founded with a partner. In short, we developed a way to make targeted online advertisements more relevant to the consumer and less expensive for the advertiser, while simultaneously improving click rates far and above that of google and the other big dogs.

 

[sobored]

I did leave EC out because I was looking for a straight opinion on GPA alone. I do feel I have a pretty good EC which will help me out, although I'll let you be the judge..

I've spent the past 6 years running an internet company I founded with a partner. In short, we developed a way to make targeted online advertisements more relevant to the consumer and less expensive for the advertiser, while simultaneously improving click rates far and above that of google and the other big dogs.

You will do well. Study hard for the MCAT. I'm not worried about your chances.