Reapplying: low undergrad gpa but not doing smps/postbaccs need advice

[SadPanda]

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Well it kinda says it on top, my undergrad gpa is kinda crappy below 3.0. Post baccs wont help and ive been hearing grad gpa wont help either. Can anyone that reapplied but didnt take the usual route of going back to school give me some advice? I'm thinking of being and EMT, phlebotomist, etc and actually work and get more clinical exp. My MCAT was a 34Q-- Nice but not steller to make up for my gpa. Is it hopeless? Does work in the pre health field and more clinical work show the dedication as much as say taking an smp and raising a gpa? Any advice on programs that dont screen u out bc of gpa would help too. I feel my gpa stops me from getting in those programs too. I dont mind putting in the time I just dont want to waste money if its fruitless in the end. Thank you.

 

[LPeterson]

Why do you think that a postbac won't help? It sounds to me like the only thing that will help with a GPA below 3.0. There are plenty of postbac programs for people who need to improve their GPAs or retake prerequisites. Look on the AAMC website or DIY at your state university.

 

[ana]

Well it kinda says it on top, my undergrad gpa is kinda crappy below 3.0. Post baccs wont help and ive been hearing grad gpa wont help either. Can anyone that reapplied but didnt take the usual route of going back to school give me some advice? I'm thinking of being and EMT, phlebotomist, etc and actually work and get more clinical exp. My MCAT was a 34Q-- Nice but not steller to make up for my gpa. Is it hopeless? Does work in the pre health field and more clinical work show the dedication as much as say taking an smp and raising a gpa? Any advice on programs that dont screen u out bc of gpa would help too. I feel my gpa stops me from getting in those programs too. I dont mind putting in the time I just dont want to waste money if its fruitless in the end. Thank you.

Why won't a postbacc help? I rec a do-it-yourself postbacc at a state university.

 

[mommy2three]

If you're GPA is below a 3.0 a good bet is to try for an SMP that takes most of their graduates into their own medical school. They'll take you with below a 3.0, and then your performance in the SMP determines your shot at getting in to their associated medical school. Programs like this, off hand, are LLU, EVMS, Rosalind Franklin, and Tulane. I believe you have until the end of the week to apply to all of them (except EVMS, deadline's past), so you'd need to hurry.

There's also DO and Carribian schools, which you might be good for depending on your grades. And you could always get you're Ugrad up to a 3.0 with art-history type easy courses.

rfu has changed their program as of this past academic year and they no longer guarantee accpetance...just an fyi

 

[glamqueen]

Just earn a second undergrad degree...the undergrad GPA's will combine together and you can raise your overall up that way. This does work, and I think the key is to just make sure you pick a doable second undergrad. Maybe Psychology - a great humanities degree for medical school.

 

[mommy2three]

None of the program I listed guarentee acceptance. They just all take over 50% of the program graduates into their medical school.

before rfu changed their program they did guarantee (well unofficially) acceptance as long as you maintained a specific gpa. they changed that this past acadmeic year and that unofficial guarantee is no longer there.

 

[Abobo]

There isn't necessarily a way to get around a gpa below 3.0. I agree with ana, take some undergraduate science bio or chem classes at a local public university- it's cheap and it doesn't obligate you to a program/degree. Also, I would recommend calling your first preference school, and asking them what they think you should do.

 

[gotmeds?]

Well it kinda says it on top, my undergrad gpa is kinda crappy below 3.0. Post baccs wont help and ive been hearing grad gpa wont help either. Can anyone that reapplied but didnt take the usual route of going back to school give me some advice? I'm thinking of being and EMT, phlebotomist, etc and actually work and get more clinical exp. My MCAT was a 34Q-- Nice but not steller to make up for my gpa. Is it hopeless? Does work in the pre health field and more clinical work show the dedication as much as say taking an smp and raising a gpa? Any advice on programs that dont screen u out bc of gpa would help too. I feel my gpa stops me from getting in those programs too. I dont mind putting in the time I just dont want to waste money if its fruitless in the end. Thank you.

You could be the best EMT or phlebotomist in the world, but it won't help your chances much as long as your GPA is below 3.0. I'd suggest (as others have) to take as many classes as you can before your MCAT score expires and then reapply. You could easily squeeze in about 48 units of classes in a couple of years. Assuming you took around 120 for your bachelor's, you could raise a 3.0 to a 3.3 if you pulled off straight-As. With your MCAT score, you'd have a shot at MD and you'd be in great shape for DO.

 

[poly800rock]

You could be the best EMT or phlebotomist in the world, but it won't help your chances much as long as your GPA is below 3.0. I'd suggest (as others have) to take as many classes as you can before your MCAT score expires and then reapply. You could easily squeeze in about 48 units of classes in a couple of years. Assuming you took around 120 for your bachelor's, you could raise a 3.0 to a 3.3 if you pulled off straight-As. With your MCAT score, you'd have a shot at MD and you'd be in great shape for DO.

120 credits isn't just another degree, it's like going to undergrad all over again...