Residency and GPA

[shortwhitecoat]

Hi everyone,

i'm currently a medical student starting my second year of medical school. I'm finishing up my basic science classes and getting ready to start studying for step1 and hopefully take it in early 2014. It looks like my cumulative gpa (basic sciences) will be about a 2.9. Those of you that have gone through the process, or maybe just know more about it than I do, do you think this gpa is a deterring factor in my matching into a residency? I know step 1 score is obviously important and I haven't taken that yet, but what are your thoughts on this gpa specifically? I'm currently at a medical school in the midwest and would like to move back to my home state of California. Do you think my gpa will hold me back from residencies like IM, peds, OBgyn?

thanks for your help in advance!

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[Arbor Vitae]

Hi everyone,

i'm currently a medical student starting my second year of medical school. I'm finishing up my basic science classes and getting ready to start studying for step1 and hopefully take it in early 2014. It looks like my cumulative gpa (basic sciences) will be about a 2.9. Those of you that have gone through the process, or maybe just know more about it than I do, do you think this gpa is a deterring factor in my matching into a residency? I know step 1 score is obviously important and I haven't taken that yet, but what are your thoughts on this gpa specifically? I'm currently at a medical school in the midwest and would like to move back to my home state of California. Do you think my gpa will hold me back from residencies like IM, peds, OBgyn?

thanks for your help in advance!

your school has a GPA?

 

[evilbooyaa]

Some med schools do have a true GPA. I think it's silly but it's just a different system from the usual P/F vs P/HP/H.

Anyways, OP, a 2.9 GPA is slightly less than a B average throughout medical school. Not the hottest GPA. However, Pre-clinicals matter the least out of the main things people care about. Therefore your goal should be to destroy Step 1 and do really really well on your 3rd year rotations (as is everyone's goal, at least here on SDN).

As of right now, compared to other students, you are obviously in a worse position. Doesn't help that California is an exceedingly popular state for students to go into residency, and thus will be harder. However, all of this can be reversed with a good Step 1 and 3rd-year grades.

 

[Sheldor]

Hi everyone,

i'm currently a medical student starting my second year of medical school. I'm finishing up my basic science classes and getting ready to start studying for step1 and hopefully take it in early 2014. It looks like my cumulative gpa (basic sciences) will be about a 2.9. Those of you that have gone through the process, or maybe just know more about it than I do, do you think this gpa is a deterring factor in my matching into a residency? I know step 1 score is obviously important and I haven't taken that yet, but what are your thoughts on this gpa specifically? I'm currently at a medical school in the midwest and would like to move back to my home state of California. Do you think my gpa will hold me back from residencies like IM, peds, OBgyn?

thanks for your help in advance!

My school had a GPA as well, and it will definitley matter when you apply for residency. However, it will be looked at along with your third year grades, Step score(s), AOA, letters, etc. So as you can see you still have control over quite a few of the factors! For IM, peds and OB, you are still in play nearly everywhere. However, if you keep that up and get B's and C's in third year as well your options will begin to be limited.

 

[J ROD]

Just try and do as well as you can in your classes but dont get worried.

Step 1, Clinic grades, and Letters are much more important.

And those specialities you listed are not that competitive so you have even less to worry about.

I would shoot to get over a 3.0 though. It just sounds better.