senior, low gpa, should i give up?

[fizz12]

Hi everyone, first time actually posting something here,

My anxiety has gone through the roof with this. I have a 2.7 cGPA. I'm a senior college. And I havent taken the MCAT yet (will be on Sept 9) and after all this I still want to apply to medical school.

In terms of volunteering/shadowing, I intern at a child development center working with autistic kids about once a week for the past year. I love the job which helps me cement my dreams of becoming a pediatrician even more.

The reason for my low GPA is confusing and somewhat unknown to me. My advisors didn't explain it very well either. I transferred from a private school with a 2.0 gpa after my first year due to mental health issues. I came into this new school and started off with a 3.1 and getting B's in my classes (and C's) kept dropping it further little by little until it reached to a 2.5. This was by the end of my 2nd year of undergrad.

Last year I decided to turn my life around and really focus on studying and getting my grades up. I began to get A's and B's, honestly mostly B's. I have now brought it up to a 2.7. I did receive an F in my calculus class which I know is definitely making it harder for me to bring it up (the reason for the F is all my fault really, I missed the drop deadline and didn't have a choice but to stick with the class) I retook the class just this past summer and got a B. I am doing grade forgiveness for it so the F will be replaced. I'm not sure how much my GPA will go up.

So my questions are:

-Should I bother even applying to med school? I've read a few posts about how med schools like to see an upward trend, but I don't think mine is a very drastic trend.

-I was considering doing a master's program for a year. I've also read posts about people saying it is a waste of time especially if you want to do it just to get in med school and not for your own satisfaction. I kind of want to go for it and do it for a year because there are programs out there that are genuinely interesting and I feel as if med school will see this as a good sign. Would this be better or a post bacc or neither? Should I go into research instead?

Please help. Becoming a doctor is all I ever wanted to do and now it seems hopeless 😢

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[shopsteward]

So you've gone from a 2.0 first year to a 2.5 second year to a 3.? third year. An upward trend is good: continue it.

You can still become a doctor, it's just that the route for you will be a little longer than an application at the end of junior year and straight on to medschool after a four year undergrad. Don't bother with a masters (med school adcoms can discount masters grades as inflated), you need to continue with the undergrad courses until your undergraduate GPA is as much above 3.0 as you can reasonably make it. That might mean a fifth year before graduating, it might mean an ad hoc post-bac, it might mean a formal SMP (only do this once your GPA is over 3.0 and you are sure that you will get mostly As, otherwise the dream is probably over for you). Once your GPA is up, take the MCAT: take it once and take it good.

You will probably need at least two "gap" years, and possibly more, between your four years of undergrad and starting medschool.
That's OK: it gives you time to get in clinical experience and volunteering, and to create a compelling narrative out of your life which demonstrates to adcoms why you are a great candidate.

Good luck

 

[Terror Billy]

Hi everyone, first time actually posting something here,

My anxiety has gone through the roof with this. I have a 2.7 cGPA. I'm a senior college. And I havent taken the MCAT yet (will be on Sept 9) and after all this I still want to apply to medical school.

In terms of volunteering/shadowing, I intern at a child development center working with autistic kids about once a week for the past year. I love the job which helps me cement my dreams of becoming a pediatrician even more.

The reason for my low GPA is confusing and somewhat unknown to me. My advisors didn't explain it very well either. I transferred from a private school with a 2.0 gpa after my first year due to mental health issues. I came into this new school and started off with a 3.1 and getting B's in my classes (and C's) kept dropping it further little by little until it reached to a 2.5. This was by the end of my 2nd year of undergrad.

Last year I decided to turn my life around and really focus on studying and getting my grades up. I began to get A's and B's, honestly mostly B's. I have now brought it up to a 2.7. I did receive an F in my calculus class which I know is definitely making it harder for me to bring it up (the reason for the F is all my fault really, I missed the drop deadline and didn't have a choice but to stick with the class) I retook the class just this past summer and got a B. I am doing grade forgiveness for it so the F will be replaced. I'm not sure how much my GPA will go up.

So my questions are:

-Should I bother even applying to med school? I've read a few posts about how med schools like to see an upward trend, but I don't think mine is a very drastic trend.

-I was considering doing a master's program for a year. I've also read posts about people saying it is a waste of time especially if you want to do it just to get in med school and not for your own satisfaction. I kind of want to go for it and do it for a year because there are programs out there that are genuinely interesting and I feel as if med school will see this as a good sign. Would this be better or a post bacc or neither? Should I go into research instead?

Please help. Becoming a doctor is all I ever wanted to do and now it seems hopeless 😢

For whenever you do apply to medical school, if you have to describe or explain your low GPA, DO NOT SAY THIS. Take accountability for your past and provide them evidence that you have made the appropriate changes.

 

[candbgirl]

When are you applying?
So your cGPA right now is 2.7 and you have one more year of school left? Does this GPA. Include the 2.0 from your first year? Any idea what your sGPA is? Even though you say you are doing grade forgiveness that only applies to your school. AMCAS will count the F and every other grade you have ever taken at any college in your GPA calculations. If I were you, I wouldn't take the MCAT in September. You obviously have some knowledge gaps and they may impact your score. Besides , I doubt you'll be applying for a couple of years at least. How are your ECs going?


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[giguerex35]

What they said ^^

 

[SpartanWolverine]

From your story I see no compelling connection to healthcare and no compelling evidence that you're academically prepared to succeed in medical education at this point. I'd personally like to see around 40 solid continuous credits of upper-level coursework, something that demonstrates an understanding and dedication to medicine (i.e., beyond interning at a behavioral health center), and a good MCAT on your first try. This may be several years of work yet in front of you, but it's doable.

 

[fizz12]

When are you applying?
So your cGPA right now is 2.7 and you have one more year of school left? Does this GPA. Include the 2.0 from your first year? Any idea what your sGPA is? Even though you say you are doing grade forgiveness that only applies to your school. AMCAS will count the F and every other grade you have ever taken at any college in your GPA calculations. If I were you, I wouldn't take the MCAT in September. You obviously have some knowledge gaps and they may impact your score. Besides , I doubt you'll be applying for a couple of years at least. How are your ECs going?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

How do I find my sGPA?

 

[fizz12]

So you've gone from a 2.0 first year to a 2.5 second year to a 3.? third year. An upward trend is good: continue it.

You can still become a doctor, it's just that the route for you will be a little longer than an application at the end of junior year and straight on to medschool after a four year undergrad. Don't bother with a masters (med school adcoms can discount masters grades as inflated), you need to continue with the undergrad courses until your undergraduate GPA is as much above 3.0 as you can reasonably make it. That might mean a fifth year before graduating, it might mean an ad hoc post-bac, it might mean a formal SMP (only do this once your GPA is over 3.0 and you are sure that you will get mostly As, otherwise the dream is probably over for you). Once your GPA is up, take the MCAT: take it once and take it good.

You will probably need at least two "gap" years, and possibly more, between your four years of undergrad and starting medschool.
That's OK: it gives you time to get in clinical experience and volunteering, and to create a compelling narrative out of your life which demonstrates to adcoms why you are a great candidate.

Good luck

Question about post bacc: wouldn't it be more difficult to bring up my GPA because of all the undergrad credits I've accumulated?

 

[candbgirl]

How do I find my sGPA?

You could figure it out. All BCMP courses taken are included in your sGPA.


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[candbgirl]

Question about post bacc: wouldn't it be more difficult to bring up my GPA because of all the undergrad credits I've accumulated?

There comes a time where you do reach the point of diminishing returns. If you have lots of hours it might be near impossible to move your GPA much. You could consider a SMP but actually you might not be accepted because of your current GPA and you have to do exceptionally well in the program( like 3.6+) or it's game over. SMPs are very expensive and you haven't shown any indication that you might be successful in a program.
Seriously consider cancelling the September MCAT. It's not going to do you any good to score low. Go back for your senior year and get all As. If you can manage two semesters of As you might be able to stay for a fifth year and take another 2 semesters of all As. The courses have to be upper level science to prove you can handle med school. If you can manage four semesters of superior grades there are school that reward reinvention. Come back next Summer and let us know how you are going. Good luck.


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[Goro]

Should I bother even applying to med school? I've read a few posts about how med schools like to see an upward trend, but I don't think mine is a very drastic trend.
Not now. You are nowhere near ready to be able to convince any Adcom member that you can handle med school. You need at least 1-2 more years of aceing coursework (GPA of 3.7+), either in a DIY post-bac or SMP.

-I was considering doing a master's program for a year. I've also read posts about people saying it is a waste of time especially if you want to do it just to get in med school and not for your own satisfaction. I kind of want to go for it and do it for a year because there are programs out there that are genuinely interesting and I feel as if med school will see this as a good sign. Would this be better or a post bacc or neither? Should I go into research instead?
SMP? Yes. Research MS? It only will help your app with DO schools, and at least provide you with a backup career stepping stone.

Please help. Becoming a doctor is all I ever wanted to do and now it seems hopeless
You also need to make sure that your mental health issues are fully under control. Medical school is a furnace, and I've seen it break even healthy students. The #1 reason my school loses students to withdrawal, dismissal or LOA is to unresolved mental health issues.

And always have a Plan B.

 

[SLU Student]

Do not give up yet.

If you're about to start senior year, I'm guessing you have about 90 credit hours. If you take a 5th year, you would accumulate an additional 60 credit hours. That is plenty to alter your GPA by a significant amount.

As for your grade forgiveness, how does your school do it? If the F is still on your official transcript, the AACOMAS and AMCAS will still factor in the F. If the F no longer exists on your transcript, then it will not be counted. Hopefully it is the latter.

As for your MCAT, definitely cancel it. There's no need to take it right now. Focus on increasing your GPA. If it's too late to cancel, go ahead and take it, but make sure to void it at the end. This way, you'll understand the format and timing of the test. You might as well make use of your money.

Good luck!