Should I get masters before applying? 2.96cGPA

[houseofdead90]

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Hello everybody!
I am senior and will be graduating after spring 2012 🙂. Right now I have 2.96 cumulative GPA. Last semester I had 3.3 and due to some problems, it dropped to 2.96 😳. If I get A's in all my classes this semester and next semester, my overall GPA will only go up to 3.237. I talked to my adviser today and he said you should get masters degree before applying to get better chance. I haven't taken MCATs yet but I am planning to take it next summer. Should I get masters or should I retake some of the classes and delay my graduation and raise GPA?🙁
My major is Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

 

[gmcguitar4]

From what I have heard, your undergraduate GPA is much more important. I think that sucks because for, like you for example, were doing decent and then had some issues that made your GPA suffer. It is not a real representation of you potential.

I suggest heavy post-bac and fix your GPA. do it as soon as you graduate for 1-2 years. I wouldn't delay graduation. Just take classes after at a local school by home so it will be cheaper. Preferably not community college.

 

[45408]

If I get A's in all my classes this semester and next semester, my overall GPA will only go up to 3.237.

Going from a B average to an A average is no simple task. See if you can actually get mostly A's for a semester or two. If not, then I think you should consider other options.

You can always do grade replacement and then apply DO.

 

[sector9]

Hello everybody!
I am senior and will be graduating after spring 2012 🙂. Right now I have 2.96 cumulative GPA. Last semester I had 3.3 and due to some problems, it dropped to 2.96 😳. If I get A's in all my classes this semester and next semester, my overall GPA will only go up to 3.237. I talked to my adviser today and he said you should get masters degree before applying to get better chance. I haven't taken MCATs yet but I am planning to take it next summer. Should I get masters or should I retake some of the classes and delay my graduation and raise GPA?🙁
My major is Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Definitely don't do the master's unless he's talking about a Special Master's Program (SMP). I would say don't commit to a SMP until you start doing well in your classes. Sorry, getting a 3.3 before dropping to a 2.96 is not going to impress any admissions committees. You need to focus on DO schools and start retaking classes to use their grade replacement policy

 

[Goro]

Sorry to disappoint, but do NOT apply, as it will be money thrown away. A good post-bac program is called for here to show us you can handle medical school.

You also may want to look at shoring up your coping skills. Medical school is hard enough as it is, and then if you thrown in life problems, that's a recipe for trouble.

A 3.3 is not competetive for MD schools, and on the very low end for DO schools.

Hello everybody!
I am senior and will be graduating after spring 2012 🙂. Right now I have 2.96 cumulative GPA. Last semester I had 3.3 and due to some problems, it dropped to 2.96 😳. If I get A's in all my classes this semester and next semester, my overall GPA will only go up to 3.237. I talked to my adviser today and he said you should get masters degree before applying to get better chance. I haven't taken MCATs yet but I am planning to take it next summer. Should I get masters or should I retake some of the classes and delay my graduation and raise GPA?🙁
My major is Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

 

[Bouddha]

Hello everybody!
I am senior and will be graduating after spring 2012 🙂. Right now I have 2.96 cumulative GPA. Last semester I had 3.3 and due to some problems, it dropped to 2.96 😳. If I get A's in all my classes this semester and next semester, my overall GPA will only go up to 3.237. I talked to my adviser today and he said you should get masters degree before applying to get better chance. I haven't taken MCATs yet but I am planning to take it next summer. Should I get masters or should I retake some of the classes and delay my graduation and raise GPA?🙁
My major is Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

It all depends on your MCAT score. I had a GPA similar to yours, but rocked the MCAT (35+ balanced), and am now in medical school. My advice is do as well as you can GPA wise, take a prep-course (Princeton Review) and rock the MCAT, then apply. The worst thing that could happen is you don't get in the first time around, and you have to do an SMP and reapply.

Be careful listening to a lot of people on SDN. They all told me I was crazy to assume I could get mid-30s on MCAT yet I did. They all told me I had no prayer of getting into medical school, yet I am currently an MS1 at an MD program.