Sould I give up this cycle?

[MedicineMike]

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I am a post-bacc student finishing up my pre-reqs with all A's. This is my final semester and im taking genetics, micro, and ochemII. I am potentially going to get a B in micro and am worried because as I stand right now my GPA is 2.92. With all A's this semester it would put my gpa at 3.01. If I get a B it will be at 2.97. Is this 3.0 cutoff extremely important to get above?

Also, my mcat blew: 23Q PS: 7 VR: 8 BS: 8

I am aacomas verified as of june. Applied to schools before the MCAT and now I dont even want to fill out any secondaries due to my crappy mcat. I plan on retaking in jan or feb.

Should I keep trying or give up and start again next june?

 

[Mzeep]

You're like my twin! Well, not exactly I have a lower mcat score, slightly higher gpa but I had the same dilemma a few months ago. Did the same thing you did, sent in everything in June, was verified early but I didn't have an mcat score yet, ended up rescheduling which delayed everything but I sent in my secondaries before taking my mcat.

If you didn't send out any secondaries yet, I would hold off until next year just to give you a better chance. You could definitely raise your mcat and gpa by then which would give you a better chance. Once you take the mcat in Jan/Feb, scores don't come until Feb/March, serious disadvantage here which is why I would just save the $$ for next year and submit Day 1.

I know it's difficult though after sending in primaries but I really wish I hadn't send in the secondaries so quickly, waste of money imo. If there is anything I learned from SDN, it's to apply early with everything done.

 

[MedicineMike]

You're like my twin! Well, not exactly I have a lower mcat score, slightly higher gpa but I had the same dilemma a few months ago. Did the same thing you did, sent in everything in June, was verified early but I didn't have an mcat score yet, ended up rescheduling which delayed everything but I sent in my secondaries before taking my mcat.

If you didn't send out any secondaries yet, I would hold off until next year just to give you a better chance. You could definitely raise your mcat and gpa by then which would give you a better chance. Once you take the mcat in Jan/Feb, scores don't come until Feb/March, serious disadvantage here which is why I would just save the $$ for next year and submit Day 1.

I know it's difficult though after sending in primaries but I really wish I hadn't send in the secondaries so quickly, waste of money imo. If there is anything I learned from SDN, it's to apply early with everything done.

glad to see someone in the same boat as me (as unfortunate as it is haha). My cumGPA sucks but my bcpmGPA is 3.75 which is good imo.

I dont think I will take classes Spring '11 and just study for the mcat hardcore and do part-time work. However, if that 3.0 cutoff is THAT important, should I take biochem in the summer or something?

So lost. Help!

 

[MightyMoose]

I am a post-bacc student finishing up my pre-reqs with all A's. This is my final semester and im taking genetics, micro, and ochemII. I am potentially going to get a B in micro and am worried because as I stand right now my GPA is 2.92. With all A's this semester it would put my gpa at 3.01. If I get a B it will be at 2.97. Is this 3.0 cutoff extremely important to get above?

Also, my mcat blew: 23Q PS: 7 VR: 8 BS: 8

I am aacomas verified as of june. Applied to schools before the MCAT and now I dont even want to fill out any secondaries due to my crappy mcat. I plan on retaking in jan or feb.

Should I keep trying or give up and start again next june?

I would hold off until next year. You have three things going against you right now; low GPA, low MCAT, and applying late.

Bust ass in Micro and try for that "A" because a 3.01 makes the cut at a lot of schools where a 2.97 does not.

My recommendation for you would be to:

1) Finish out this semester as strongly as possible.
2) Add a retake or two to next semester, so that you can use the grade replacement AACOMAS offers, which can help out quite a bit.
3) Retake the MCAT next spring. Possibly take a class or figure out how to really hit the books so that you can pull off an MCAT boost.
4) Apply broadly with your new GPA and MCAT June 1st of next year.


Best of luck!

 

[MedicineMike]

I would hold off until next year. You have three things going against you right now; low GPA, low MCAT, and applying late.

Bust ass in Micro and try for that "A" because a 3.01 makes the cut at a lot of schools where a 2.97 does not.

My recommendation for you would be to:

1) Finish out this semester as strongly as possible.
2) Add a retake or two to next semester, so that you can use the grade replacement AACOMAS offers, which can help out quite a bit.
3) Retake the MCAT next spring. Possibly take a class or figure out how to really hit the books so that you can pull off an MCAT boost.
4) Apply broadly with your new GPA and MCAT June 1st of next year.


Best of luck!

If i take spring '11 semester off to work and study my arse off for the MCAT, and apply June 1, would it be too late to take a maymester or other summer course? I received a D in precalc my fresh yearand obviously think I can get a 100 in that class now haha. would it be too late to take in summer?

 

[seap3]

I would use the spring semester to retake precalc, study for the mcat (class if possible), and work part time. That seems like a reasonable schedule to me and will give you the best shot at applying June 1. Replacing that D will make a big difference in your GPA, so it would be best to have it done before you submit your app.

I think it would be too late to retake in the summer if you want to apply early. You want to have your transcripts verified as soon as possible (May would be best) with the best grades possible. Even though you can update later, it would be better to have a solid gpa right away.

Applying early really is very important.

 

[MightyMoose]

If i take spring '11 semester off to work and study my arse off for the MCAT, and apply June 1, would it be too late to take a maymester or other summer course? I received a D in precalc my fresh yearand obviously think I can get a 100 in that class now haha. would it be too late to take in summer?

Yes, summer would be too late. You wouldn't get your new grade until August. By that point you already want to be completing secondaries. Suck it up and take it in the spring. It will be better for your application. I would take another one as well if you can. You want to bump up that GPA. With 2 classes and a job you could still study for the MCAT. If you really wanted to you could study over your holiday break, which will give you a solid month. Then keep it up until ~Feb/March and take the MCAT then. This way you can get your core review done during the holiday month and hit practice exams, filling in details for the month or two after that.

 

[Goro]

"With all A's this semester it would put my gpa at 3.01. If I get a B it will be at 2.97. Is this 3.0 cutoff extremely important to get above?"

Yes, but that's still pretty low.


"Also, my mcat blew: 23Q PS: 7 VR: 8 BS: 8 Should I keep trying or give up and start again next june?"

No, yes and yes, AFTER retaking the MCAT and boosting it by 3+ points. Strongly suggest retaking any science classes you got Cs in to boost your grade. At our school, you'd barely rate an interview now.

 

[Mzeep]

Haha true! Your bcpm gpa is great though! Like others have said the 3.0 mark is really important, well from what I've seen on here at least lol.

I would take the mcat early enough to have it ready to submit your primary with a score, it's just less of a hassle. I hated that part of the application, at least with me it took about 2 months to update but they were also getting more apps in by then.

Btw, you should keep an eye out for the new aamc exam coming out!

glad to see someone in the same boat as me (as unfortunate as it is haha). My cumGPA sucks but my bcpmGPA is 3.75 which is good imo.

I dont think I will take classes Spring '11 and just study for the mcat hardcore and do part-time work. However, if that 3.0 cutoff is THAT important, should I take biochem in the summer or something?

So lost. Help!

 

[MedicineMike]

"With all A's this semester it would put my gpa at 3.01. If I get a B it will be at 2.97. Is this 3.0 cutoff extremely important to get above?"

Yes, but that's still pretty low.


"Also, my mcat blew: 23Q PS: 7 VR: 8 BS: 8 Should I keep trying or give up and start again next june?"

No, yes and yes, AFTER retaking the MCAT and boosting it by 3+ points. Strongly suggest retaking any science classes you got Cs in to boost your grade. At our school, you'd barely rate an interview now.

thanks for the response GORO. I am positive my MCAT will increase at least 3-5 points. I took that before having ochemII and did not study like i should.

I graduated college with a 2.62 gpa. and have gotten it almost up to 3.0! I was an athlete and econ major in undergrad and did not care about that major at all. I think I only took 2 sciences in undergrad. One I got an A in, the other was intro to bio which I got a C in. After having bio I and II I dont think i can retake "intro to bio".

Does your school look at a higher trend for post-bacs?

 

[sylvanthus]

Do you have any clinical experience?

 

[Goro]

thanks for the response GORO. I am positive my MCAT will increase at least 3-5 points. I took that before having ochemII and did not study like i should.

I graduated college with a 2.62 gpa. and have gotten it almost up to 3.0! I was an athlete and econ major in undergrad and did not care about that major at all. I think I only took 2 sciences in undergrad. One I got an A in, the other was intro to bio which I got a C in. After having bio I and II I dont think i can retake "intro to bio".

Does your school look at a higher trend for post-bacs?

Oh, yes!! Offhand, I think the majority of our students who go post-bacc have GPAs in the 3.5-4.0 range. That convinces us that they can handle med school.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I haven't read the rest of the thread. but I would definitely give up on this cycle. I would work on getting at least a 3.3 and a 26 on the MCAT.

 

[MedicineMike]

I haven't read the rest of the thread. but I would definitely give up on this cycle. I would work on getting at least a 3.3 and a 26 on the MCAT.

haha i love the bluntness! I dont think it is possible to get my gpa up to 3.3 unless i go to school another 3+ years!! However, I am 100% confident my mcat will be way above a 26. This brings up the next point though...how do i separate myself from just another low gpa/high mcat applicant for next cycle?

 

[JamesLMT]

haha i love the bluntness! I dont think it is possible to get my gpa up to 3.3 unless i go to school another 3+ years!! However, I am 100% confident my mcat will be way above a 26. This brings up the next point though...how do i separate myself from just another low gpa/high mcat applicant for next cycle?

Don't listen to the spew that comes out of Triage mouth, he is an internet tough guy and a dick. If he cared enough to read the thread he would have seen whats going on instead of quoting the oh so tired retake MCAT get better scores above yada yada.

You don't have to go to school nec. You can retake your courses you had C's or above in but depending on how well you do on the MCAT depends on how good of a GPA you need. I have seen some low GPA (3.0) with high MCAT (30) get accepted this cycle. Go check out the underdog thread. It is probably too late for this cycle, but get a jump on next cycle. Retake any classes you received D's or C's in and kill that MCAT.

As always, when applying to the school, read thier mission statement and mold your essays around them. Also, write a striking peronal statement on your accomas primary, it will get you interviews if you can get your stats there.

 

[MedicineMike]

Don't listen to the spew that comes out of Triage mouth, he is an internet tough guy and a dick. If he cared enough to read the thread he would have seen whats going on instead of quoting the oh so tired retake MCAT get better scores above yada yada.

You don't have to go to school nec. You can retake your courses you had C's or above in but depending on how well you do on the MCAT depends on how good of a GPA you need. I have seen some low GPA (3.0) with high MCAT (30) get accepted this cycle. Go check out the underdog thread. It is probably too late for this cycle, but get a jump on next cycle. Retake any classes you received D's or C's in and kill that MCAT.

As always, when applying to the school, read thier mission statement and mold your essays around them. Also, write a striking peronal statement on your accomas primary, it will get you interviews if you can get your stats there.

I really appreciate the post. My personal statement is very well written this cycle, so it kinda sucks that it is going to waste. Hopefully, i can sort of re-use it next cycle with few changes.

Also, I signed up for pre-calc online course to take next semester. I made a D in that course my freshman year of undergrad (don't ask me how i managed that!). I signed up for the online course bc I will be out of town working and studying for the mcat all next semester. I want to focus heavily on my mcat and EC's since my gpa wont budge too much more. What do you think about this?

Great idea about molding my secondaries towards mission statements...

 

[TriagePreMed]

haha i love the bluntness! I dont think it is possible to get my gpa up to 3.3 unless i go to school another 3+ years!! However, I am 100% confident my mcat will be way above a 26. This brings up the next point though...how do i separate myself from just another low gpa/high mcat applicant for next cycle?

If you want to be a DO, I think your best way to outshine would be by doing community work related to primary care. Looking at a school's goal (in the CIB) and working in similar projects reflects your interest and your desire to follow the school's mission.

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

Don't listen to the spew that comes out of Triage mouth, he is an internet tough guy and a dick. If he cared enough to read the thread he would have seen whats going on instead of quoting the oh so tired retake MCAT get better scores above yada yada.

You don't have to go to school nec. You can retake your courses you had C's or above in but depending on how well you do on the MCAT depends on how good of a GPA you need. I have seen some low GPA (3.0) with high MCAT (30) get accepted this cycle. Go check out the underdog thread. It is probably too late for this cycle, but get a jump on next cycle. Retake any classes you received D's or C's in and kill that MCAT.

As always, when applying to the school, read thier mission statement and mold your essays around them. Also, write a striking peronal statement on your accomas primary, it will get you interviews if you can get your stats there.

chill with the language man. triage is entitled to his opinion and what he wants to contribute in terms of advices.

 

[TriagePreMed]

chill with the language man. triage is entitled to his opinion and what he wants to contribute in terms of advices.

I don't mind. I found the commentary hilarious in that he criticized me for saying to get the GPA up and the MCAT and followed by saying the same thing himself. I guess adding "retake the D's and F's to get your GPA up" counts as the full advice 🙄

 

[angryazn88]

man, this place is full of crazy people haha... but yeah mike, you should definitely try to up everything and then reapply as soon as the apps open during the spring time. and plus, since your in new york, you can explore and have a good time!!