student at UC Berkeley - Help!

[afedorahat]

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Hi I'm currently a senior at UC Berkeley with a 3.3 GPA and about a 3.0 science GPA. I am taking a class that I believe that I might fail in this semester. It is a 3 unit upper division class that I am just taking to finish my major. If I fail the class and don't retake it to replace the grade (It's only offered in the fall and I'm graduating this spring), I don't know if that would be put me at a big disadvantage or not. I am a pre-MD student, but at this point, DO would be good too. My mcat score is 30P (11P, 10V, 9B) but I am planning on taking it again.

Also, how useful are the special masters programs if you do it during your one gap year? Do med schools even look at the grades?

 

[TriagePreMed]

I would say you have no shot at either MD or DO this next year given that you have a 3.0 science and will be failing a class (trend downward). You will need that SMP.

 

[Catalystik]

Have you considered withdrawing from the class and taking a W? This would look way better on your transcript than an F in your senior year. Further, if you don't qualify to graduate you have an excuse to stay in college longer, maybe declare a monor, and spend some more time on GPA repair before you apply.

I agree with my feline colleague above: never apply with a down-going grade trend.

An SMP is very helpful when one has a low GPA and a decent MCAT score, as excellent performance can override the undergrad GPA and redeem your chances. It's risky though, as poor performance kills your chances at any future medical school. It's also expensive. To get into one, they need to see that you have the potential to do well, ie, recent upward grade trend.

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

withdraw! then try to take a retake a class or two in the spring/summer and get that sGPA up and you can save yourself from needing an SMP and get into a DO school.

 

[afedorahat]

I don't know if i necessarily have a "downward trend" I've been doing decent in all of my classes (better than freshman year) except this one in particular. Also regarding SMP: I heard that most medical schools don't even bother sending you a secondary after they do the number cut off - If I go to SMP next year, how would that help if medical schools aren't going to look at the grades?

 

[afedorahat]

Also, I don't think I can withdraw from one class

 

[Catalystik]

I don't know if i necessarily have a "downward trend" I've been doing decent in all of my classes (better than freshman year) except this one in particular. Also regarding SMP: I heard that most medical schools don't even bother sending you a secondary after they do the number cut off - If I go to SMP next year, how would that help if medical schools aren't going to look at the grades?

If you get an F, it will drag your GPA down, and that will constitute a downward trend.

Unlike a traditional masters, an SMP overrides a low GPA. Read more about them in the Postbaccalaureate Programs Forum of SDN.