T20 schools that are more forgiving of lower GPAs? (lowish GPA/high MCAT)

[rmfo12]

I have a 522 MCAT but a 3.65 cGPA/3.55sGPA (prestigious non-Ivy school, upward trend). I'm ORM, have average ECs and a moderate amount of research (~1000 hours, no pubs) but nothing crazy. I'm planning on applying broadly to 30+ schools with mid-tiers comprising the majority of my list but still want to include 5-10 T20 schools even though they are likely reaches for me. However I still want to be wise about it and don't want to apply to a school that is strict on GPA and unlikely to consider me despite the high MCAT. Any insight/personal experiences? Or particular MSAR percentiles I should stick to?

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[Detective SnowBucket]

I'm OOS and got an interview at UNC chapel hill (#20) with 30 clinical volunteering hours my first application cycle so anything's possible there.

 

[AnonymousDoctorGuyPerson]

My situation is definitely very different, 2.8 uGPA (4.0 post-bacc over a decent amount of credits), 3.9 gGPA (2-year SMP), and a 522 MCAT. Loads of ECs, work experience, leadership, etc. I've only gotten 2 II this cycle, one from my SMP and one from my state school.

However, I think my uGPA being less than 3.0 got me cut-off from a lot of schools. I also had to apply very late in the cycle for financial reasons. You're in a much better spot than I am, especially since a 3.6 is closer to borderline than it is low.

Definitely shoot your shot.

 

[Goro]

I have a 522 MCAT but a 3.65 cGPA/3.55sGPA (prestigious non-Ivy school, upward trend). I'm ORM, have average ECs and a moderate amount of research (~1000 hours, no pubs) but nothing crazy. I'm planning on applying broadly to 30+ schools with mid-tiers comprising the majority of my list but still want to include 5-10 T20 schools even though they are likely reaches for me. However I still want to be wise about it and don't want to apply to a school that is strict on GPA and unlikely to consider me despite the high MCAT. Any insight/personal experiences? Or particular MSAR percentiles I should stick to?

Your job is to get into med school, not a T20.

Look at MSAR and target those schools where your GPAs are > 10th %iles. I suggest the following:
UCSF

Mt Sinai
Mayo (maybe)
Case (maybe)
NYU-LI
USC/Keck
Dartmouth
BU
Pitt
U WI
U VM
Miami
St. Louis
Albany
Albert Einstein
Rochester
Rush
Rosy Franklin
NYMC
EVMS
Wake Forest
Jefferson
Creighton
Tulane
Seton Hall
MCW
Loyola
Emory
Hofstra
Tufts
Oakland-B
Western MI
Uniformed Services University/Hebert (just be aware of the military service commitment)
Nova MD
CUSM IF you're from CA
Kaiser IF you're from CA
Your state school(s).

 

[BreakfastFoods]

My situation is definitely very different, 2.8 uGPA (4.0 post-bacc over a decent amount of credits), 3.9 gGPA (2-year SMP), and a 522 MCAT. Loads of ECs, work experience, leadership, etc. I've only gotten 2 II this cycle, one from my SMP and one from my state school.

However, I think my uGPA being less than 3.0 got me cut-off from a lot of schools. I also had to apply very late in the cycle for financial reasons. You're in a much better spot than I am, especially since a 3.6 is closer to borderline than it is low.

Definitely shoot your shot.

How many schools did you apply to? Just curious.

 

[AnonymousDoctorGuyPerson]

How many schools did you apply to? Just curious.

~30-35 or so. My list was composed of schools suggested to me in my WAMC thread.

If you're asking because it seems I only received a few IIs it's partly because when I say late, I mean really late. I couldn't get my primary submitted until October. While I don't think I would've necessarily been incredibly more successful had I submitted earlier, it definitely had an impact. During my interview with my state school it was actually brought up, so I can only assume other schools saw it as a negative thing. I would've waited until next cycle, but my MCAT would've been expired for most schools (my SMP and state schools specifically, which were always my best shot at getting into med school). In the end it worked out 😛

 

[OfMiceAndWomen]

To answer your question, off the top of my head, Stanford and UCSF are two T20 schools that are lenient with GPA relative to their peers. Their 10th% GPAs are 3.6x, based off of MSAR data.

Of course, this doesn't negate the fact that any T20 school is incredibly difficult to get into, and I imagine that those who make up the bottom GPA percentiles have exceptional accomplishments and/or stories.

 

[SevenofSonless]

I'd say you probably have the best chance at Pitt or Michigan, given that they seem to be the most forgiving of stats of the T20s (UWash, UCSD are tough for OOS). But since your research/ECs are average, I'd agree with you that almost all T20s are reaches atm.

 

[OChemIsntFun]

I'm OOS and got an interview at UNC chapel hill (#20) with 30 clinical volunteering hours my first application cycle so anything's possible there.

I was under the impression adcoms don't mind if you lack clinical volunteering as long as you have an adequate amount of clinical experience + non-clinical volunteering. Is this correct?

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

I was under the impression adcoms don't mind if you lack clinical volunteering as long as you have an adequate amount of clinical experience + non-clinical volunteering. Is this correct?

My non-clinical was just so-so my first cycle. <100hrs.

 

[Etopn23]

I disagree with the CA disclaimer for Kaiser. I was accepted as an OOS applicant with no connections to Cali. Your stats are similar to mine and based off my experience you won't get cut off anywhere due to GPA. I interviewed at Wash U which is notorious for stats and am matriculating into a top 5 where my GPA is <10%.

Apply widely.

 

[SarahC42]

My non-clinical was just so-so my first cycle. <100hrs.

Did they bring up your 30hrs of clinical experience in the interview?

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

Did they bring up your 30hrs of clinical experience in the interview?

Not a word.

 

[Icebird]

I applied to T20 very late but Northwestern gave me an II; they are heavy on URM outreach though