The **NEW & IMPROVED** official low gpa thread...

[InquisitiveDoc]

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thanx a lot for the advice Puchi!!! Quick question tho: since you registered as a 2nd degree student, which is what I plan on doing, do you just drop out of school after you complete all the requirements or did u just finish the degree?

 

[puchi]

Yes Inquisitive, you "drop" out after you are done with your classes. It sucks for the schools stats, but hey! Also, I beleive there is a new restriction of how many classes you can take as a non-matric!!! So 2nd degree may be better.

 

[lovebug]

Wow, I read all the posts in this inspirational thread! Great to see that there are a lot of ppl in a similar situation to mine.

Here are my stats:

BS GPA: 3.45 (but with 5 Fs (Chemistry) & few Cs, some Bs & As)

Masters GPA: 3.80 (hard science courses)

I worked almost 5 years in different hospitals as a clinical scientist in the US and overseas.

I havent taken MCAT yet but, will do so soon. Can someone plz post if I would have any chance of getting into any med school or dental school in the country with say an MCAT score of around 34 & the above stats??

Thanks. This is a great thread.

 

[Vihsadas]

Wow, I read all the posts in this inspirational thread! Great to see that there are a lot of ppl in a similar situation to mine.

Here are my stats:

BS GPA: 3.45 (but with 5 Fs (Chemistry) & few Cs, some Bs & As)

Masters GPA: 3.80 (hard science courses)

I worked almost 5 years in different hospitals as a clinical scientist in the US and overseas.

I havent taken MCAT yet but, will do so soon. Can someone plz post if I would have any chance of getting into any med school or dental school in the country with say an MCAT score of around 34 & the above stats??

Thanks. This is a great thread.

Wow. I'd like to know how you pulled of a 3.45 BS GPA with 5Fs. Do you have an extremely high final 3 years? If so, I'd say you have a great shot if you get the MCAT score you are aiming for.

 

[lovebug]

Yes, I worked my b*** off the last 2.5 yrs BUT still its the record littered with Fs that I am concerned about. I think this may discourage most schools from looking at my app favorably.

 

[Vihsadas]

Yes, I worked my b*** off the last 2.5 yrs BUT still its the record littered with Fs that I am concerned about. I think this may discourage most schools from looking at my app favorably.

As long as its toward the beginning of your ugrad studies, you should have a shot at mid-low tier somewhere with a good MCAT.

 

[NutCracker2021]

so i am not sure if anyone has the problems that i have right now. I am currently at a 2.505 GPA...and basically the grades are as follows:
BIO I AND II: C+
CHEM I: B+
CHEM II: GOTTA TAKE OVER
PHYSICS I: C
PHYSICS: TAKING NOW
ORGO: B
ORGO II: TAKING NOW

basically with me..my major is psych..and i just picked up both bio and chem as a minor to help bring up my GPA...I will grad in May 2009. so i have some semesters left. I just have repeated classes a lot. In total, i have either failed or have gotten an D in about 7 classes...and 6 of them i am replacing...and on that list above FOUR...this is bad and i am not sure how medical schools will look at this. So I do want to apply to a post-bac but am not sure how they will look at all of that too. I do have a lot of EC activities and volunteer work. it might not be that bad..but i do repeat some of those classes..my GPA will be respectable again...it is just so embarrassing sometimes...any words of wisdom..message me post it on this site...Thanks for the brave soul to break the news to me...lol 🙂

 

[Four]

DrChuck, I wouldn't lose hope until you see how the rest of your grades come in. Furthermore, you still have the MCAT to take, right? That's what post-bacs are for, people in your situation.

You should note that you cannot replace/retake classes and have them count on the AMCAS, I believe. But, I know that on the AACOMAS you can replace grades, so if you're doing all of this retaking, you might want to seriously look into DO schools along with a post-bac.

 

[NutCracker2021]

see that is such a good point..i had no idea that was the case...thanks for the heads up..even though i have always wanted to be MD..i guess if AMCAS is going to ruin my udnergrad grade significantly..then i might as well do a post-bac...cause program i want to apply to wants a copy of the AMCAS...should i include somewhere that I have taken classes over and that are replaced in the GPA.

 

[Flushot]

DrChuck, this is Four but I'm on a new name. Just thought I'd let you know.

When you apply on AMCAS, they calculate the GPA on the first and only try for that class, I believe. From what I've seen in the reapplicant and pre-allopathic threads, it is better to take more classes rather than go back since AMCAS does not replace grades. This is why I suggested DO because they do allow replacements.

In all honesty, you will have to tell them what you got both times you've taken a class anyway. AMCAS will just adjust accordingly. They'll have your transcript as well, so they'll know everything. If MD is what you want, I suggest you just take more upper science classes and bring it up. But, you still have time.

 

[Wannabe Doktor]

OK... I guess I have better add my Buffalo nickels to this thread:

Sitting right now at these stats:
Overall GPA 2.956
BCMP GPA 2.68 😳

I am a junior/senior about to take the MCAT on May 27, so I have approx. 45 hours left (39 being BCMP, BS in BioSci), counting what I am taking now, and I hope/plan to graduate May '09

This semester I have a straight 'A' average (by no lack of a** busting) and I have an odd trend according to the AMCAS GPA spreadsheet offered kinda way back in the thread (Fall of 1st and 3rd years @ a different university than I am at currently were bad due to family and personal problems that I hope have been fully resolved) and the fact that I suck in maths... majorly.

Now for the good news/bad news....

Good news!: I live in Texas and starting this application cycle, we are getting a new in-state medical school in El Paso, so that is 80 more chances for me. (Grows to 9 medical schools (public and private) and like 1500 total spots available.)

Bad news...: We have the TMDSAS, which from what I can wean from other boards is like AMCAS, and they take all of your grades... even for UNT-TCOM, which if it was on AACOMAS, I would have a BCMP of 3.03 and overall of 3.23...aargh.

My question... If I continue to bust my a** and get all 'A's I would have a BCMP/overall of 3.09/3.18... what is the collective's recommendations as to my situation? I know that I can do a SMP or post-bac, but which would y'all say is more important to do?

PS: what is the general consensus on honor societies? I must have done something right during the years because I was invited to join Phi Theta Kappa. Is there any upside to joining this, aside from the scholarships? (i.e. Upside in relation to Med School apps?)

 

[Flushot]

Hmm, I guess your situation would be similar to DrChuck since you haven't taken your MCAT yet and you have time to bring it up both above 3.0, so yeah, there's still hope. Just remember that you need to murder the MCAT.

So, you'll be applying this cycle? Then might as well only count this semester. Also, I'd wait and see your MCAT before you start filling out these apps. I still think you have time.

 

[CrepesofWrath]

bump

 

[dilzmega]

Up until recently i decided that the Caribbean is going to be the place for me. I plan on going to UNC Charlotte and taking some upper level biology classes to improve my GPA. My stats are 2.84cum 3.1sci 29P mcat. Am i destine to the Caribbean or is there still a shot in the deep deep deep deep dark that i could get into US med schools such as Meharry, Howard, Morehouse etc? With a continued trend of 3.5-4.0 over three semesters how would my GPA change and should i retake things like orgo2 witch i got a C in or should i continue to show an upward trend.

 

[dilzmega]

My recommendation: You should apply to SMPs right now, take the MCAT again before you start the SMP to get your score over 30, kill the SMP, and then start an US school, either MD or DO, a year from August.

The Caribbean is also an option, of course.

The three schools you mentioned are traditionally African American. If you're not black your odds of getting in aren't particularly high, if you are black you have a good chance of getting in at quite a lot of medical schools with just a year of extra coursework.

Good luck

Do you think this would make much difference in my GPA? Should I stick to the non traditional post-bac or an smp?

 

[Perrotfish]

Do you think this would make much difference in my GPA? Should I stick to the non traditional post-bac or an smp?

The purpose of an SMP is to allow you to take medical school coursework, and be graded against medical students, to prove that despite your low undergraduate GPA you are capable of handeling at the level of competition you will face in medical school. While they don't change your undergraduate GPA (SMPs are considered graduate work) they have a well earned reputation for getting people in to medical school with truely abysmal GPAs (I had a 2.82 cum and a 2.82 BCPM).

The disadvantage of an SMP is that they have a reputation of being a 'last shot', if you do badly (badly meaning 3.5 or less) you're done, forever. Also they're very expensive, stressful, and most involve a year of waiting in betweeen finishing the SMP and applying to medical school.

A traditional post-bac just raises your Undergrad GPA. This is a good plan if you already have a sorta-decent UGrad GPA, but keep in mind that the avarage matriculatant to medical school these days has a 3.7, and the minimum to be really competitive is around a 3.4 (maybe a 3.2 with truely great MCAT scores, which you don't have). For me it would have taken 5 YEARS of full time undergraduate coursework to get to a 3.4, so I went with the SMP. It looks like you're in the same situation.

I'd say apply to the SMPs (as in this week, deadlines are coming up) and if they don't take you try Carribbean, but that's just my advice.

 

[MrJiggles]

Heya,

Overall GPA: 3.5
BCPM: 3.3
MCAT: 38S

I've got a ton of extracurriculars...I'm the president of a club, i studied and did research abroad, i started and taught my own medical ethics class, i've done years of health policy research and volunteer in mexico and yadayadayada.

I honestly care more about that stuff than the bulk of my classes, and i think it shows, but i think that may hurt me, as well as the weird discrepancy between my mcat score and my bcpm. medicine is academia.

i think i have a decent shot at some schools, but reading through the new MSAR has me pretty damn spooked. what do you guys think? should i try to apply to SMPs or anything? is it too late? is this even the right thread to be posting this crapola?

 

[Isoprop]

Heya,

Overall GPA: 3.5
BCPM: 3.3
MCAT: 38S

I've got a ton of extracurriculars...I'm the president of a club, i studied and did research abroad, i started and taught my own medical ethics class, i've done years of health policy research and volunteer in mexico and yadayadayada.

I honestly care more about that stuff than the bulk of my classes, and i think it shows, but i think that may hurt me, as well as the weird discrepancy between my mcat score and my bcpm. medicine is academia.

i think i have a decent shot at some schools, but reading through the new MSAR has me pretty damn spooked. what do you guys think? should i try to apply to SMPs or anything? is it too late? is this even the right thread to be posting this crapola?

no you don't need an SMP. just apply early/broadly. make sure you don't say the bolded part anywhere in your P.S. or interviews.

 

[vigocarpathian]

.

 

[Isoprop]

sounds good to me.

 

[InquisitiveDoc]

quick question: i dont graduate til december 08 and so after this semester, i have a 4 month summer break before the start of my last semester. would the grades still count if i decide to take a couple of classes this summer even though i won't have graduated? i know for my school they won't count because our last 30 or 60 credits must be completed at the University but will they count towards my undergraduate GPA since they will technically be upper level UG classes?

 

[jazzgurl7]

Sooo, great time to realize I want to go to med school now that I'm junior year deep in biomedical engineering at BU with a 2.8 GPA. I took all necessary pre-reqs minus a possible genetics course, but clearly I am not going to get in after my undergrad. Any suggestions on master's programs? I have checked out the SMP at Georgetown and the GMS program at BU, both look good but I just wanted to see if anyone on here had any suggestions.

 

[Flushot]

The purpose of an SMP is to allow you to take medical school coursework, and be graded against medical students, to prove that despite your low undergraduate GPA you are capable of handeling at the level of competition you will face in medical school. While they don't change your undergraduate GPA (SMPs are considered graduate work) they have a well earned reputation for getting people in to medical school with truely abysmal GPAs (I had a 2.82 cum and a 2.82 BCPM).

The disadvantage of an SMP is that they have a reputation of being a 'last shot', if you do badly (badly meaning 3.5 or less) you're done, forever. Also they're very expensive, stressful, and most involve a year of waiting in betweeen finishing the SMP and applying to medical school.

I'd say apply to the SMPs (as in this week, deadlines are coming up) and if they don't take you try Carribbean, but that's just my advice.

I don't know if doing 3.5 or less (maybe less than 3.0) in an SMP is going to silence you forever. Do what you can with what you have.

But, does caribbean have to be the last resort? If you want to practice in the US, I suggest DO unless the letters at the end of your name are very important to you.

I don't have a miserable GPA nor have I gotten close to getting accepted, but don't really ever believe that it's over. I'm applying to SMPs now, and I'll do my best but nothing kills the spirit faster knowing that it is do or die time. It might motivate some people, though; was that what you were meaning?

 

[Maxprime]

Sooo, great time to realize I want to go to med school now that I'm junior year deep in biomedical engineering at BU with a 2.8 GPA. I took all necessary pre-reqs minus a possible genetics course, but clearly I am not going to get in after my undergrad. Any suggestions on master's programs? I have checked out the SMP at Georgetown and the GMS program at BU, both look good but I just wanted to see if anyone on here had any suggestions.

You're going to want to stay in school (put off graduation for a year) or do a post-bacc in order to pull up your UG GPA. Graduate GPAs aren't given much weight in the med school admissions process, thus the only thing (IMO) grad school is good for is when you've maxed out your GPA due to high # of hours and want some publications to put on your app.

*Update to my story* Accepted to the MD/PhD program @ USC yesterday - keep at it my fellow low GPAers!

 

[Perrotfish]

But, does caribbean have to be the last resort? If you want to practice in the US, I suggest DO unless the letters at the end of your name are very important to you.

I agree. It´s just that DO is almost as competitive as MD. Carribean is a ´last resort´, in the sense that there are many, many applicants who have bad stats that can get a seat in the Carribean. The problem, of course, is that they then need need to keep the seat, which only about 1/3 or them do, and then THOSE guys need to get a US residency, which barely half of them do. The other 5/6ths are stuck with, basically, a mortgage and no house. If you can get DO definitely go DO, it´s just that it´s hard to get.

I don't have a miserable GPA nor have I gotten close to getting accepted, but don't really ever believe that it's over. I'm applying to SMPs now, and I'll do my best but nothing kills the spirit faster knowing that it is do or die time. It might motivate some people, though; was that what you were meaning?

I meant what I said. You have two strikes against you because of your GPA. Screw up the SMP and, while I´m sure that someone has clawed their way out of that deepest of holes before, I think you can consider it strike 3 and find a new career. Whether that motivates you or demotivates you is up to you, good luck in any event.

 

[spicyblue08]

So I guess i should tell my story.

I'm about to graduate from Johns Hopkins as a Neuroscience major and currently i have a 2.89 GPA according to transcript. I was diagnosed with ADHD and despite my GPA always hovering around 2.7-3.0, I retook 3 classes, put on probation (stress of not being academically ready i just walked out and never finished some finals, then had grade changed, my professor works with ADHD people so she empathizes) and have several Cs. I got about 15 credits (As and Bs) that aren't in my transcript that average in. I pulled a 3.58 last semester in 12 credits 3 neuro courses and a spanish internship at an emergency room which i thought was a joke (I am hispanic, but please save the URM hate for someone else) and an mcat (9V, 11PS, 10 BS, WS O). plus, my school doesn't average in the fist semester grades as well as research credits after 6 graded credits (As). there are some grades there tahtcould help me pull my grades up. I'm having issues calculating science GPA bc of this so if anyone can help me that would be great!

After reading stories like Singing Devil, I feel a sigh of hope that I can have a future as a doctor. I know its going to be a rough road, but i've been reading this forum for quite a while and I really need some support now. I am willing to go the distance, i just need a light

Ive done three years of research (no pubs) and a number of clinical activities, some of which my supervisors and research mentor could write me some letters.

I gotta go to class, but any advice would be appreciated.

Spicy Blue Jay

 

[spicyblue08]

BTW im on the 5 year plan

 

[spicyblue08]

Congrats MaxPrime, hopefully you can help me cure LDs in the future

 

[jazzgurl7]

You're going to want to stay in school (put off graduation for a year) or do a post-bacc in order to pull up your UG GPA. Graduate GPAs aren't given much weight in the med school admissions process, thus the only thing (IMO) grad school is good for is when you've maxed out your GPA due to high # of hours and want some publications to put on your app.

*Update to my story* Accepted to the MD/PhD program @ USC yesterday - keep at it my fellow low GPAers!

Really? Put off graduating for a year? I don't know that I have 50K I just wanna throw away on fluff courses to boost my GPA. I thought I couldn't do a post-bacc if I already took all my pre-reqs? I'm so disappointed...what about DO schools, just as bad?

 

[Perrotfish]

Really? Put off graduating for a year? I don't know that I have 50K I just wanna throw away on fluff courses to boost my GPA. I thought I couldn't do a post-bacc if I already took all my pre-reqs? I'm so disappointed...what about DO schools, just as bad?

SDN uses the term "informal post bac" to refer to taking more Ugrad when you´ve already met the requirements for a BS. It just sounds more dignified than "7th year senior". You´re right, the formal post-bac programs are closed to you.

Sorry, but whatever you´re going to do is going to cost money and no way around it. Whether you choose SMPs or more Ugrad, you´re looking at another year and another 50K. I would recommend not making the investment until you know you´re good to go on the MCAT, but that´s me

DOs are easier but not a lot easier. With a 2.8 it´s still hopeless, with a 3.2 and a truely stellar MCAT? Maybe, though still probably not. Also they pretty much require you to have a letter of rec from a current DO, so be prepared to jump through that hoop.

My plan of action would be to (in order)

1) Kill the MCAT

2) Do the SMP

3) Get the DO letter of Rec and add DO schools to your very, very broad application.

Your other options are to

1) take more Ugrad, kill the MCAT and try for DO (your state school should not cost 50K/year, if you want this option see if you can take undergrad classes at your state school after you graduate)

2) Kill the MCAT and go directly to the Carribean

3) Get to over a 3.0, get over a 31 on the MCAT (but not necassarily killing it) and THEN do the SMP. This two year plan is really your only option unless you can do extremely well on the MCAT.

You´ll notice the MCAT is a common theme here. You pretty much need to do well if you want the process of improving your application to take less than a decade, so study hard.

Good luck, you can do it, many have before.

 

[jazzgurl7]

Thanks for the help, I'm going to take the MCAT in August, but I think I'm going to do one of the prep courses during the summer. I've looked into post-baccs and there are some geared strictly towards academic enhancement so those may be a possibility. I have shadowed a DO before, so I'm not too worried about the evaluation. I suppose next year I will apply to SMP's and said post-baccs and see what happens, thanks everyone for the help.

 

[Flushot]

I agree. It´s just that DO is almost as competitive as MD. Carribean is a ´last resort´, in the sense that there are many, many applicants who have bad stats that can get a seat in the Carribean. The problem, of course, is that they then need need to keep the seat, which only about 1/3 or them do, and then THOSE guys need to get a US residency, which barely half of them do. The other 5/6ths are stuck with, basically, a mortgage and no house. If you can get DO definitely go DO, it´s just that it´s hard to get.



I meant what I said. You have two strikes against you because of your GPA. Screw up the SMP and, while I´m sure that someone has clawed their way out of that deepest of holes before, I think you can consider it strike 3 and find a new career. Whether that motivates you or demotivates you is up to you, good luck in any event.

I see. About your Caribbean comment: so do you generally mean that 1/3 survive long enough to take the boards and roughly half of them get US residencies? I'm just trying to understand the Caribbean statistics, since I haven't looked much into them.


And about the SMP being the last hope: I guess I'll concede. On one hand, I've heard schools spout about what should happen if an SMP student doesn't make it to another school (they offer an extension to their biomedical sci program or something), but that's just from their side. Although I wish they told it to me straight like you did, I can believe it.

Given that, I understand why this would be the last strike, because if we can't even do well in this program, what can show that we can move forward? I want to believe that the adcoms like persistence in a candidate, but I wish they would just outright tell me during a campus visit or over the phone that there's a point where the investment is too risky.

That being said, I guess it's best to keep the bad vibes out and do the best possible.

 

[AmyW]

Well, as sad as this makes me, I'm not too surprised. I'm currently applying to this program and I wouldn't mind going in. I mean, how are you going to know if you can outperform 2/3 of your classmates before you even meet them or see the material?

They can't give out candy to everyone and 1/3 of 55-60 is pretty generous considering our situation. Even if it doesn't work out at TCOM, others schools will still look at the work done. So, thanks for the heads up but I doubt my opinion about their program has changed.

I'm also in the post-bac program and I have to second what John W had to say. The classes are graded on a bell-curve, meaning that your grades depend on who you are in class with. You have to make above a 3.5 GPA to be taken seriously, and I was told by a member of admissions staff that about half of the class each year achieves the 3.5 (which seems fishy and manipulated, but that's a different story.) So if you are thinking about this program, be honest with yourself: if you don't think you will be in the top half of the class (and remember, there's a lot of smart people there), this is not the program for you and it will probably do more harm than good in your goals of getting to medical school.

 

[French MD]

Hello,
(I was raised in France until I was 16)
I am 26 graduated UCSC with 3.2 overall and 3.2 Science. I was a molecular development biology major. so post bacs don't really help me.
I volunteered while in school
I did a year of research at UCSF after graduation

I did some work with a biotech start up.
Thought and tutored for 5 years
I am currently working at ucla as a lab manager and am volunteering. I am also a licensed phlebotomist.
I am taking the mcats may 31st.
I feel like I don't have a chance in hell. ( I did retake some classes and performed well on those).

thoughts?

thank you

 

[Perrotfish]

Hello,
(I was raised in France until I was 16)
I am 26 graduated UCSC with 3.2 overall and 3.2 Science. I was a molecular development biology major. so post bacs don't really help me.
I volunteered while in school
I did a year of research at UCSF after graduation

I did some work with a biotech start up.
Thought and tutored for 5 years
I am currently working at ucla as a lab manager and am volunteering. I am also a licensed phlebotomist.
I am taking the mcats may 31st.
I feel like I don't have a chance in hell. ( I did retake some classes and performed well on those).

Your chances depend on your MCATs. If they´re good you can do an SMP, if they´re great might be able to go straight to DO (if you shadow a DO). If they´re bad you´re going to be retaking them (if you want medicine)

If you want allo without an SMP, or a better shot at DO, you could also take more undergrad until you get to a 3.4.

Definitely people have gotten in with WAY worse.

 

[Flushot]

How many survive to graduate depends on the school, I believe there is one that is around 90%, others closer to 1/3. and of course the cream of the crop transfers into US schools. Unlike the US I have heard of people in the Carib who fail out after passing their Step 1s, so it´s not just passing boards. Of those who graduate, yes, I believe about 1/2 acually get internships/residencies in the US, but don´t quote me. I didn´t look into the Islands all that carefully. If you´re considering there is yet another forum on SDN devoted to Carribean Medical schools, they have much more information. Also, unlike the US Med schools, the Caribbean ADCOMs would be happy to talk to you.



To be honest, I have met one person that did 3 SMPs in a row before getting in. I assumed he either had a trust fund or pooped diamonds. Also I have heard of several that did something like you mentioned where if you don´t get in one year you do a second year at the same school (for example every year one or two of the borderline kids in the Tulane Pharm program move on to the Tulane ACP program). However, in general, it seems like after an SMP people either get in, or don´t.

But yeah, just do so well that it´s not an issue, you know?

Oh I have no intention of applying to Carib schools but I was just curious. It's hard to keep up with just the basics here so adding their administrative stuff to the list of things to know might be too much for me.

All the SMP programs I applied to had some form of extension to the SMP time (movement to another program or something) as sort of an internal backup to not making it in, but what would help more if I could actually talk to someone who took this path, similar to the friend you spoke to who did 3 SMPs. They might be the exceptions so I'm not going to get used to the idea.

It seems that the extensions encourage a future in research, which is not something I want. So, with that, you're right: it's time to just do well.

AmyW, for this being your first post, and how JohnW also had only 3 posts when he made those comments about TCOM (they were all the same post too; he made the effort to post here, in the pre-osteo and osteo forums), you can see why I am skeptical about both of your (you and John) statements.

There probably is some truth behind it, but from the TCOM thread here and the one in pre-osteo, I've heard nothing but good things about it. Even people who can't hit the magic 3.5 find someplace to go. And these people have solid time spent on SDN, so what do you want me to believe?

I'm almost certain that everyone knows that the TCOM SMP is a 'last chance' as I discussed with Perrotfish and we know we have to do our best. The thing is if we fail, at least we know this early that we're not cut out for it. I'd rather try and fail than doubt myself before I even get the chance.

 

[Perrotfish]

All the SMP programs I applied to had some form of extension to the SMP time (movement to another program or something) as sort of an internal backup to not making it in, but what would help more if I could actually talk to someone who took this path, similar to the friend you spoke to who did 3 SMPs. They might be the exceptions so I'm not going to get used to the idea.

Honestly I think that those second years of the SMPs are more of time wasters/ money pits. A lot of programs do have trouble getting people in until they have a complete year of SMP grades. In other words you do an SMP in 2008 for class of 2010. They need something to do with the people waiting around for a year, so they add another year to their program to make it a ´real masters´. Then their students´get in the next year (based on their year 1 grades) and the second year appears to have worked. My personal opinion, though, I have no data to support this.

The exceptions to this are programs that move people from one program into another program designed to matriculate its graduates into their medical school. Tulane Pharm moving one or two students to Tulane ACP, for instance. Those program extentions aren´t ´automatic´, though.

 

[lovetolearn]

Hi everyone,

This post has given me hope that I too can make it. Here is my story
applied this year, late start, not a good thing, did not get in

MCAT 23S
UNgpa: 2.89
sciencegpa: 2.5
Gradgpa: 3.6

First I know my ug gpa is very low, I was hoping that my grad gpa would help and the MCAT scores were baaad! to top it all off, I applied late.
So, I talked to the admissions officer at my school, I am a grad student at the md school here, his advise:
Retake all science prereqs (many are old and with low grades C's and even a couple of F's)
He advised me that without that and a much improved MCAT, my grad school gpa is basically....worthless,...well, he was nicer than to say that, but it translates to that.

SO: I'm trying a new plan of action and realize it may be a couple of years 'till I reaply if I indeed go through this crazy path. I have to take courses a la cart, since I can't afford to stop working (lab research). However, my plan will only work if I take at least a couple of courses at the local community college, most of them at my state univerity. Anyone out there thinks that it would look bad if I do that, especially after having a graduate degree??

Sorry for the long post, apreciate your input.

 

[sdub623]

I've been reading around and I think what everyone is doing is awesome.
In the Fall I will be starting my 2nd semester of my Junior year (had to repeat a few classes) at the University at Buffalo. I'm transferring in from a small private college.

Right now, my undergrad GPA is a 2.56. I have CHE101 and the lab with a C- and a D+ respectively. I also took a Chem course that is for Health Sciences...but I'm not sure how it relates to pre-reqs, but I had C- in that as well.

Anyway, I keep thinking about Med School and if I have a chance because it's been something I've always wanted to do. I had a hard time starting off in college and my boyfriend had a serious injury 2 years ago and as a result be is disabled so that had a pretty big impact on my grades.

Basically, I have 58 credits, 71 at the end of this semester. I have to take all of the pre-reqs for Med School so if I take those and do really well, rock the MCAT and have good volunteer and LORs (I'm about to start volunteering at Hospice), then is it actually possible?

Any help would be greatly appreciated 😳

I've also had a slight upward trend every semester, it hasn't been much but increasingly better

 

[Bleedingbeauty]

Funny thing is...the MD's 2 B in this thread will probably have the best bed side manner and be the most "approachable" docs out there.
I have faith in our "team" here guys - you watch - we'll get in!
Oh yeah...my stats:
Univeristy of Michigan
English / Bio - a lot of B's and C's:
GPA: 2.5ish
MCAT: 24 T.
College athlete with a penchant for sororities.
Now clinical scientist with a pharma company.
Couple publications, good LOR's and EC's
Accepted: Wayne State MS post-bac program. (goin' back to Michigan).
Will retake MCAT in the next 1.5 years. - Will have to 4.0 the MS degree to be in the running.
junebuguf - many thanks for giving the sub-B levels hope.

I'm doing my undergrad @ WSU and I want to get into WSU MS so bad. I just want to say I think this thread is awesome. And you're right 911MED. The future MD's here seem to have real grit and are more well rounded as far as life experience.

Right now I'm just starting out so my GPA is a low 2.3 but I'll be taking some of my poorer classes over. I feel really positive 😛

 

[lainey234]

I can't believe after all this time I just stumbled on this thread. I am finishing up what has been a long process. I went back to school FT about 2 yrs ago, I am finishing my 4th semester now. I had a UG GPA around 2.7 with a BCPM even lower. If all ends up as planned, at the end of this semester I will have completed 58 hrs of Post bacc classes with a 4.0.

This brings my AMCAS to 3.05/3.2
AAMCOS 3.14/3.4.
I took the MCAT last May and got a 32Q (10B, 9P, 13V)

I am applying in June to both MD/DO and am really hopeful. It has been ALOT of hard work. I have two kids (ages 4 and 6), a husband, a dog, a life - all of which needed to be balanced with my goals. It helps that my husband has been uber supportive (the possibility of having a sugar mama in the future is great motivation!) I will be 34 if I matriculate next year.

Anyway, this thread needs more success stories - I genuinely hope to be able to come back here later this year and share mine. Keep up the hard work guys. It can be done. 😍

 

[Maxprime]

I'm doing my undergrad @ WSU and I want to get into WSU MS so bad. I just want to say I think this thread is awesome. And you're right 911MED. The future MD's here seem to have real grit and are more well rounded as far as life experience.

Right now I'm just starting out so my GPA is a low 2.3 but I'll be taking some of my poorer classes over. I feel really positive 😛

Just be aware that MD schools average the two grades of a class you re-take, whereas DO schools take the higher of the two grades.

 

[Maxprime]

Hi everyone,

This post has given me hope that I too can make it. Here is my story
applied this year, late start, not a good thing, did not get in

MCAT 23S
UNgpa: 2.89
sciencegpa: 2.5
Gradgpa: 3.6

First I know my ug gpa is very low, I was hoping that my grad gpa would help and the MCAT scores were baaad! to top it all off, I applied late.
So, I talked to the admissions officer at my school, I am a grad student at the md school here, his advise:
Retake all science prereqs (many are old and with low grades C's and even a couple of F's)
He advised me that without that and a much improved MCAT, my grad school gpa is basically....worthless,...well, he was nicer than to say that, but it translates to that.

SO: I'm trying a new plan of action and realize it may be a couple of years 'till I reaply if I indeed go through this crazy path. I have to take courses a la cart, since I can't afford to stop working (lab research). However, my plan will only work if I take at least a couple of courses at the local community college, most of them at my state univerity. Anyone out there thinks that it would look bad if I do that, especially after having a graduate degree??

Sorry for the long post, apreciate your input.

I don't think that would look bad - especially if an admissions person told you to do that. Go back and re-take the pre-reqs and slam them. Take the MCAT again as soon as possible after you finish those classes so the material will be fresh in your head. Try to get your undergrad GPA to a 3.0 and at least a 30 on the MCAT - for us low GPAers, the MCAT usually has to be our saving grace.

 

[Maxprime]

I've been reading around and I think what everyone is doing is awesome.
In the Fall I will be starting my 2nd semester of my Junior year (had to repeat a few classes) at the University at Buffalo. I'm transferring in from a small private college.

Right now, my undergrad GPA is a 2.56. I have CHE101 and the lab with a C- and a D+ respectively. I also took a Chem course that is for Health Sciences...but I'm not sure how it relates to pre-reqs, but I had C- in that as well.

Anyway, I keep thinking about Med School and if I have a chance because it's been something I've always wanted to do. I had a hard time starting off in college and my boyfriend had a serious injury 2 years ago and as a result be is disabled so that had a pretty big impact on my grades.

Basically, I have 58 credits, 71 at the end of this semester. I have to take all of the pre-reqs for Med School so if I take those and do really well, rock the MCAT and have good volunteer and LORs (I'm about to start volunteering at Hospice), then is it actually possible?

Any help would be greatly appreciated 😳

I've also had a slight upward trend every semester, it hasn't been much but increasingly better

Those are all really big ifs - make sure you get your personal life in order before adding a bunch of things in. The worst thing you can do at this point is get more bad grades on your transcript. You have a lot of credits left and can pull your GPA up a good bit - but you will need to pull it up a lot and really nail the MCAT to have a chance at US allopathic schools.

 

[Maxprime]

Honestly I think that those second years of the SMPs are more of time wasters/ money pits. A lot of programs do have trouble getting people in until they have a complete year of SMP grades. In other words you do an SMP in 2008 for class of 2010. They need something to do with the people waiting around for a year, so they add another year to their program to make it a ´real masters´. Then their students´get in the next year (based on their year 1 grades) and the second year appears to have worked. My personal opinion, though, I have no data to support this.

The exceptions to this are programs that move people from one program into another program designed to matriculate its graduates into their medical school. Tulane Pharm moving one or two students to Tulane ACP, for instance. Those program extentions aren´t ´automatic´, though.

I agree that the 2nd year for SMPs sounds silly to me. If you survive M1, why take a year off messing around trying to do a thesis in half the time while waiting to do M1 again? I'm not a fan.

 

[Maxprime]

Really? Put off graduating for a year? I don't know that I have 50K I just wanna throw away on fluff courses to boost my GPA. I thought I couldn't do a post-bacc if I already took all my pre-reqs? I'm so disappointed...what about DO schools, just as bad?

You can always do your post-bacc somewhere cheaper. You can do a post-bacc if you have already taken your pre-reqs. If you did poorly in them, re-take them - if not, then take upper level science courses to boost your GPA.

 

[lovetolearn]

I don't think that would look bad - especially if an admissions person told you to do that. Go back and re-take the pre-reqs and slam them. Take the MCAT again as soon as possible after you finish those classes so the material will be fresh in your head. Try to get your undergrad GPA to a 3.0 and at least a 30 on the MCAT - for us low GPAers, the MCAT usually has to be our saving grace.

Hi Maxprime,

Thank you very much for your advise is good and I am planning to do that. It just seems like is so long from now. With work and balancing life, not being as young as I used to be, and so many people have told me to just forget it and move on with my life, I wonder sometimes, but I have wanted to this for soo long, is hard to just give it up , I have to try....(ahhh why did I do so bad in undergrad, I could beat my self!!! Anyways, I'm done with my little pitty party, time to get moving!!). Thanks for any advise.

 

[MissD]

Wow! I love this thread. Now this is what I call encouraging, at least the posts that I have read so far.

I am a Univ. of Michigan grad.
with a 2.56 gpa - 2000
27 MCAT 2004

I applied to 3 schools for fall 2007. Got one interview. 🙁
Didn't get in. GPA of course and said they wanted research.

I didn't do what I was supposed to my first 2 years of college. I know it was my fault and I could have done far better. My last two years were MUCH better that the first two. So I guess I have to pay the piper and redo those classes. But I'm cool with that.

My head is on straight and I have a clear vision of what I want so what other people say doesn't matter. I plan to start classes in the summer, possibly seeking a 2nd bachelors degree, I've heard its less expensive that way.

It's like pulling eye teeth to find a research position here in Michigan, even on as a volunteer. Hopefully as an enrolled 2nd degree student I'll have better luck. I am presently studying for the May 31 MCAT and I feel really good about it.

Thanx for all the stories
Good luck everyone 😍 feelin' the love!

 

[Flushot]

I agree that the 2nd year for SMPs sounds silly to me. If you survive M1, why take a year off messing around trying to do a thesis in half the time while waiting to do M1 again? I'm not a fan.

I agree with Perrotfish too. I personally would never consider the extension program because of the cost and lack of evidence claiming any benefit to doing it. Sadly, also like he says, doing an SMP in 2008 means probably a better chance or applying for the 2010 cycle, not the 2009 one.

Still, I'm going to give it a try, since I'm not using the SMP as the entire weight of my new application. I just wish schools were more, well, honest about what they thought about the programs and what they wanted from them through the applicants. I guess what they really want us to do is apply twice 😳


And good to hear everyone's stories. I'd give my 0.02 but it seems MaxPrime and Perrotfish have been around this block so they'll probably know a lot more than me.

 

[sdub623]

Thanks Maxprime!

Things in my life have calmed down a considerably large amount and I'm managing the daily stresses. I e-mailed the pre-med advisor from my new school and she wants me to come in and speak with her...so I'm not automatically getting the discouragement! I'm still holding onto hope..my only problem is whether I want to commit so many years to this. I just need to make the decision and move on.

Thanks for the help 🙂