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

[Perrotfish]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm also wondering how hard is it really for a Canadian to gain entry into an American school... I have heard mixed reviews, I do have dual citizenship but from my understanding most spots are filled by permanent residents... any thoughts?

If you already have citizenship I know there's at least one SMP (I think it's at Ohio?) that establishes state residency. Go there, be a proud American, get into medical school.

Assuming your MCAT is good enough to get you in.

 

[Isoprop]

If you already have citizenship I know there's at least one SMP (I think it's at Ohio?) that establishes state residency. Go there, be a proud American, get into medical school.

Assuming your MCAT is good enough to get you in.

university of cincinnati: http://mcp.uc.edu/index.php?level2=gradStudies&level3=msmedicalphysiology

 

[pogiro]

GPA overall: 2.9
GPA science: 2.5
MCAT 23Q

Accepted to Barry University
Waitlisted at Midwestern (Az)
Still waiting to hear from a few others.

My stats are low but I know that this path is right for me. I know that I'll get there. I just have to keep moving forward.

Hah, I think I'm your pre-dent twin. Similar GPA and I dunno how the DAT and the MCAT correlate, but yea, accepted into Barry, waitlisted at MWU also. Just got into UMDNJ-Newark and waiting on Boston U, Tufts, and MWU if they'll take me off their list and accept me. Kinda have MWU at the top of my list just because I don't wanna go through the frickin cold of Boston and NJ. A bunch of my backup schools haven't even answered. Weird.

 

[Izzabel99]

Hey guys, I'm a pre-med student and my cum gpa is 2.73, my science gpa is 2.1. I have several F's, a D, and loads of C's. I was a partier as well. 👎Do you think a post-bac is the way to go for me? How many classes would I need to take to make my gpa "competitive" if I get no lower than an A- in all post-bac classes? I would like to hear stories of people who have gotten accepted with similar scores and a post-bac, but ANY advice would be appreciated for sure. Pleeeease help!

 

[Isoprop]

you will at least need 1 full year of solid full-time post-bacc work retaking failed courses (if you haven't) AND upper-div science courses. from there, you will need at least an additional year of courses. your GPA will probably even out at around a 3.0-3.1 if you're lucky, but you will need to maintain a 3.5-4.0 average to show an upward trend.

you will also need a high mcat score (32+) and some extracirriucular activities to set you apart. i suggest a mix of research and clinical volunteer work at a minimum. research may be hard for a post-bacc student, so pile on the clinical experience and add a few unique activities (paid or non-paid).

i was somewhere near your position a few years ago. after 2 years of a 4.0, i've raised my GPA to a respectable level and will apply next year. i have a few D's and F's on my transcripts but i'm not letting them stopping me from medical school.

finally, don't be discouraged. would you believe me that i am actually glad that i have a few d's and f's? it sounds crazy, but it has actually built character in me. i know how to handle failure and what to do from my mistakes. and my academic record shows that i'm not a quitter when things got rough.

good luck.

 

[tells]

31Q (PS10;VR10;BS11) with a 2.29 GPA... plan to retake a bunch of undergrad courses and retake the MCAT (probably September).

Aiming for an SMP sometime in the future. It's gonna be one long a$$ journey.

I'm a clinical study coordinator right now and should be published in a few months for a trial closing soon. If i can somehow retake all the classes I got D's and F's in (5 in total) and get A's should I be good for an SMP program?

I dug myself a pretty big hole and the small glimmer of light that I saw with my last semester (3.3 gpa taking 60hrs) and the MCATS only made me realize how deep my hole actually is.

 

[Perrotfish]

I'm a clinical study coordinator right now and should be published in a few months for a trial closing soon. If i can somehow retake all the classes I got D's and F's in (5 in total) and get A's should I be good for an SMP program?

An SMP is probably going to require you to have at least a 2.8, probably a 3.0 or more (considering your MCAT is just exactly average for medical school matriculants), using the Allo forumula (retaken grades averaged). The DO SMPs may use the DO forumula (retaken grades replaced) but I've never seen confirmation one way or the other on that. If you have a lot of Ds and Fs your fastest path (which unfortunately is still rather slow) might be to retake the classes, get As, and apply DO using the grade replacement forumula. You can get there if you really want to. Good luck.

 

[sway367]

3.02 Overall 2.9 BCPM 31P 12B 10V 9P
Research experience for 1.5 years
Volunteering in hospital for a year
Extensive shadowing

I'm finishing the Drexel IMS program where I have a cumm 3.4 (hopefully 3.5 after this semester). I have the option to stay for a Master's where I do research or I can switch to a Biomed Master's where I can take engineering classes full-time to get a master's. Both would last 1 year.

Adcoms have told me my undergrad GPA is too low to get into an allopathic, despite my performance in the graduate progam and that a master's won't add anything to my app. I was thinking about doing 12 credits of undergrad work this summer, but that would delay my AMCAS submission until September.
Should I basically go backwards and do undergrad work for a year and then apply or do I have a shot this year with just my SMP grades? I'll prob apply osteopathic and allopathic, but not if there's no way I can get in this year.

 

[dave is cool]

Hey guys, need a LOT of advice. Just saw this thread, and it certainly is fitting for my situation. I graduated in May 2007 with an overall GPA of 2.95. I also have some bad apples on my transcript (some Cs, one F in O.Chem1 which I retook and received a B+, and two D+). This is terrible, and I understand if I don't get into any SMPs that I may apply to. My MCAT score is 25O (breakdown of 7P, 8B, 10V). I am really trying to get into an SMP, possibly VCU's program or EVMS, but I will apply to all of them if I have to. Do you guys think I have any chance of getting into an SMP for this Fall? I know I am going to do well in the SMP because I'm determined as hell.

 

[Perrotfish]

Hey guys, need a LOT of advice. Just saw this thread, and it certainly is fitting for my situation. I graduated in May 2007 with an overall GPA of 2.95. I also have some bad apples on my transcript (some Cs, one F in O.Chem1 which I retook and received a B+, and two D+). This is terrible, and I understand if I don't get into any SMPs that I may apply to. My MCAT score is 25O (breakdown of 7P, 8B, 10V). I am really trying to get into an SMP, possibly VCU's program or EVMS, but I will apply to all of them if I have to. Do you guys think I have any chance of getting into an SMP for this Fall? I know I am going to do well in the SMP because I'm determined as hell

For this fall? Probably not, because:

1) Your MCAT is as far below average as you GPA.
2) You already missed most of the deadlines (including EVMS, your over a month late)

This year, you need to

1) Take more classes, or better yet retake classes to get your GPA up
2) retake the MCAT to break a 30

If you do that you have a decent shot for fall of 2009 SMPs, and med school in 2010 or 2011 if you have a gap year. And you can do it. If you want to.

There is a slim shot you might be able to get accepted to a DO SMP or VCU with your current stats, but keep their sucess rates, relative to programs like EVMS, in mind.

 

[Perrotfish]

Adcoms have told me my undergrad GPA is too low to get into an allopathic, despite my performance in the graduate progam and that a master's won't add anything to my app. I was thinking about doing 12 credits of undergrad work this summer, but that would delay my AMCAS submission until September.
Should I basically go backwards and do undergrad work for a year and then apply or do I have a shot this year with just my SMP grades? I'll prob apply osteopathic and allopathic, but not if there's no way I can get in this year.

Just how many ADCOMs have told you it's hopeless? I would shoot of a broad, early app to as many schools as possible (including every DO school in existence) and hopefully that should net you some interviews.

DO NOT DELAY YOUR AMCAS SUBMISSION UNTIL SEPTEMBER. If you want to do more undergrad you are doing it to prepare for a possibe application cycle for the class of 2014. There is nothing you can do in a semester that is going to help more than a late app is going to hurt. Submit everything on the very first possible days, and turn around all of your secondaries in a week.

 

[dave is cool]

For this fall? Probably not, because:

1) Your MCAT is as far below average as you GPA.
2) You already missed most of the deadlines (including EVMS, your over a month late)

This year, you need to

1) Take more classes, or better yet retake classes to get your GPA up
2) retake the MCAT to break a 30

If you do that you have a decent shot for fall of 2009 SMPs, and med school in 2010 or 2011 if you have a gap year. And you can do it. If you want to.

There is a slim shot you might be able to get accepted to a DO SMP or VCU with your current stats, but keep their sucess rates, relative to programs like EVMS, in mind.

Hey Perrot, thanks for the advice. When you refer to taking more classes, what kind of courses do you recommend I take? And should I take them at a local community college?

As for DO SMPs, how are they different from other SMPs? I also have a year of laboratory experience, if that helps at all (probably not considering everyone has some kind of clinical or lab experience).

 

[Perrotfish]

Hey Perrot, thanks for the advice. When you refer to taking more classes, what kind of courses do you recommend I take? And should I take them at a local community college?

If you are intersted in DO schools, you would want to retake the classes you got bad grades in, especially if you've gotten Ds and Fs. For calculating your GPA DO schools take your most recent grade in a course, whereas allo schools average all of your grades, so if you change Fs to As you could be looking at a rapid improvement. Also having a chance at DO admissions probably means shadowing a DO and getting a letter of recommendation, so you know. the community college vs. 4 year college question has been asked just about a million times on SDN, and I still haven't gotten a clear answer. anyway ask on the osteo board for more advice concerning retakes (will they replace if the retake was at a different school).

As for DO SMPs, how are they different from other SMPs? I also have a year of laboratory experience, if that helps at all (probably not considering everyone has some kind of clinical or lab experience).

DO SMPs are at DO schools. Therefore I imagine (speculation, no data here) that they're a little easier to get into, and have a stronger effect on your chances at DO schools relative to other SMPs. Lab experience can't hurt, but I don't think its going to get you passed both the GPA and the MCAT.

 

[deleted74029]

I'm a URM with a 2.80 and about a 2.1 BCPM. I've got 30+'s on my practice tests so my MCAT score shouldn't be a problem. I'm considering still applying to some HBCU's (Meharry and Morehouse) cause of their low MCAT mean, which is between 24-25. The only thing about that is that I may not be comfortable at an HBCU cause I've always went to pretty integrated schools and it would be weird for me to not be anymore. On the other hand, Meharry is in Nashville and I LOVE Nashville, I know I can't get into Vandy so why not do the next best thing? I'm also planning on applying to my state school just cause everyone who is instate is automatically granted an interview. If non of those work out i'll definitely be doing post-bacc.

 

[shanesoslick]

Hi have a BA biology from baylor university, my gpa is a 2.91 and science gpa around a 2.75, and a 22q on mcats which i plan on retaking soon. I did really bad my first two years. I was wondering since DO schools accept the last grade taken in a course, whether i should retake the numerous C's that i have in science classes and apply to DO schools, or attempt to enter a post-bac program. I say attempt since I am still borderline with my stats. What post-bac programs would i fall in the range of being accepted to? I am determined to do whatever it takes to get in to A medical school. Could a post-bac program tied to a medical school give me a decent chance of getting in to a medical school if i do well enough? Thanks in advance!

 

[Perrotfish]

Hi have a BA biology from baylor university, my gpa is a 2.91 and science gpa around a 2.75, and a 22q on mcats which i plan on retaking soon. I did really bad my first two years. I was wondering since DO schools accept the last grade taken in a course, whether i should retake the numerous C's that i have in science classes and apply to DO schools, or attempt to enter a post-bac program. I say attempt since I am still borderline with my stats. What post-bac programs would i fall in the range of being accepted to? I am determined to do whatever it takes to get in to A medical school. Could a post-bac program tied to a medical school give me a decent chance of getting in to a medical school if i do well enough? Thanks in advance!

Basically the higher your retaken MCAT, the better the SMP option is compared to the postbac option. With your currcent stats there aren't very many programs that would take you. Without a significantly above average MCAT no good SMP is going to take you with less than a 3.0. I'd say your fastest path is probably retaking classes.

If you want to see what your options are for SMPs, the big list of SMPs is sticked at the top of this forum

 

[Izzabel99]

Okay guys, a little help here, my gpa is now a 2.5 and my science gpa is a 2.1, what can i do to bring it up if a post bac program doesn't accept me🙁?

 

[puchi]

^Take classes on your own at a local college.

 

[Izzabel99]

Will med schools recognize that as legitimate science gpa though?

 

[hopefuldoctor89]

Hey! i JUST finished my first year of science at university in canada.. BUT i didnt really do so well.. nearly EVERYTHING was a C and my second chem was a D :S.
I just slackedd off too much i guess..
BUT i am willing to fix this, is it still possible do you think? IF i just work really hard for the next ttwo years, do i still have a shot?

 

[mistrygirl]

Hey everyone...just needed a little input from those in a similar situation:

3.2 BCPM undergrad and 3.42 overall
around a 3.2 in Drexel IMS
32P MCAT-which has now expired 😡

I am on waitlist at Drexel and EVMS and really hoping to be pulled off one this summer, but in the meantime I have to start preparing for the next cycle. Will taking the August MCAT put me at a disadvantage time-wise? Should I, instead, reapply for class of 2014 if I don't get in this time around and use the 2 years in between to really enhance my resume (more clinical work and research, shadowing, etc). Basically I am an average B/B+ student with average ECs.....

 

[liverotcod]

Will med schools recognize that as legitimate science gpa though?

Yeah sure, preferably an accredited 4 year university. Anecdotally I did all my post-bacc as electives at the local college.

 

[w1ll]

Hi all,

My stats according to DO system:

3.0 overall GPA
2.6 sci GPA
3.4 non-sci GPA

MCAT: 27N (8PS, 9VR, 10BS)

Been working as a research tech with a publication in a top journal. Usual EC's and good letters (no shadowing but volunteered in hospital, and work with doctors now)

Bio Major, with basically all C's in premed reqs except Physics, got D/C- in Orgo I+II retook OrgoI+II and got C/C+. Got a F in genetics, D in evolution... a lot of C's, B- in rest of the Bio stuff a few A/B+. I have lots of credits....

I'm applying to DO schools early and broadly but even then I'm not sure what if I have any chances. I'm also applying to Caribbean MD schools later on.

I have been out of school for about 3 years and I really really wanna get a start on my medical career. Whats my best option and route? At this point I'm a bit frustrated I'm willing to go anywhere if I can become a doctor.

I have thought of taking summer classes right now but unfortunately I can't quit my job because I'm waiting for letters from my bosses (faculty at top med school). I have thought of retaking MCAT but thats not my main problem.

 

[Maxprime]

Hi all,

My stats according to DO system:

3.0 overall GPA
2.6 sci GPA
3.4 non-sci GPA

MCAT: 27N (8PS, 9VR, 10BS)

Been working as a research tech with a publication in a top journal. Usual EC's and good letters (no shadowing but volunteered in hospital, and work with doctors now)

Bio Major, with basically all C's in premed reqs except Physics, got D/C- in Orgo I+II retook OrgoI+II and got C/C+. Got a F in genetics, D in evolution... a lot of C's, B- in rest of the Bio stuff a few A/B+. I have lots of credits....

I'm applying to DO schools early and broadly but even then I'm not sure what if I have any chances. I'm also applying to Caribbean MD schools later on.

I have been out of school for about 3 years and I really really wanna get a start on my medical career. Whats my best option and route? At this point I'm a bit frustrated I'm willing to go anywhere if I can become a doctor.

I have thought of taking summer classes right now but unfortunately I can't quit my job because I'm waiting for letters from my bosses (faculty at top med school). I have thought of retaking MCAT but thats not my main problem.

I believe the average accepted DO student has something along the lines of a 3.5 and a 26. With a 3.0 and a 27, there are going to be a lot of candidates with better stats that you need to beat out. The publication helps, but bad grades in pre-reqs definitely don't. If you take your pre-reqs over, those grades would be replaced for DO schools.

 

[whosthis]

As far as calculating the science GPA, is it just BCPM, or does it also include other science classes like biochem, genetics etc.

I currently have a 2.9 Cum Gpa and 2.5 science GPA (all science classes)

Im doing the Harvard Ext. route and plan on going to DO schools. i really hope i get in to DO schools and dont have to do an smp. I hope HES helps me get in!

MCAT: 35Q

Do you think i have a chance?

If i retake most of my classes with HES, then ill have a 3.3-3.4 science and Cum GPA.

I NEED ADVICE

 

[Vihsadas]

As far as calculating the science GPA, is it just BCPM, or does it also include other science classes like biochem, genetics etc.

I currently have a 2.9 Cum Gpa and 2.5 science GPA (all science classes)

Im doing the Harvard Ext. route and plan on going to DO schools. i really hope i get in to DO schools and dont have to do an smp. I hope HES helps me get in!

MCAT: 35Q

Do you think i have a chance?

If i retake most of my classes with HES, then ill have a 3.3-3.4 science and Cum GPA.

I NEED ADVICE

If you took into account that AAMC doesn't replace the grades of classes you retook and you have a 3.3 - 3.4, you definitely have a solid shot. How long will it take you to do that in HES? If I were you, I'd load up on credits in HES to get that GPA as high as humanly possible.

a 3.3 35 is a feasible application. I think you could get in somewhere with that, all other aspects of the application being very good.

 

[whosthis]

thanks, i plan on going to HES for 2 years. I've already calculated my grades with the A's i need, by replacing my Bio, chem, orgo, and physics grades. Since i just found out that AACOMAS for DO schools does not take math,it puts me up to a 3.5 science GPA. Plus with the sponsorship i should be set. i plan to work really hard and share my success story.

 

[francheezy]

MCAT: 23O
Cum GPA: 3.1
Science GPA: 2.75
Non-Science: 3.4

I am stuck in a dilemma right now and I could really use some helpful advice. I recently got into Ross University's Medical Education Review Program (MERP) which is a 15 week program in Miami, Florida and if I complete the program, I have gauranteed admission into their January starting class. However, I also applied to DO schools last year and received an offer to be in LECOM's Health Sciences Program (HSP) in Bradenton, Florida. This program is a 2 semester, 1 year long post-bac program designed to allow students to take hardcore science classes in order to bump up their science gpa. After the first semester, any students with a minimum MCAT of 22 and a gpa above a 3.0 in their program, is gauranteed an interview with LECOM's osteopathic school. The Ross program begins July 28th, 2008 and LECOM's postbac program begins September 3rd, 2008. In the meanwhile I am reapplying to DO schools, as early as possible this year in order to increase my chances of getting in. (last year I applied after I graduated in Dec so I was kind of late).

Here are the pros and cons of both of my options:

Ross
Pros:
-MERP would be a good refresher program for me and help strengthen my science foundation before delving into medical school material
-begin med school in january if successfully completing the program

Cons:
-still a caribbean medical school so it has its drawbacks of being a foreign medical graduate

LECOM HSP
Pros:
-postbac is only 1 yr
-i already possess the minimum MCAT so I have to achieve higher than a 3.0 to get a gauranteed interview
-opportunity to be placed into a US med school rather than a foreign
-increase my chances of getting into other DO schools if possible

Cons:
-is 1 year long as opposed to Ross's 15 weeks
-even after gettin above a 3.0, its gauranteed interview, not gauranteed admission, so i would still be taking a chance (however I do really well in interviews)
-med school would start in sept of 09 as opposed to ross's january start date

Once again, I am open to any ideas and advice you guys have available for me and I would like to make the best decision rather than regret it later on in my future. For me, choosing from MD and DO is not that big of a deal but I would like to keep my options open for possibly specializing later in the future. I know Ross University is actual a lot more rigorous than some US medical schools and that is why they have such a high passing rate on their board exams, however I dont know how much a foreign medical graduate status is going to affect me in the future.

If there are any other post-bacs like this or SMPs I should look into, please let me know! Thanks.

 

[Perrotfish]

Once again, I am open to any ideas and advice you guys have available for me and I would like to make the best decision rather than regret it later on in my future. For me, choosing from MD and DO is not that big of a deal but I would like to keep my options open for possibly specializing later in the future. I know Ross University is actual a lot more rigorous than some US medical schools and that is why they have such a high passing rate on their board exams, however I dont know how much a foreign medical graduate status is going to affect me in the future.

1) make sure you understand the percentage of students that either don't graduate or don't match from Ross before making your decision.

2) Why is improving your MCAT nowhere in your options? Have you determined that it would be impossible to do so? How many times have you taken the test?

 

[francheezy]

I have taken the MCAT twice and am not against retaking it completely. However, if I can get into LECOM's medical school without having to retake it so I can concentrate on just post-bac classes, then I would rather prefer that.

Also, in regards to Ross University, I know one friend of mine who graduated from Ross and is now a cardiologist. Another friend is there right now and she says it is more rigorous than some US med schools and that is why they have such a high passing rate. This is from their website:

"For 2007, Ross students had an overall first-time pass rate for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 of 91%, with an average exam score of 211. Students who earned a basic science GPA of 2.5 or better at Ross had a first-time pass rate of 97%, with an average exam score of 217. "

I am still trying to look up more information regarding their match rate and graduation rate.

 

[Perrotfish]

1) LECOM's program doesn't sound like it guarentees acceptance, just an interview. Try to confirm that they don't hold your MCAT/Ugrad GPA against you if you complete the program before you rule out retaking the MCAT.

I am still trying to look up more information regarding their match rate and graduation rate.

This is key. Does their step one pass rate reflect their education, or just that they've already culled the herd. Also the match rate is sorta key.

Anyway it sounds like you know what's important here. You probably don't need the internet to make this decision for you, just a lot of thought.

 

[isaacmn]

make decision that is to the best of your interest, may be you go to Ross University which is very good in its own ratings or the US medical or osteopathic school. At the end you will be either an MD or DO, in which your patients will not necessary go and look for your degree in order to allow you to treat them.

 

[hung]

This thread, http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=511626 provides some insights about the attrition rate at Ross.

 

[futuredoctor727]

Okay....soo after speaking to people on the admissions committee at several schools....i've decided that im going to take classes in order to increase my Science GPA. They've all instructed me to take upper division science courses...but I'm not exactly sure what courses I should take. If anyone has any suggestions....PLEASE let me know....im in desperate need of some guidance.....

 

[TheRach1025]

Hi everyone,

I'm a perpetual undergrad (Graduated HS in 2002) trying to raise my dismal GPA to >3.0 (currently 2.76 with 155 hours). I've used a nifty spreadsheet I found somewhere on the boards to calculate that I can raise my GPA to ~3.2 with 81 more hours of 4.0 work. I think this is completely doable with the two years I'm alloting myself since I've got most of the hard classes behind me. My main question is should I put off graduation with a Bio major and continue to raise my GPA or should I take the classes I need to graduate and then do a post-bac to take upper level science course? I'm leaning towards putting off graduation for price reasons but would like to know whether there is any benefit to raising my GPA with a post-bac.

My Story: I initially went to College in NYC from Texas in 2002 and due to immaturity (17 years old at the time) and disillusionment I screwed up my first 2 years with many F's (bonafide), unnoficial withdrawals (basically F's) and eventually academic dismissal (1.126 GPA). A year later (2005) I entered a community college in Brooklyn and graduated a year and a half later with an AS in Bio with a 3.9 GPA. I entered another senior college in Brooklyn and have done very well since then (although I did fail Orgo 1 the first time around but got an A the 2nd) with almost all A's.

My second question is will the academic dismissal from my first college really destroy my chances at getting into an SMP which I know is my only realistic chance to become an MD. I assume if I do well enough in the SMP, med schools will disregard my early college blunders. Is this so?

 

[wacokid]

Hi,

I also posted in the OT/PT forums. Columbia University, rising senior undergrad, looking at likely a 3.3 or 3.4 when I graduate. Cs in Biology, 1 A and one C in Chem. Planning on doing Goucher or HES or similar program, getting all my prereqs way up, and studying my a** off for the MCATS. Also will have very good LORs, good research background and a publication or two. Hoping for MSTP somewhere, maybe Stony Brook, in two years (after my last year undergrad and my Post-Bacc). Do I have a shot?

 

[StayGold]

I graduated this past May with an AMCAS BCPM GPA of 3.35 and an AMCAS Overall GPA of 3.13. In my basic science and math courses, I received no grade lower than a B, except in Organic Chemistry, in which I received a D and C+ for two semesters. I retook the first semester of the class during the subsequent summer and received a B, bringing the average grade up to a C. The grade distribution over the course of my college career didn’t change too much; it consistently remained a mix of As and Bs, aside from the Organic Chemistry courses. I received worse grades in my non-science courses, including two failures. One was a Philosophy class in my sophomore year, and the other was an English class in my senior year. The distribution of my grades remained fairly consistent, similarly to the grades I received in my science courses. Midway through my senior year, at the beginning of 2007, I took a leave of absence from school. Upon returning from my leave of absence in the fall of 2007, I took five courses over the subsequent academic year: three sciences, one religion, and one English, and performed well in all of them.

I have not yet taken the MCAT. I am aware that for an applicant with my GPA, the MCAT plays an especially important role. Thus, my primary goal over the next 6 months will be to study for the MCAT, with the intention of sitting for the exam in January 2009. In addition to MCAT preparation, I will continue to gain valuable physician shadowing and clinical volunteering experiences. I completed a basic science laboratory research thesis during my final semester at school. Additionally, I assisted in basic science research at the NIH for one summer during my time at college. However, I do not have any experience in conducting clinical research.

I realize that my goal to gain admission to medical school will take at least two years to accomplish. Next year, I plan on attending a Special Master’s Program, such as that offered by Georgetown University, in order to further boost my application. However, I am more immediately concerned with my plans for the upcoming academic year. I will certainly focus much of my time on the MCAT, as well as physician shadowing and volunteer service. I am wondering, though, whether I should also take additional upper-division science courses in order to boost my undergraduate GPA to a more competitive level as well as demonstrating an upward trend in my grades, or if I should instead pursue clinical research opportunities.

I would appreciate any advice you guys may have to offer to help me make the best decision at this fork in my path to medical school. Although I have listed two options—taking additional classes or undertaking clinical research—I am certainly open to any other suggestions.



Thanks for taking the time to help me.

 

[Perrotfish]

I am wondering, though, whether I should also take additional upper-division science courses in order to boost my undergraduate GPA to a more competitive level as well as demonstrating an upward trend in my grades, or if I should instead pursue clinical research opportunities.

This is the only real question in the whole thing. Everything else just seems to be the details of a very well researched and well informed plan. I would say pursue the extra classes. The quality of SMP you're going to be able to attend (and therefore the chances your going to have of going from the SMP to medical school) isn't going to depend much on clinical research, and once you finish the SMP your performance there is probably going to outweigh any reasearch you might or might not have done. That's just one person's opinion, though, and I'm not on an ADCOM.


Good luck

I also posted in the OT/PT forums. Columbia University, rising senior undergrad, looking at likely a 3.3 or 3.4 when I graduate. Cs in Biology, 1 A and one C in Chem. Planning on doing Goucher or HES or similar program, getting all my prereqs way up, and studying my a** off for the MCATS. Also will have very good LORs, good research background and a publication or two. Hoping for MSTP somewhere, maybe Stony Brook, in two years (after my last year undergrad and my Post-Bacc). Do I have a shot?

Yes. GPA is average for DOs and below average for MDs, but you also went to an excellent school and seem to have everything else together. With a good MCAT (above average) and a broad, early application I think you should have no problems with DO and a decent shot at MD. Again, though, I'm not on an ADCOM Good luck.

 

[qualdy]

I will be beginning my post-bacc science requirements in the fall at the University of Central Florida (I have a BA in political science from there). I went today for an advisement appointment and I am currently admitted as a second-bacc student in the Microbiology department. I am trying to raise my GPA (alot) and also satisfy the Science Requirements for medical school.

The problem I have ran into is that as a previous political science major, I do NOT even have the basic pre-reqs for upper level bio/chem courses. I am currently registered for bio I and chem I , but I know I need a full-time load of courses to show im competitive. I am not sure what else to take? My advisor gave me a list of "electives" i could take now and they would help raise my gpa and give me full-time status. Is this a good idea? I dont really like the idea of taking any courses that are not upper level science courses. These "electives" she is recommending are basically easy "a" courses (junior/senior level) in psychology and/or health. Some of these "electives" are also web-based and I hear that taking web-based courses would also look bad. Granted taking them will improve my undergraduate GPA, but do you think medical schools will frown on this? If I do NOT take them, what else should I do, since I dont yet meet the pre-reqs for all other upper level science courses?

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[atis]

So I've decided, finally, on the med school route. But, of course, I have some bad grade skeletons in the closet. My situation:

I was an idiot in college at a college that was notorious for its grade deflation (University of Chicago, if you're curious.) I was on a quarter system, and took three quarters of calculus, two of chemistry, and two of biology (so not a whole year of the last two), with a gpa of...eek...2.47. With a significant upward trend, my overall undergrad GPA ended up being 3.32, and my concentration (psychology) GPA was 3.67.

I took these classes between the fall of 2001 - spring 2003. I have since gotten my MPH with a graduate GPA of 3.75.

So...what do I do?
I was told that since I didn't take a full year of chem and bio and that was about 5 years ago that I could retake the courses (I'm in Boston, so at HES.) But given that I've taken *a lot* of the premed coursework (but not enough for an SMP), even if I get all As repeating it, and even with my graduate degree, do I stand a chance...?

 

[hung]

since you barely started on the prereqs, you have a chance to bring up the science gpa so that you don't need an smp. You still have ochem series, physics series, rest of chemistry and biology, and upper div sciences classes (ie. biochem, physio, anat, microbio, neuro). You have plenty of classes to take to average into the science gpa. You can also use the mcat to prove adcoms. 32+ on the mcat would be the target. This is the goal if you want to do MD schools. If you want to do DO schools, then you can retake the chemistry and biology classes that you didn't do well in. DO schools take the highest grade you received for each class unlike MD where they average the grade. You also don't need to score as high on the mcat for DO. I hope this helps.

 

[atis]

Thank you, that does help! Reassurance that its not a lost cause is always nice 😀


I was wondering if anyone could point me to that excel spreadsheet that calculates your bcpm for you? I swear that was on sdn at some point, but I can't find it. I was on a quarter system and I don't know how to weight that, and I think that program does it automatically for you...

And another quick question - does stats count in the bcmp? or is just pure math, chem, bio, and physics courses?

Thanks!

 

[Lokhtar]

STAT will count

 

[randomnumbers]

Hello all. First, Thanks junebuguf for starting this thread and congrats to all who have been accepted and to those pursuing. Here is my story. I went to college without a clue to what I wanted to do. Finished without a clue. So... 2.63 GPA with a BS in Finance a field I have no interest in. Don't want to elaborate too much but I did pretty poorly, had a lot of retakes, a nightmare stat business course I failed twice(one course, two semesters, ruined my 3.3 oh well). C's in two chemistry courses. No physics or biology. C in one math course. Basically got a BS in partying. Moving on... to become a doctor where does someone in my position need to begin? It seems my options are: post-bacc, another B.S., masters?, really high mcat score, etc... And I need not ask is there hope this thread has proven that there is.

 

[Daedalus]

Well you still need to finish the pre-reqs, so a post-bacc that focuses on getting pre-reqs completed and MCAT preparation is really what you need. I think most of that type of program take the GRE, so you need to rock that - I don't know about your GPA though. I don't know enough about the pre-req completion programs to know if your GPA is enough. Hopefully someone else will chime in here soon. Good luck.

 

[francheezy]

Hey all, I could really use some helpful advice. Here is my situation:

-Graduated in Dec 2007 from undergrad (University of Maryland) with B.S. in Biological Sciences and B.A. in Psychology
-3.1 Cum GPA; 2.74 Sci GPA
-23O MCAT (9B, 8V, 6P) <-2nd time
-Decent ECs (1yr+ research on sleep apnea, volunteering 150+hrs, shadowed DO twice, American Red Cross VP, Resident Assistant for 2 yrs, VP of multicultural fraternity, and plethora of community service)
-Applying to DO schools; Caribbean option is backup
-I applied last year for this yrs cycle (Fall 2008) but was a little late for DO schools (sent primaries in dec, secondaries in feb)
-I am definitely reapplying for FALL 2009 cycle but needed advice before doing so
-I have applied to a couple 1 yr-long DO post-bac programs (PCOM & LECOM) and am still waiting to hear back from them (should be within a week or so)

So, hopefully when I get into one of these post bac programs, I can definitely improve my science GPA and prove to DO schools that I am capable of handling upper level science courses. However, since my science gpa is a 2.74 now and a lot of schools have a science gpa cutoff of 2.75 (to receive a secondary), I would get rejected right off the bat from certain schools even if I apply early. I want to apply as early as possible to increase my chances but was wondering whether I should retake any science classes I received a C in during undergrad? A couple possibilities include retaking Physics II or Animal Bio (both Summer session II classes). Even if I retook them, would it count as affecting my undergrad science gpa even if I graduated already? I want to make sure that the class I take will actually affect my science GPA accordingly.

I have thought about retaking the MCAT again but would prefer not to if I can get in with this score. If I do decide to take it, it would be sometime in August just so I would have enough time to prepare but if I was also taking pre-req science courses, balancing my time would be difficult to achieve both As and a high MCAT score (but not impossible).

If there are any other ideas or suggestions to help improve my application, please let me know. Any advice on this situation would truly be helpful. Thanks!!!

 

[Perrotfish]

If there are any other ideas or suggestions to help improve my application, please let me know. Any advice on this situation would truly be helpful. Thanks!!!

Again, I'm an M1, not an ADCOM memeber. If you have a premed advisor you should be talking to them.

I'd go with retakin the MCAT as your first priority, though the DO postbac or just retaking classes are also both options. If you get into a DO SMP definitely do it. I would definitely push to at least bump your sci GPA up to 2.75 before starting the DO SMP/postbac, if you're going to take the SMP/postbac. The thing you have to realize is that your Cum GPA, Sci GPA, and MCAT are all several standard deviations below average (even for low ranked DO schools), so I'm not seeing a lot of hope here without something improving in (though if you have money to burn you might get lucky with DO). I'd say with your scores you best shot for an acceptance is the Carribiean, but be aware that getting in in no way means that you won't fail right back out. US MD or DO would require you to improve your app significantly.

Did you have a positive trend in college? Or a really good reason for your grades? Is there anything you have on your application to prove to ADCOMs that you won't fail out as soon as they let you in? The case you're making to ADCOMs is that your performance on the MCAT doesn't mean that you'll fail boards, and that your performance in college doesn't mean you'll fail out of medical school. Think about how you would need to have that case made to you, if you were on an ADCOM.

You can definitely do this, people have gotten in starting from way worse stats than yours, but it will take work and time. Honestly I think 2010 might application cycle than 2009 (maybe apply to your SMP college for 2009 if you choose to do an SMP), but if you keep pushing and doing well you will get it done.

So, to summarize, my advice:

1) retake your MCAT once your scoring 30s on the practice tests

2) retake a science class or two to bump up your science GPA

3) Do the DO SMP

4) Apply to medical school for 2010 (maybe your SMP school for 2009 if you do an SMP in 2009)

5) Get in.

Good luck.

 

[yezzur]

hey guys

I just graduated from UCSD with a biochemistry & Cell biology major.
I did pretty bad, with an overall 2.9 gpa. i applied to SMP during the school year but i did not get into any of them.
Now im back home, still in So-cal around the los angeles area and i do not know what i should be doing to achieve my goals to become a doctor. ive been hearing all sorts of advice, like postbacc, 2nd bachelors degree, MS programs. etc.

I jusst need someone to help clarify what i should be doing to go to medical school as soon as possible. Can anyone clarify this up for me !!

THANK YOU 🙂

 

[Lokhtar]

Graduated with 3.43 overall (LOTS of credits), 2.6 science (one F in Calc IV drops it quite a bit). One semester of postbac done so far, at 4.0, brought me up to a 2.9, and by the end of the postbac I should be around 3.52 overall and 3.28 science. My last one year at college was a 3.9, and last two years were at 3.8 (first two were...2.xx).

So hopefully three years of upward trend, including the last year in the sciences, is good.

 

[NinjaMD]

Hello Everyone, I just found this forum, a little late but its better than never, and seeing as so many people were receiving what seemed to be sound advice I figured I'd give it a shot.

I just graduated this past May with a ugrad GPA and science GPA of 2.7 which is pretty awful considering that I wanted to apply to medical school after my senior year. I've taken the past month and a half to rest and also see if this was the path I really wanted to pursue because if I was just going to repeat my undergrad performance then it would not be a smart decision seeing as I have my work cut out for me. I believe that I am now ready and capable of handling the heavy courseload and have decided that I seriously want to put my all into making myself an eligible candidate for medical school and this is where I would start.

I have a 31S on my April 07 MCAT and as I stated I have a 2.7 gpa, I am also setup to begin some volunteer research at hospital in my area, New York City region, but I realize my main problem is my low gpa. If anyone can offer some advice as to what are my best options right now I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.