Under 3.0 GPA -- help

[yawkeyes]

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In dire need of some advice/guidance here:

I graduated from my undergrad institution in May 2016 with a B.S. in Biochemistry & Human Physiology. My current undergraduate cumulative GPA is a 2.93 with a 3.2 science GPA. MCAT is a 507. I have a lot of relevant healthcare experience with over 1000 hours of direct patient contact. My LOR are pretty decent but could use another strong one. Since graduation, I have been working full-time as a research assistant in an immunology lab while simultaneously taking upper level science courses (6 courses, 1 A, 2 A-, 1 B+ (graduate level immunology, taken with the PhD/MSTP students, and 2 Bs). I will hopefully have 3 publications (1 or 2 will be first author) by the fall of this year.

Although I did alright in those science courses, my GPA is so saturated from hours (154 credits) that it barely moved and I am still under a 3.0.

I have been accepted to two M.S. programs at two different institutions, with one offering a "guaranteed interview" with the medical school if you get above a 3.35 GPA in the master's program and above a 509 on the MCAT. No guaranteed acceptance but yeah. The other program doesn't offer any sort of linkage/interview to the medical school but basically feeds into the PhD program.

With having a sub 3.0 GPA in my undergrad, won't I automatically get screened out of most programs (even if I kill it in the master's programs)? Should I stay in my job and take more classes to keep hacking away at my undergraduate GPA? Or should I move onto the masters program and go from there?

Any help would be much appreciated! Thank you.

 

[theLastprocastination]

Other than a select few, you won’t get screened out.
Other than that, I can’t say much about which path will be fruitful for you.
Your stats overall does look okay to get a DO acceptance as it is, if you apply very broadly and with lot of work on your primary and secondary.

 

[Goro]

In dire need of some advice/guidance here:

I graduated from my undergrad institution in May 2016 with a B.S. in Biochemistry & Human Physiology. My current undergraduate cumulative GPA is a 2.93 with a 3.2 science GPA. MCAT is a 507. I have a lot of relevant healthcare experience with over 1000 hours of direct patient contact. My LOR are pretty decent but could use another strong one. Since graduation, I have been working full-time as a research assistant in an immunology lab while simultaneously taking upper level science courses (6 courses, 1 A, 2 A-, 1 B+ (graduate level immunology, taken with the PhD/MSTP students, and 2 Bs). I will hopefully have 3 publications (1 or 2 will be first author) by the fall of this year.

Although I did alright in those science courses, my GPA is so saturated from hours (154 credits) that it barely moved and I am still under a 3.0.

I have been accepted to two M.S. programs at two different institutions, with one offering a "guaranteed interview" with the medical school if you get above a 3.35 GPA in the master's program and above a 509 on the MCAT. No guaranteed acceptance but yeah. The other program doesn't offer any sort of linkage/interview to the medical school but basically feeds into the PhD program.

With having a sub 3.0 GPA in my undergrad, won't I automatically get screened out of most programs (even if I kill it in the master's programs)? Should I stay in my job and take more classes to keep hacking away at my undergraduate GPA? Or should I move onto the masters program and go from there?

Any help would be much appreciated! Thank you.

There a good number of MD schools (and all DO) that reward reinvention.

 

[DelayedGratification]

You can get into DO with your stats if you show reinvention

 

[keepItReal17]

I have seen people get in with a similar GPA. I say apply broadly and take a shot as is. You have a good MCAT and if you get those 2 publishings I think schools will give you the time of day to explain your GPA. Just make sure you are able to address this flaw in your app at interviews. Best of luck! Also, be sure to apply to some of the newer schools.

 

[de Ribas]

two different institutions, with one offering a "guaranteed interview" with the medical school if you get above a 3.35 GPA in the master's program and above a 509 on the MCAT.

Is that MD or DO school interview?

 

[yawkeyes]

Is that MD or DO school interview?

It would be an interview to their MD program.

 

[yawkeyes]

Other than a select few, you won’t get screened out.

Is this true for MD schools, too?

 

[theLastprocastination]

Is this true for MD schools, too?

I can’t tell because I applied axclusively DO.

If you’ve gpa that low, barring a rare kind of miracle, one wouldn’t get into MD school anyways.

 

[redfish955]

Check out Tulane. They like the mcat more than the gpa.

 

[FlyerScribe]

Taking graduate work in a rigorous program associated with a med school (doesn't have to be a smp but they will help) will show that you can succeed academicly. Volunteer work will also help a lot because it shows you are interested in making your community better and not just doing medicine for selfish reasons. But all in all you have some decent tools to work with, maybe just a few more things will put you over... Ive had to reinvent myself too. While I only had 1 interview this round and it was for the waitlist, 2/3 of my interviewers told me they really hope it works out for me. One went as far as to straight up tell me she thinks i would be a great doctor. So i think im in a good spot on the waitlist (but it is still unpredictable at this point). I believe what my biggest problem was being auto-filtered out because i applied so late (secondary was finished in October). So when you apply, I would recommend applying as early as possible because they will be much pickier about stats later in the cycle (yes fall is late for people like us)... Im still not in a place yet so take my advice for what it is (but after my interview, i believe if i would have applied earlier i would be in at a place). So keep up the hard work, apply early, be realistic with your applications (top 20 med school is probably not likely) and take advantage of your interview. All you need is one school to give you a shot. Good luck.

 

[John1513]

One of my best friends had a story similar to yours. He became our class president, went on to become an anesthesiologist/ critical care specialist.