Undergrad GPA survey
Started by blankguy
I'm also curious about these <3.0 GPAs. How many of those voters above have been accepted to a med school?
I fit into that GPA category but have yet to take any prereqs. I'm just trying to get a realistic feel for my chances if I ace the prereqs, do well on the MCAT, and then add in my abyssmal undergrad GPA. 😕 🙁
I fit into that GPA category but have yet to take any prereqs. I'm just trying to get a realistic feel for my chances if I ace the prereqs, do well on the MCAT, and then add in my abyssmal undergrad GPA. 😕 🙁
NoTorq said:
I got into med school with a sub-3.0 undergrad GPA but my situation is unique in that I am not very traditional. I think if you ace your pre-req's, get some good volunteer/clinical experience, and do well wnough on the MCATs, you should be okay. Look up liverotcod and kateroni's stories in pre-allo if you want to get some idea. I'm happy to share my story if you want to PM me but I wouldn't recommend my path if you are just looking to get into med school (peace corps, Ph.D, many many years work).
g'luck
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I should have mentioned, I'm quite non-trad myself. 32, married, baby. good job in IT. What the H*** am I getting myself into!?!?! 😀
The "Official low GPA thread answered a lot of my questions. Thanks for your response!
The "Official low GPA thread answered a lot of my questions. Thanks for your response!
Wow, I was expecting more high-achievers instead of a bimodal distribution.
sidewalkman said:
it kind of makes sense tho... there are those of us who have poor gpas and are doing post baccs/masters programs to compensate, and then there are those who have decent gpas but need one year of gliding to get in.
NoTorq said:
I understand what you mean, NoTorq. I'm 30, have a BS degree in computing and a great career. At the moment this whole medical thing is for me just a 'hobby' -- a hobby that takes all my time, and is slowly killing me! I'm loving every moment of it!
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tacrum43 said:
Not everybody, considering the questions that tend to pop up. Also I am using this as a cutoff to see how many people all below average and need to take remedial action and how many have stellar GPA that can go ahead and just apply after fulfilling the requirements.
blankguy said:
So, you're looking to differentiate between non-science majors that need to fulfull the requirements and people who have fulfulled the requirements, but need to do something to boost their GPA?
As for me, I fall into the second category with my 3.4/3.3 sci. I'm planning on doing Georgetown's SMP.
Sorry if I was kind of a jerk in my last comment; your second post just seemed kind of obvious (at least to anyone who has applied to medical school already).
3.10 U-GPA, Computer Science major at a state school.
Freshmen year: 3.60
Sophomore & junior year: 2.02
Senior year (3 semesters -- 80 credit hours): 3.70
I'm taking pre-reqs now and will tally 40 credit hours when I'm done. But that'll only bring my GPA up to 3.27 and science GPA to 3.45 with all As. What would my chances be at an allopathic school with those numbers and a 40+ MCAT(haven't taken the MCAT yet but that's what I'm aiming for 😀 )? I'm wondering whether I should waste money applying with those numbers or wait until I do a SMP(BU or Georgetown).
Freshmen year: 3.60
Sophomore & junior year: 2.02
Senior year (3 semesters -- 80 credit hours): 3.70
I'm taking pre-reqs now and will tally 40 credit hours when I'm done. But that'll only bring my GPA up to 3.27 and science GPA to 3.45 with all As. What would my chances be at an allopathic school with those numbers and a 40+ MCAT(haven't taken the MCAT yet but that's what I'm aiming for 😀 )? I'm wondering whether I should waste money applying with those numbers or wait until I do a SMP(BU or Georgetown).
mikem, I think you'll be OK if you really can rock the MCAT. The rule of thumb is MCAT + 10*GPA >= 65 makes you competitive. 40 + 3.2*10 = 72, so that's more than competitive, numbers-wise. Obviously the rest of your application will have a big impact too: letters of recommendation, clinical experience, research, personal statement. It will be important for you to be able to explain why your grades weren't always so hot.
You might want to try a practice MCAT before making predictions, though. AAMC 3R is free online at e-mcat.com and will give you a good idea. For example, I took it in the middle of pre-reqs and got a 36. I wound up with a 39 on the real thing, after finishing pre-reqs and studying for several months. [/anecdote]
Best wishes.
You might want to try a practice MCAT before making predictions, though. AAMC 3R is free online at e-mcat.com and will give you a good idea. For example, I took it in the middle of pre-reqs and got a 36. I wound up with a 39 on the real thing, after finishing pre-reqs and studying for several months. [/anecdote]
Best wishes.
mikem said:
Perhaps it might be a bit premature considering you havent even taken one pre-requisite to be calling out an exceptionally bit shot like that. I don't care if you got a 1500 on the SAT, the MCAT is entirely a beast onto its own. I think that if you get straight A's in your post-bac couple with your performance at the end of your undergrad career and some clinical exposure you should have a shot with a 30+ MCAT. 120 credits of near 4.0 will speak volumes and many schools will take particular interest in that. If you have the loot and want some assurance do the SMP the same year you apply to medical school and watch those acceptance letters pile in.
Tooth
liverotcod said:
Thanks for you input! I already bought a bunch of prep materail, including six Columbia R. full length tests, eight Berkeley R. full length tests plus subject review books, EK, Nova, and Kaplan books(will get the AAMC tests later). And I won't even take the MCAT until April '06. That's a bit overdone, I know. I was just a little overzealous about becoming a doctor. 😀
TiggidyTooth said:
Note that I said I'm aiming for a 40+ MCAT. 🙂 It's nice to set a goal. I feel very confident and I'm very much devoted to achieving my goals, and the ultimate one being accepted to med school. I'm already in my first semester taking pre-reqs(will take advance bio classes too) and so far I'm on track to getting a 4.0. 🙂 .
I just don't want to sit around and wait(or take on a job that I won't like) another year if I don't get accepted. Other than having the benefit of not waiting another year if I don't get accepted, the SMP, otherwise, will make the transition to med school easier and some schools will even give credit for medical classes taken(that's what I read on SDN).
Thanks! 🙂
