Unrelated low GPA question

[mdognotcat]

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In a different post debating the merits of Carribean versus SMP, a poster had written that he or she had a 2.45 GPA and even lower science GPA but chose graduate school over an acceptance from a Carribean school. Then the poster improved his/her GPA and got admitted to a U.S. medical school.

• How do people get into graduate programs with science GPA's lower than 2.45? What programs might these be?

I am asking this question for a friend who does not have access to the internet from home. She has a very low GPA (like 2.3 or something) but hopes to get into a M.A. Program in Sociology or some similar program. Maybe your responses will help my friend. Thank you.

 

[willen101383]

haha that was me!!! I will answer in a sec. (at work)

 

[Global Warming]

haha that was me!!! I will answer in a sec. (at work)

That's funny

 

[willen101383]

Okay. This is the deal. It was hard to get into grad programs with this GPA. It really was. I think I applied to like 10 programs and got rejected to all except Drexel. I was rejected to their IMS program..but ended up getting into the MFS (master of forensic science) program. It is really a crap shoot. It is going to be impossible to get into a "real" SMP with a gpa is low as hers/mine was. That doesnt mean anything in my experience. I am glad I did MFS instead of IMS/SMP. Rather than having a certificate in nothing...or a unmarketable masters I have a very interesting masters degree that is quite marketable (had I not been accepted). So thats would I would advise. She isnt going to get into Georgetown SMP or Drexels IMS or the like...as there are so many qualified applicants who just didnt get into med school on their first try and needed to improve.

I dont know what your friends situation is but my shining star was my clinical experience. I dont mean to discount anyones experiences..as all experiences are really valuable...but I have been working full time in the field as a medical professional for a while. Undergrad I worked full time while going to school as a phlebotomist in a major hospital. After graduation I got did an internship and became an ASCP licensed clinical laboratory technologist and have been working full time as that since I left undergrad. So I have been around the block much more than your average applicant. So if she has really good exposure/a decent MCAT and applies to the right programs she should be okay. I would really recommend the MFS program to anyone in my former shoes. Its a really cool program and you take some really random classes adcoms are wowed by. (osteology, medical school level A&P,physiology,biological foundations of forensic science, forensic pathology 1,2, forensic toxicology, forensic microbiology, forensic immunology, the autopsy theory and practice...plus a bunch of non hard science stuff. I think it made me a really well rounded applicant. Feel free to PM me or have your friend e mail me at aaw678atyahoo.com

 

[willen101383]

That's funny

We have a lady from corporate in our lab right now so I am trying to look "busy" haha.

 

[J ROD]

Okay. This is the deal. It was hard to get into grad programs with this GPA. It really was. I think I applied to like 10 programs and got rejected to all except Drexel. I was rejected to their IMS program..but ended up getting into the MFS (master of forensic science) program. It is really a crap shoot. It is going to be impossible to get into a "real" SMP with a gpa is low as hers/mine was. That doesnt mean anything in my experience. I am glad I did MFS instead of IMS/SMP. Rather than having a certificate in nothing...or a unmarketable masters I have a very interesting masters degree that is quite marketable (had I not been accepted). So thats would I would advise. She isnt going to get into Georgetown SMP or Drexels IMS or the like...as there are so many qualified applicants who just didnt get into med school on their first try and needed to improve.

I dont know what your friends situation is but my shining star was my clinical experience. I dont mean to discount anyones experiences..as all experiences are really valuable...but I have been working full time in the field as a medical professional for a while. Undergrad I worked full time while going to school as a phlebotomist in a major hospital. After graduation I got did an internship and became an ASCP licensed clinical laboratory technologist and have been working full time as that since I left undergrad. So I have been around the block much more than your average applicant. So if she has really good exposure/a decent MCAT and applies to the right programs she should be okay. I would really recommend the MFS program to anyone in my former shoes. Its a really cool program and you take some really random classes adcoms are wowed by. (osteology, medical school level A&P,physiology,biological foundations of forensic science, forensic pathology 1,2, forensic toxicology, forensic microbiology, forensic immunology, the autopsy theory and practice...plus a bunch of non hard science stuff. I think it made me a really well rounded applicant. Feel free to PM me or have your friend e mail me at aaw678atyahoo.com

Might want to take the email down.....😱

Unless you want folks to email you.....😀

 

[willen101383]

Haha I was in a generous mood before..what was I thinking!!! Just kidding just kidding. I remember the dark dark days back in 05 06...where I had no shot at med school and needed all the encouragement I could get....and I got it here at SDN from a few people who helped me to realize it was possible to come back from a horrible horrible GPA and get into medical school. So if someone in a similar situation as the one I was in after undergrad needs a bit of advice...its cool if they e mail me...I would be happy to help.