WAMC: Low GPA, Rejected from SMP

[pikl]

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Hi there. Today I got the news that I was rejected from an SMP that I thought could help me redeem my low GPA, and now I'm feeling discouraged about continuing to apply.

1. 2.9 sGPA and 3.0 cGPA for TMDSAS. Same for AMCAS and AACOMAS.
2. MCAT score(s) and breakdown: I take the actual MCAT this Friday 5/27, but have been scoring 507-509 on AAMC practice tests. CP usually on the lower end around 124-126, CARS around 127-128, B/B and P/S around 128-130.
3. State of residence or country of citizenship: TX resident
4. Ethnicity and/or race: URM hispanic, low SES.
5. Undergraduate institution or category: Public state school. I had a bad start as an early college HS student where I had to take CC classes in HS. I did poorly then and those grades have haunted me.
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer):
   
   • Scribing in ED: 5020 hrs over 3 years
     Homeless clinic volunteer: 30 hours
     Campus counseling volunteer: 300 hours. (this was one of my most meaningful and I got 2 LORs from here)
7. Research experience and productivity
   • Neurobiology research: 200 hours but no pubs because it got shut down in March 2020 (COVID)
8. Shadowing experience and specialties represented
   • In person shadowing: 15 hours in ICU during COVID
   • virtual shadowing: 90 hours (FM, EM, neurosurgery, urology, trauma surgery, MFM, radiology, peds)
9. Non-clinical volunteering
   • Big Brother Big Sister: 200 hours
   • High risk pregnancy volunteer: 85 hours (this was another one of my most meaningful)
10. Other extracurricular activities (including athletics, military service, gap year activities, leadership, teaching, etc)
    • Created an organization on campus for student parents and advocated for parenting and pregnancy accommodations
    • Lots of hours as a member for different student organizations (LMSA, AMWA, a religious student org, ROTC)
11. Relevant honors or awards
    • Honor roll towards the end of my bachelors (2x)
12. Anything else not listed you think might be important
    Did a lot of advocacy for parenting/maternal health after having my own child as a single parent during college
    I have over 150 hours of credits now, so my GPA is pretty stubborn. I've already taken 12 hours of postbacc classes at a 3.93 cGPA and 4.0 sGPA

Given the very low GPA, I feel kind of iffy about taking the MCAT this week and am now wondering if I should void it afterwards. Reason being is I would not want to score well, then have it expire, only to apply again down the road and retake the MCAT and not score as high the second time.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

List the SMP's you applied to and the feedback you received regarding rejection. How much help from your LMSA/SNMA/AMWA peers did you get in reviewing your SMP application or helping you choose where to go?

 

[chilly_md]

You could take more post-bacc classes in upper division sciences over the next year instead of doing the SMP. It should be a cheaper than classes at a public state school.

I would not have recommended applying even if you were accepted into an SMP. You should wait for the grades to appear on your transcript first.

 

[Faha]

Post your actual MCAT score here when available. You could do a DIY post bacc at a local college in the coming year and take enough undergraduate level science courses to raise your sGPA to over 3.0 . With your current sGPA of 2.9 you will be screened out at many schools.

 

[Arsartium]

Had an even lower cGPA before acceptance to my SMP. You just need to find the right one. Once you've updated the forum with your list of SMPs and feedback, we can offer more advice. Either way a strong MCAT performance can also help you secure an SMP acceptance (>510).

Rest assured, you definitely still have a path to medical school. Godspeed.

 

[inwantstobeadoctor]

If looking for a good master's program to prepare you for med school/ redeem GPA, look into MS of biology medical sciences from Mississippi College!

 

[CgetsDw]

Had an even lower cGPA before acceptance to my SMP. You just need to find the right one. Once you've updated the forum with your list of SMPs and feedback, we can offer more advice. Either way a strong MCAT performance can also help you secure an SMP acceptance (>510).

Rest assured, you definitely still have a path to medical school. Godspeed.

Hi I would love to know how you got into your SMP, currently I have a 2.9 cGPA. I took most premed pre-reqs post grad at a CC also with a 2.9 GPA so-far. I know CC classes don't look the best to Med Schools so i'm looking forward to taking most if not all the classes over in Grad school. I also just started studying for the MCAT. I plan to start at a masters program hopefully by the fall of 2023 do you think it's possible? Do you mind letting me know the requirements for your SMP?

 

[neuda17]

Post your actual MCAT score here when available. You could do a DIY post bacc at a local college in the coming year and take enough undergraduate level science courses to raise your sGPA to over 3.0 . With your current sGPA of 2.9 you will be screened out at many schools.

this is what i did. I think you should do this to save money! Just retake science classes that you got a C in. I got in 2 DO programs with a 3.1 sGPA and 3.17 cGPA. My friend (urm/ hispanic) got into 2 MD with 499 MCAT and 3.1 sGPA and 3.4 cGPA.

 

[Premed_2020!]

Had an even lower cGPA before acceptance to my SMP. You just need to find the right one. Once you've updated the forum with your list of SMPs and feedback, we can offer more advice. Either way a strong MCAT performance can also help you secure an SMP acceptance (>510).

Rest assured, you definitely still have a path to medical school. Godspeed.

What SMP did you get accepted to?

 

[Arsartium]

What SMP did you get accepted to?

Hi I would love to know how you got into your SMP, currently I have a 2.9 cGPA. I took most premed pre-reqs post grad at a CC also with a 2.9 GPA so-far. I know CC classes don't look the best to Med Schools so i'm looking forward to taking most if not all the classes over in Grad school. I also just started studying for the MCAT. I plan to start at a masters program hopefully by the fall of 2023 do you think it's possible? Do you mind letting me know the requirements for your SMP?

BU MAMS. Only applied to one SMP.

For BU MAMS, minimum GPA was listed as 3.0 but exceptions can be made. Met with the program director beforehand to assess my chances. The meeting was encouraging so I applied. Despite low GPA, having a strong performance in Biochemistry (A) drew her attention. I also had a solid MCAT (>98th percentile.) You will need either an MCAT or GRE score for application.