What is considered a low GPA in the US?

[jsydc]

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I just got into mcgill, so it looks like I'll be staying here after all.

 

[Vihsadas]

I just got into mcgill, so it looks like I'll be staying here after all.

CONGRATS!!!!! THAT IS SO AWESOME!

I'm so envious you have no idea...I guess its my turn to leave home, girlfriend, and life behind and off to somewhere new.

Congrats again.

 

[flip26]

I just got into mcgill, so it looks like I'll be staying here after all.

Fantastic!!!

Good luck to you...

 

[Heyeon]

A "special masters program" is usually a one year deal offered at or in conjunction with a medical school, designed for the applicant who has graduated from UG with a good MCAT but below average GPA to demonstrate the applicant's ability to take and perform well in medical school level science classes, and in some cases in the same classes as med students.

There is a thread that talks about these...do a search...if I were to do one of these, I would look for one with a direct linkage to a medical school...

The one caveat is that if you do an SMP and do badly, it can kill your chances at ever getting into medical school. Therefore, it is arguably riskier for someone in the 3.5 to 3.6 range who has a fair chance at admissions without the SMP than for the sub 3.3 applicant who doesn't have much chance to begin with...

Thanks for the awesome explanation and tips...I had no idea that sth like this even existed! Sounds like a really good idea for ppl with a slight below avg GPA...I will search for the thread talking about the prog

 

[flip26]

Thanks for the awesome explanation and tips...I had no idea that sth like this even existed! Sounds like a really good idea for ppl with a slight below avg GPA...I will search for the thread talking about the prog

One program I have heard of in particular is at VCU...there is a poster on SDN named Instatewaiter - he has an amazing story to tell of having a sub 3.0 GPA and getting into VCU med school after doing well in their SMP program...look him up, he is very helpful...

 

[pride4jc727]

I would say at worst, a 3.5, not because of ability but because of competition. A high MCAT would help the GPA. I just have the opposite problem: 3.90 GPA with a 29R MCAT.

 

[SStorm]

I just got into mcgill, so it looks like I'll be staying here after all.

Congrats! So no need to worry after all.

 

[paranoid_eyes]

i think 3.5 is a minimum, but 3.6 is what you need to be mildly competitive.

MCAT can change these values dramatically.

 

[Chuckwalla]

i think 3.5 is a minimum, but 3.6 is what you need to be mildly competitive.

MCAT can change these values dramatically.

That sounds a bit pessimistic. If you have a 3.6 you will have some choice in schools. Not as much if you had a 3.8 obviously. A 3.5 will definitely get you in somewhere.

I would say a 3.4 is what you would consider a low GPA. From what I have seen this is the highest GPA where people don't get in.

I'm speaking generally, there are always exceptions.