<p>I am a rising junior at the University of Maryland college park majoring in Biology and Business.</p>
<p>I have really bad prerequisite grades. With little other "buffer" science classes. I am wondering what I should do?</p>
<p>In Gen Chem 1 B
BSCI207 (Bio 3/principles, placed out of Bio 1 and 2) B
Genetics B
Orgo I C
Orgo II A-
Cell Bio B+
Calc 2 A-</p>
<p>I havent taken physics or gen chem 2 yet. And I placed out of Calc 1. </p>
<p>My Overall GPA as of sophomore year is a 3.4.</p>
<p>Do you think I have a shot? Should I retake classes? Should I give up completely?</p>
<p>I have 2-3 years of college left. Does anyone have any advice for me?</p>
<p>Thank you so much.</p>
<p>I graduated from UMCP and had grades similar to yours in medical school prerequisites with a couple of exceptions that were probably crucial in me getting accepted into a U.S. medical school. Although I majored in a physical rather than a life science I did get an A in both semesters of Biology and I think that is the prerequisite medical schools consider the most important. You will encounter no Calculus and very little Physics in medical school but you do need a good understanding of basic Biology. Also, I had a GPA of 3.65 and while not spectacular, that is considered adequate for most medical schools. A 3.4 GPA is really at the very lowest limit of acceptability for nearly all medical schools unless you are a URM.</p>
<p>While at this point you are not a strong candidate for a medical school acceptance, if you can get your GPA to 3.6+ and can score 30+ with no sub-score less than 10 on the MCAT you still have a chance of picking up an acceptance somewhere if you apply to enough medical schools. Remember, it is not necessarily Harvard that is the best medical school in the country, it is the one that accepts you.</p>
<p>so just get my gpa up and study the mcats and il have a chance? </p>
<p>I did so bad on the prerequisites. I’m just so worried that it keep me out of the running.</p>
<p>I never took bio 1 and bio 2 because i placed out because of AP BIO. Should I go back and take them as a junior?</p>
<p>I’m concerned about your sGPA which right now is a 3.1–which is quite low for allopathic medical schools.</p>
<p>You really, really need more As in BCPM classes to raise your sGPA–which should be in the 3.5 range to be a truly viable candidate.</p>
<p>You still need 2 semesters of physics to fulfill your requirements. Are you planning taking them this year? How many additional BCPM classes are you planning over the next 2 years?</p>
<p>I think it would look strange for you now to go back and try and take courses that are at a lower level than courses you’ve already taken. It might suggest GPA padding to adcoms. (And it has huge potential to backfire on you. Any grade lower than an A will make your record look worse.)</p>
<p>I have 2 suggestions: 1) consider osteopathic medical schools; and 2) consider applying after senior year (which will give you time to raise your sGPA into a more acceptable range.)</p>
<p>Right now, you’re a weak candidate for allopathic schools. It’s not hopeless, but you have much work ahead of you.</p>