<p>Hi, I'm going to be a sophomore in UCLA next year, and a Chem. Eng/Bioeng. major. Due to a few personal and family problems, my GPA coming out of my freshmen year is TERRIBLE, around 2.0. Based on my record before though, this is still VERY irregular. </p>
<p>My question is, entering soph year with a 2.0...is it even possible to bring my GPA up to a competitive level? Around 3.5. Also...would a stellar score on the MCAT, research, internships, the works, make up for a slightly (or badly) damaged GPA? I've been reading a lot about how med adcoms couldn't care less for personal excuses or tough majors or tough schools, and I've been getting a lot of flak for being an engineer and a premed, but I'll stick it out. But just wondering if I should still be hoping for an at least AVERAGE chance?</p>
<p>It is going to be very very very hard to bring your GPA up to a high level. Even if you get a 4.0 both semesters of your second year, you're cumulative GPA will still be only 3.0, which is still low by med school admissions standards. You'll pretty much have to get 4.0's for the next two years to bring your GPA back to respectability.</p>
<p>Does that mean you have no chance? No. If you get a stellar MCAT score with good EC's, interviews, etc., you will get into med school with a 3.0. But because you are so deficient in the GPA category, you need to be really really good in the other categories.</p>
<p>Hm...I'm in the quarter system, if that makes any difference</p>
<p>Med schools like upward trends. Do better, and show that you can improve greatly, med schools like this, and when you get med school interviews, explain it. Or if you have the courage explain it in your med school essays.</p>