<p>I'm a rising senior at a top 10 private univ., and I'm struggling over whether to apply to med school. My GPA is pretty low, but I am planning to take at least a year off to work/get a masters before applying. Currently I'm at a 3.426 cumulative with a 3.3 science, but I also have a couple of C grades (one in math one in Chem) and another C+ also in math. (I had a long term illness that contributed to two of those C's, not sure if that matters). I have a double major in bio and hist with a minor in chem. I have good LOR's and great extracurriculars with leadership, and pretty good laboratory and clinical experience. I got a 33 MCAT. I really want to go to my state's flagship med school, where my grandad and a lot of friends have gone, but I don't know if it's possible since I don't quite have the 3.6 that everyone says is so vital. Any input would be appreciated; I'm especially considering doing an SMP or postbac to help bring my grades up.</p>
<p>Well taking a GAP year might be good, if it allows you to retake the C’s and improve the gpa your MCAT seems good + LORS AND Leadership etc seems good</p>
<p>My school doesn’t have a replacement policy, and I’m gonna need to take all new classes in my last year to finish my degrees. Is is worth retaking during the year while working or whatever I end up doing?</p>
<p>no, a retake is a waste of time, you’re better off taking new classes to just try and dilute because an A in a retake isn’t really THAT impressive (I mean come on, you’ve seen the material before) and anything less is worse than a non A in a new course (I mean come on, you’ve seen the material before). That means doing a master’s type thing instead of a true post-bacc.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that if you take 1 gap year, your actual gap year won’t play too much into your application because you’ll be submitting right after you graduate. If you take 2 years off, you’ll have a 5th year of accomplishments on your app.</p>
<p>I know this comment will spark some controversy, but with regard to your state flagship, how does your MCAT stack up? I would put more weight in that than your GPA since you go to a top 10 school (assuming your state flagship isn’t one of the few that is a top 25 med school)</p>
<p>I live in TN so it’s like a 30 average, making it above</p>
<p>TNT, Despite getting a couple of C’s and one C+ you have managed a 3.426 CGPA from a top 10 private school. I really feel for you. Your MCAT is certainly good enough for Med School Admission. Why don’t you take a chance and apply to 5 or 6 safeties right now? If you don’t get in you can always do a one year masters, get high grades and reapply.</p>
<p>I didn’t mean to come of seeking validation, I just am really struggling with whether this is even worth trying, as I really thought my bad grades in several prereqs would pretty much kill me permanently, regardless of the other stuff being alright. I still have a year left and plan to bust it and hopefully get the cumulative at least over 3.5, which I think would be huge. I also have like a 3.7 for junior year, I just seriously screwed up freshman and sophomore spring. Based on what others have said I really don’t think the top 10 school will help, but it’d be nice</p>
<p>I think it depends on the school. I think med schools also look for consistency and upward trends. If you have had good grades for the most part and a few bumps (Cs ) along the way, you might have a shot, especially with a good MCAT. I think you really need to have a killer personal statement that explains your passion for medicine and that you’ve had struggles but you’ve learned from those struggles and have improved since then. Med schools understand life happens but they want to see your perseverance through those experiences and how you looked on to the next thing in life because essentially that is what you will have to do in med school. If you had an illness in med school, will you be able to push through it and not let it affect your grades? That’s what they want to know.</p>