by Cydney Foote
Applying to Medical School with a Low Science GPA
The process of applying to medical school is already stressful. And since selection committees are looking for evidence that you are ready for medical school, applying with a low science or math GPA can make the process even more nerve-wracking. In fact, in a recent AAMC study of 128 U.S. medical schools, admissions officers said that an applicant’s cumulative science/math GPA and postbaccalaureate GPA were among the most important academic factors in their decision matrix and were given more weight than individual MCAT section scores, the completion of graduate degrees, the selectivity of undergraduate institutions, and the completion of challenging coursework or majors.
If you have a low science (or BCPM [biology, chemistry, physics, and math]) GPA, you have two options. You can postpone applying to med school, or you can move forward with your application while taking certain precautionary steps.
When to Postpone Your Application
You should consider waiting to apply to medical school if you fall into one of these three categories:
You have a decreasing trend in your GPA.
When first starting college, many students struggle to adjust, so earning poor grades as a freshman is not unusual. That’s why medical schools look for an upward trend in applicants’ grades. They want to see that students have adjusted and developed the tools to help them succeed even as they took on more challenging courses.
But what if your grades peaked early and then started to fall? This is one of the main reasons applicants are rejected from medical schools, and you need to address it before you apply.
If you haven’t graduated yet, consider staying in school a bit longer and dedicating yourself to taking extra classes and turning your grades around. It’s best to take a full course load of science classes and maintain a strong GPA before you apply.
If you have already graduated, consider taking postbaccalaureate coursework to create an increasing trend. In both cases, aim to take upper-division biological science courses that are similar to the level of classes taught in medical school.
You have not retaken classes that you failed.
If you ever failed a course – or even received a C – don’t make the mistake of leaving these poor grades on your transcript when you apply to medical school. You should retake these classes as soon as possible. It is best to retake the same class, if you can; if this is not possible, take an equivalent course. Retaking a class will not erase your previous grade, but doing so will demonstrate to the admissions committee that you have faced and overcome this challenge and that you have improved in this area.
Of course, to demonstrate your improvement, you must do everything possible to earn a much higher grade. This may mean employing a tutor or attending every office hour offered by your professor. Investing extra time and effort should pay off and show admissions committees that you don’t give up when things get tough.
You have not successfully maintained a full course load of upper-division science courses.
To be a competitive medical school applicant, you must regularly earn A and B grades in upper-division science courses. Receiving a C without retaking the course – thereby failing to show consistent improvement – can be a red flag.
When to Proceed with Your Application Despite a Low Science GPA
If you’ve retaken classes and improved any poor grades, successfully maintained a full load of upper-level science courses, and demonstrated an upward trend in your science GPA, you can move forward with your application. To increase your chances of success, consider the following strategies:
- Confirm the strong increasing trend in your science knowledge by earning a competitive MCAT score.
- Consider using your application essays to address the reasons for your low stats/grades. Is English not your first language? Were you diagnosed with a medical condition that affected your studies? Are you a first-generation college student? The AMCAS primary application includes an essay specifically asking about any impactful experiences in applicants’ lives that might not surface in other parts of the application. When writing this essay, state the facts – don’t provide excuses.
- Carefully select and apply to schools with a history of accepting applicants with lower numbers, including osteopathic (DO) medical schools. Although DO programs are as competitive as allopathic (MD) programs, they tend to view candidates more holistically, placing less emphasis on one’s GPA and MCAT score. For the 2024 entering class, the mean GPA for DO matriculants was 3.60, compared to a median of 3.79 for MD matriculants.
- Show enormous commitment to medicine and community service. Although the 2024 entering class of MD students had an average science GPA of 3.73, approximately one-half of the entering class had a GPA lower than that. It’s better to have an impressive record of service and to demonstrate an ability to overcome any obstacle than to have perfect scores.
The challenges you have encountered have helped you build character. Often, the candidates with lower numbers have the most heart and the greatest level of commitment.
Accepted can help! Schedule a free consultation with an Accepted expert. We can assist you in creating an admissions strategy that works for your unique situation.
Since 2001, Cydney Foote has advised hundreds of successful applicants for medical and dental education, residency and fellowship training, and other health-related degrees. Admissions consulting combines her many years of creating marketing content with five years on fellowship and research selection committees at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She’s also shared her strategy for impressing interviewers in a popular webinar and written three books and numerous articles on the admissions process.
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