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 GPA can make the process even more nerve-wracking. In fact, in a 2023 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 factors in their decision matrix and were given more weight than the individual’s MCAT section scores, their graduate degree, the selectivity of their undergraduate institution, and the completion of challenging non-science courses 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, 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.
This is one of the main reasons applicants are rejected from medical schools. If you haven’t graduated yet, consider staying in a 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 all science classes and to 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 at medical school.
You have not retaken classes that you failed.
Retake any courses in which you received a C-, D, or F as soon as possible to demonstrate your improvement as a student. It is best to retake the same classes, if you can. If not, take equivalent courses.
You have not successfully maintained a full course load of upper-division science courses.
If you received a C in every quarter or semester and thereby failed to show consistent improvement, this can be a red flag. To be a competitive medical school applicant, you need to be regularly earning A and B grades in upper-division science courses.
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 secondaries to address the reasons for your low stats/grades early on in your education. State the facts – don’t provide excuses. (See How to Apply Successfully to Grad School Despite a Low GPA for more advice on addressing a low GPA.)
- Carefully select and apply to schools with a history of accepting applicants with lower numbers.
- Consider applying to osteopathic (DO) medical schools. Although these 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 2023 entering class, the mean GPA for DO matriculants was 3.62, compared to a median of 3.77 for MD matriculants.
- Show enormous commitment to medicine and community service. Although the 2023 entering class of MD students had an average science GPA of 3.71, 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.
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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. Want Cydney to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
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