• Business School
    • Admissions Help
    • MBA Essay Tips
    • Executive MBA Essay Tips
    • MBA Admissions Calendar
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
    • Selectivity Index
    • EMBA: The Ultimate Guide for Applicants
  • Medical School
    • Admissions Help
    • Med School Admissions 101
    • Secondary Essay Tips (by School)
    • Student Interviews
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
    • Selectivity Index
  • Law School
    • Admissions Help
    • Law School Admissions 101
    • Selectivity Index
    • Free Guides
    • Podcast
    • Video Tips
  • Graduate School
    • Admissions Help
    • Grad School Admissions 101
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
  • College
    • Admissions Help
    • Free Guides
    • Supplemental Essay Tips
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
Accepted

1 (310) 815-9553

Blog HomePodcastContact Us

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

December 19, 2018

Reading Time: 2 minutes

GPA Issues When Applying to Med School: What to do With a “W”

What to do with a W when applying to med school

Almost everybody has a blemish on their GPA. Usually it’s a failed class or a semester of poor grades. But there’s also the issue of how a “W” on your transcript will affect your chance of admission to medical school.

The truth is that withdrawing from one or two classes is not going to hurt you at all. In fact, it’s a lot better than having an “F” on your transcript, since W’s are not factored into your GPA.

Interpreting and Dealing with Your W’s

But what if you have a series of W’s? Then you need to look at them a little more carefully, just as the medical schools are likely to do. Are your withdrawals grouped around one or two semesters, indicating a difficult time in your life? Or are they scattered throughout your academic career? Are they mostly in science classes? Are there multiple attempts at the same class?

Each of these situations can lead an admissions committee to a different conclusion, and is something that you will want to explain. However, in most cases, you should avoid doing this in your primary AMCAS application. Of course, if your reasons are integral to the story of how your interest in medicine emerged or evolved, then by all means include it in your personal statement. But otherwise, you can incorporate your explanation in a variety of secondary essays. Questions like “What challenges or obstacles have you faced?” and “What makes you unique?” can be great venues to explain any setback that you’ve experienced.

For example:

• Did you have a rough semester (or year) because of a family situation?

Describe the situation, subtly mentioning your grades but keeping the focus on qualities like your compassion, the responsibilities you took on, and the personal growth you experienced.

• Were you or your family in dire economic straits, leading you to work too many jobs and not manage your time well?

Then tell us how you gained control, learned to prioritize, and developed better study and work habits.

• Did you struggle to master organic chemistry, withdrawing a time or two before you finally got the hang of it?

Detail how you overcame this mental block with the help of your determination, extra study time, and outside resources.

Different programs view the significance of dropped classes in different ways – some will see them as a red flag, others as a natural part of a student’s academic career. In either case, if you can address the challenges or obstacles you faced, your ability to overcome it will highlight your strong potential as a med student.

Need more personalized guidance? Work one-on-one with an expert advisor who will help you build a strong medical school admissions strategy and create a winning application that will get you ACCEPTED. Learn more about our Medical School Admissions Consulting Services here.

Register for the webinar!

by Cydney Foote, Accepted Admissions ConsultantA former fellowship admissions committee member and administrator at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Cydney Foote has successfully advised healthcare applicants, including those applying to medical school, dental school, nursing and PA programs, veterinary school, public health and hospital administration programs, post-baccalaureate medical programs, residencies and fellowships. Since 2001, she has brought her marketing and writing expertise to help science-focused students communicate their strengths. Want Cyd to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

 

Related Resources:

• Applying to Medical School with Low Stats: What you Need to Know, a free guide
• 5 A’s for Your Low GPA, a podcast episode
• Writing about Weaknesses in Your Med School Personal Statement

Article by Cydney Foote / Medical School Admissions / GPA, med low stats, weakness

Get Accepted!

Choose your desired degree and then the service that best meets your needs.

Which program are you applying to?

What do you need help with?

Join the informed applicants who read Accepted's blog!

8 Popular Posts

1. 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay

2. How to Write About Your Research Interests

3. 4 Ways to Show How You’ll Contribute in the Future

4. When Will Medical Schools Give You an Answer?

5. How to Write a Goal Statement for Graduate School

6. 4 Must Haves in a Med School Letter of Interest

7. Writing Your Physician Assistant (PA) Personal Statement [Plus Sample Essay]

8. Preparing for Your MBA Interview Questions

Recent Posts

  • What is INSEAD Looking For?
  • UC Berkeley Haas Expands Deferred MBA Program
  • Predoc & Premed Summer Undergraduate Research Programs
  • Should You Apply in Round 3? Let’s Find Out!
  • What a Law Career Is Really Like [Episode 401]
This Site is Featured on GMATClub

Home Page Services and Prices MBA Med School Law School Grad School College

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog
Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553
© 2021 Accepted

BBB A+ RatingStamp of AIGAC Excellence

Copyright © 2021 · Education Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in