• 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

July 30, 2013

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Tips for Medical School Applicants with a Low GPA

Did you decide on a medical career late in undergraduate career? Were you immature, undisciplined, and unfocussed in your study habits?Did you find the transition from high school classes to undergraduate coursework challenging? Were you overwhelmed by moving to a new area or newly acquired independence? Did you have personal issues that took your focus away from your school work?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you likely have a lower GPA than is required for a competitive medical school application. For students with a low undergraduate GPA, there are several options to pursue to improve your credentials, in particular your BCPM GPA (grade point average in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics courses).  

These include:

  1. Plan to retake at a reputable institution any required pre-med courses in which you did not perform well. And this time earn a grade of “A.”
  2. Consider enrolling in a post-bac program that provides you with a certificate, a letter package with recommendations from science professors, and usually some clinical exposure.
  3. Consider taking on graduate coursework in the medical sciences to demonstrate your ability to succeed in medical school courses (also obtain a letter of recommendation).
  4. Consider a formal masters program (in Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Medical Sciences), which although costly provides considerable academic preparation for medical school while also providing assistance in many other areas such as clinical exposure, research experience, MCAT prep, AMCAS application assistance, and overall advising.

Whatever path you take, make sure you are taking “hard” science classes and doing well. Try to accumulate letters of recommendation from faculty who can attest to who you are NOW (not who you were three years ago in undergrad when you weren’t performing well). You need faculty to write strong letters than can document your ability to integrate challenging material, ask the right questions, and successfully complete medically relevant coursework. These faculty can also remark on your focus, discipline and motivation. Earning an above average MCAT score also goes a long way towards erasing that mediocre undergrad GPA. Even though you will always have a low undergraduate GPA, if you take sufficient post-bac and /or graduate level science courses, you can really improve your BCPM GPA while demonstrating your strong academic aptitude to admissions committees.









Accepted.com Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

Article by Accepted / Medical School Admissions / MCAT

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. Your Guide to Getting off the Waitlist in 2021

2. How to Write About Your Research Interests

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

4. 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay

5. How to Write a Goal Statement for Graduate School

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

7. Sample Essays from Admitted HBS Students

8. The Myth of the Fully-Funded PhD: Using Scholarships to Mitigate the Financial Realities of Research Degrees

Recent Posts

  • An Inside Look at USC’s Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry [Episode 414]
  • Get a Jumpstart on Your AMCAS Application!
  • Which MBA Program is Right for Me? The Ultimate Guide to Choosing an MBA Program
  • Ivy League Colleges Accept Record Low Number of Students
  • U.S. News Law School Rankings 2022
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