support@accepted.com
Get Your Free Consultation!

Which program are you applying to?

  • - Select a program -
  • MBA/EMBA
  • Law School
  • Grad School, PhD
  • MD/DO, Residency
  • Other Healthcare Programs
  • College
  • About Accepted
    • About us
      • The Accepted Advantage
      • Clients Accepted At
      • In The News
    • Client Feedback
    • Contact Us
  • Meet the Team
    • MBA Admissions Consultants
    • Med School Admissions Consultants
    • Grad School Admissions Consultants
    • Law School Admissions Consultants
    • College Admissions Consultants
  • Free Resources
    • MBA
      • Free Guides
      • Selectivity Index
      • Sample Essays
      • Essay Tips
    • Med School
      • Free Guides
      • Selectivity Index
      • Sample Essays
      • Essay Tips
    • Healthcare Programs
      • Free Guides
    • Grad School
      • Free Guides
      • Sample Essays
    • Law School
      • Free Guides
      • Selectivity Index
      • Sample Essays
    • College
      • Free Guides
      • Sample Essays
  • Services
    • MBA
      • Complete Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • Resume Services
      • Interview Prep
      • MORE
    • Med School
      • Premed Packages
      • Primary App Packages
      • Secondary App Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • Interview Prep
      • MORE
    • Healthcare
      • Postbac Packages
      • MPH Packages
      • NursingCAS Packages
      • PharmD Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • MORE
    • Grad School
      • Complete Packages
      • PhD Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • CV/Resume Assistance
      • MORE
    • Law School
      • Complete Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • Interview Prep
      • MORE
    • College
      • Complete Packages
      • Common App Package
      • Essay Editing
      • MORE
  • Blog
    • MBA Blog Posts
    • Medical School Blog Posts
    • Other Healthcare Blog Posts
    • Grad School Blog Posts
    • Law School Blog Posts
    • College Blog Posts
    • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast
Accepted

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!

Sign up for a free consultation today!

Which program are you applying to?

Most Popular Blog Posts

1. 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay

2. 4 Ways to Show How You’ll Contribute in the Future

3. How to Write About Your Research Interests

4. Tips for Answering the Yale University Supplemental Essays and Short Answer Questions [2022-2023]

5. When Will Medical Schools Give You an Answer?

6. Sample Essays from Admitted HBS Students

7. Tips for Answering the University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022-2023]

8. Top STEM MBA Programs: A Comprehensive List and Overview of STEM-OPT Eligible B-Schools

Sample Essays

MBA Personal Statement Examples

Medical School Personal Statement Examples

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Law School Personal Statement Examples

College Application Essay Examples

 

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
© 2022 Accepted

BBB A+ RatingStamp of AIGAC Excellence

Copyright © 2023 · Education Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in