Save 10% on 1-on-1 MCAT Tutoring Before Our Price Increase on May 1st! | Book Here
This student went to a top-20 school and struggled with the rigor of his classes, and transferred schools. How can he move forward from his low GPA?
Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A is brought to you by Blueprint MCAT. Listen to this podcast episode with the player above, or keep reading for the highlights and takeaway points.
The episodes in this podcast are recordings of our Facebook Live that we do at 3 pm Eastern on most weekdays. Check out our Facebook page and like the page to be notified. Also, listen to our other podcasts on MedEd Media. If you have any questions, call me at 617-410-6747.
“As I’m setting up my application, I’m trying to make sure I’m ticking all the boxes that I need in order to show medical schools I have the ability to do well in medical school. But a big issue that I was dealing with in undergrad in general was I went to a really intense top 20 University.
I’ve always had my mindset on doing premed in some way, shape, or form. And at the time, I thought that I wanted to do an MD/Ph.D. and I still want to do that. I got into a research program at the end of my first semester during freshman year. That motivated me to try and stick it out, trying to get all the requirements that I needed.
I have an upward trend in my GPA, which I started off at below 3.3, around a 2.8. And then I got it up to a 3.2 in the second semester of my freshman year. In the second semester of my freshman year, that’s when the pandemic started, and cut it off.
My grades reflected how much the pandemic affected me, which was my sophomore year. Then at the beginning of my junior year, I ended up starting a semester off at the former university that I went to. I ended up withdrawing and coming to a university that was closer to my home.
How would admissions committees look at my transcript as I transferred to another university? I’m trying to finish up my requirements and let it reflect that I have the academic ability to be a productive medical student.
Also, how important is clinical experience as opposed to research experience? I’ve been doing research for the past three and two and a half years. I’m about two summers already, where I presented my research, and I’m currently scribing.”
A lot of people transfer universities for whatever reasons they may have. And so, transferring to universities does not matter. If it comes up, you could just say you didn’t thrive in that school so you decided to move closer to home or whatever your reason is. Show that you’re academically capable, moving forward, and that’s it.
'Transferring universities is a very common thing.'Click To TweetClinical research is important when you’re applying for MD/Ph.D. You’re still applying to medical school. And so, the interest in patients still needs to be there.
The MD/Ph.D. route obviously needs that research interest as well, which sounds like this student has gotten taken care of as well. He is scribing and getting research. And so it seems he’s doing everything he needs to be doing to prove to himself first that he wants to go to medical school.
'Prove to yourself first and foremost that this is what you want, and then be able to prove to the medical schools that you understand what you're getting yourself into.'Click To TweetOur student is also asking how to be more academically capable. His plan is to finish the semester off and take one basic science course. He had to retake general chemistry, both year semesters, and general biology because he ended up getting C minuses.
He is finishing other requirements for his neuroscience major. And he’s thinking about going back to his former university out-of-state and changing his major.
He also mentions his plan of taking the MCAT this summer, but he may have an issue with that since the MCAT expires. Therefore, he has to make sure not to take the MCAT too early, depending on what your timeline looks like.
Again, don’t worry about switching schools or switching majors. Because there are medical schools that will understand and there are also other medical schools that will not accept it. And so, you just have to do what you need to do.
'Don't be worried way too much about the future. You just need to focus on right now and be the best version of yourself today.'Click To TweetMedical School HQ Facebook page
Medical School HQ YouTube channel
Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ
Join the Application Academy!
The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement
The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit
I just received my admission to XXXXX! This is unreal and almost feels like I am dreaming. I want to thank you for all of your help with my application. I cannot overstate how influential your guidance and insight have been with this result and I am eternally grateful for your support!
IM SO HAPPY!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP, IM INDEBTED TO YOU! Truly, thank you so much for all your help. Thank you doesnt do enough.
I want to take a few moments and thank you for all of your very instructive, kind and consistent feedback and support through my applications and it is your wishes, feedback, and most importantly your blessings that have landed me the acceptance!
I got into XXXXX this morning!!!! It still has not hit me that I will be a doctor now!! Thank you for all your help, your words and motivation have brought me to this point.
I wanted to once again express my heartfelt gratitude for your help in providing feedback during my secondary applications. Your guidance has been instrumental in my journey.
Just wanted to share my wonderful news! I received my first medical school acceptance! Thank you for all that you do for us Application Academy!!!
I am excited to tell you that I just got my third interview invite from XXXXX today! I can’t believe it. I didn’t even know if I was good enough to get one, let alone three – by mid-September. Thank you so much for all of your help and support up to this point; I would not be in this position without it!!
I wanted to thank you for helping me prepare for my XXXXX interview. Even in a 30-minute advising session, I learned so much from you. Thank you for believing in me, and here’s to another potential success story from one of your advisees!
I just received an acceptance with XXXXX! This is so exciting and such a huge relief and so nice to have one of our top choice schools! I also received an interview with XXXXX which brings the total up to 20 interviews! Thank so much, none of this would have been possible without you!
Sale Ends In
