My Advice to a 37-Year-Old Premed With a 2.13 Science GPA | OldPreMeds Podcast Ep. 252

This premed mom has a 2.13 science GPA and minimal to no shadowing or volunteering. Hear my feedback on whether she should realistically apply next year!

This week's question comes from a 37 year-old wife, mom, and manager at an AMC. Her undergraduate and graduate GPAs are 3.2, but her science GPA is only 2.13. She has minimal to no shadowing or volunteering because of being busy with her family and full-time job. She'd like to apply to medical school next year. Is it realistic? How can she improve her chances?

In my answer, I discuss:
• Why medical schools care so much about stats, and why they DO matter.
• Why I recommend that this student STOP studying for the MCAT and do a postbac first.
• Why shadowing and clinical experience are critical for this student before applying.
• Why so many older premeds need to change their perspective on wanting to rush the premed path—slow down and do it right.
• Why I do NOT recommend going to a Caribbean medical school in cases like this.
• How to do a postbac when you have family and kids to take care of.

[Naogostoumorra]

Some mean comments here! Well, although there’s a lack of self-awareness here, if she applies effort for 2 or 3 years, she can be a decent candidate for med school.

[sergiootero]

I love this Dr. Gray, bruttaly honest, brotherly love.

[iLeona]

To go back to clinical experience: let’s say someone who works in the healthcare field as an RN they can’t “shadow” doctors like most do (as an intern for free) but they work alongside doctors because they receive orders from them. What do meds schools think about that? Does it count?

[cberryman]

I admire her courage to ask for help and to throw herself to the social media “wolves”. I’m considering a career change myself into medicine but I know it’ll be extremely hard work . Nonetheless, if being a Physician was easy, then everyone would be one. Best of luck to you mom, but Dr. Gray is right. Save that application fee money. I have a 3-4 year plan before I will apply and I’m going to apply for a SMP to boost my stats and retake some courses. And those courses will help with mcat prep as well. It’s never too late to pursue your dreams. Just do your best to make yourself the best candidate you can be for med school so you don’t have to live to with regrets.

[rebekatalebi]

a lot of post bacc. programs don't accept students under 3.0. My sister had a 2.7-2.8 cumulative GPA and she only got into one school but now that school takes in students with a 3.0 or higher. That individual should just retake the class for a better grades, At Virginia Commonwealth University and other schools when you retake a class and get a better grade you can fill out a form so the good grade can replace the bad grade. In addition, go to Rate My Professors to find a high rate professor for the retake classes and find a very good tutor and study the material prior to class. You can also take courses on ED EX/course sera prior to retaking the course to get more exposure to science. Study Hacks and other blogs and youtube channels are great resources on learning how to study. He/she needs to learn to study smarter not harder.

[lillygonzalez]

I have taken many classes in my undergrad due to changing my major a few times early on. At this point I am probably going to graduate with a 2.8-3.0 and that is with extra science courses a postbacc would normally entail. If I stay on this upward trend by the time I graduate my last 60 credits will be a 4.0 (not including the 5 Bs I've had sprinkled in) so probably closer to like a 3.8?? However all these credits will be considered undergrad and doing a postbacc won't budge my GPA very much. I feel like the trend will be there but I don't know if medical schools will even look at me with that GPA. Science GPA would be roughly 3.0 for AMCAS and 3.1 for AACOMAS. Would a post bacc be absolutely necessary?

[nanyamkajenkins]

This was really confusing to me. How can you apply to medical school with no health care experiences? Is that possible? My gpa is low but I not sure how to use this advise?

[austinbeahm]

I am 3 humanities credits away from finishing an associates degree with honors (4.0). However, I am transferring to a university and I am not required to have the humanities credits. Would it be a waste of my time to go and finish the associates degree? Would a medical school care that I received an associates degree with honors? Or would it be a better use of my time to focus on my premed prereqs?

[kylelogan]

A polished turd.. is still a turd.. - Dr Gray 🤣