How to Get into a Medical School with a Low GPA

The GPA is one of the essential admission requirements if you are applying for a medical school, alongside the MCAT, BMAT, DAT, and other requirements. Most medical schools require a minimum or average GPA to succeed in the admission process. 

However, not all applicants have excellent or good GPAs but still want to continue studying medicine. We will help you with your dilemma if you are one of them. 

This article will tackle how you will get into medical school with a low GPA. We also have listed several medical schools that consider a low GPA. At the same time, some do not require a specific GPA for you to apply.

What is GPA? 

GPA is the abbreviation for Grade Point Average. It is a grading system used by most high schools and universities in the U.S. to measure a student’s academic performance and achievement. 

Generally, there are two kinds of GPA:

Unweighted GPA

A GPA score is measured on a scale of 0 to 4.0 grade points. 

An unweighted GPA score of 4.0 is represented by a letter grade A and so on. 

It calculates the overall average grade out of 4.0 without regard to the difficulty of one’s coursework. And it is much easy and simpler to calculate than a weighted GPA. 

Also, it does not have to consider the levels of the classes in calculations. 

Below is the GPA Scale showing the different grade points and numerical grades. 

Weighted GPA

The weighted GPA reflects both grades and course levels. It acknowledges challenging and advanced courses such as honors, advanced placement (AP), and international baccalaureate (IB). 

It is considered an essential kind and usually accepted during the admission process of any college or university as it shows the difficulty level of the student's coursework. 

It also demonstrates the different advanced classes and the student's performance. And the weighted GPA takes into the course difficulty instead of providing the same letter grade to GPA conversion for every student. 

Also, it is usually measured on a scale of 0 to 5.0, while some scales go higher. The weighted GPA typically allows advanced courses to be scored higher than the standard classes. 

To get the weighted GPA using the unweighted GPA conversion scale for regular-level classes, add 0.5 for mid-level/honors classes and 1.0 for high-level/AP classes.

Why is the GPA Important?

Your GPA score is one of the crucial requirements for getting into any graduate school, especially medical school. And it also impacts your marketability with your future career and employment.

It helps determine if you met the standard requirement of the medical school of your choice and the medical degree you will enroll in. 

Also, it will support your eligibility for financial aid programs, scholarships, joining different clubs, school organizations, and more. 

A high GPA score also gives you a higher chance of being accepted into a prestigious educational institution, such as one of the country's top medical schools. And it will also help you land a decent or high-paying job. 

What is Considered a Low GPA?

The average GPA for all high schools in the U.S. is 3.0, and the average GPA for all U.S. colleges and universities is 3.1. So anything below this average GPA is considered a low one.

A GPA of 2.0 is considered the lowest one, making it difficult for students interested in continuing their education, especially if one plans to get a medical degree. 

And the GPA of 2.0 falls under the letter grade of C in the percentile, equivalent to more or less 75%. 

However, acceptance to prestigious universities and colleges with low GPAs is almost impossible, as they require a minimum GPA for acceptance. 

Note that the more selective the school is regarding its applicants, the higher the expectation for a high GPA requirement.

How to Get into a Medical School with a Low GPA?

Most medical schools' admission requirement includes your GPA, and each educational institution has its own minimum GPA requirement. It helps the admissions committees determine whether you can handle the demands and challenges of obtaining a medical degree. 

Here are some recommendations to help you if you have a low GPA and still want to continue taking up medicine.

Get A High MCAT Score

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is also important when applying to any medical school. If you have a low GPA, the next step is getting a high MCAT score. 

It will give the admission committee a good impression of your intellectual and academic capabilities that will help you excel in medical school. 

A good MCAT score is 511 or higher, with no section scores below 127. 

Before you take the MCAT, you need to know the structure and how the exam goes. There are many practice tests available that you can utilize, be consistent with your study habits, and set a goal.

Check Out Caribbean Medical Schools

Caribbean medical schools are considered offshore medical schools that offer quality medical degree programs outside the U.S. 

Most of these institutions do not require MCAT, UCAT, BMAT, or GPA, unlike those prestigious medical schools in the country. And they follow holistic rubrics for their admission process and emphasize the applicant’s personal knowledge, skills, critical judgment, adaptability, social skills, and more. 

Also, they have high acceptance rates and are a perfect choice for applicants with low GPAs or who do not meet the minimum requirement of the medical school one is applying for.

Take A Special Master’s Program.

It is a post-graduate program designed to improve an applicant’s academic credentials when applying to medical school. 

The Special Master’s Program (SMP) is the graduate category of post-baccalaureate programs with the goal of preparing and increase the chance of students being accepted into medical school. 

Also, this program provides more opportunities for pre-med students in research and clinical exposure. It helps them bolster their med school application. 

Students taking up SMPs are exposed to the same courses and materials as those attending medical school.

What Medical Schools Accept Students with Low GPAs?

Several medical schools do not have a minimum GPA requirement and accept applicants with low GPAs. 

We have listed some medical schools you can choose if you have a low GPA and still want to continue pursuing a medical degree.

The University of Mississippi

Location: Jackson, Mississippi, USA

The University of Mississippi, School of Medicine, is a highly competitive medical school committed to giving extensive training and quality medical education. It also emphasizes serving the state’s residents, including the diverse and underserved communities. 

Its curriculum is centered on diversity and innovative education. Also, the school has the latest state-of-the-art research facilities, which provide a comprehensive clinical practice setting for aspiring doctors. 

For its admission process, the institution requires applicants to have at least a BS or BA degree in Biology, Chemistry, or any other natural or physical science-related degree. 

However, those applicants having non-science majors who wish to pursue medicine can still apply. 

Also, the minimum GPA accepted is 3.0 on a 4-point scale. Applicants must also provide a personal statement, application essay, and other admission requirements.

Augusta University

Location: Augusta, Georgia

The Medical College of Georgia of Augusta University is one of the top largest medical schools in the country. It provides excellent and safest patient care, advanced medical activities, and comprehensive health care education. 

Also, the school is affiliated with the best medical centers and hospitals in the area, including Augusta VA Medical Center, Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, Roosevelt Warm Springs, and Wellstar Medical Group. 

The admission of the school utilizes a holistic review process, wherein applicants are interviewed based on the different academic metrics, the MCAT, GPA, grade trends, attributes through the CASPer exam, experiences in research, community service, health care experiences, and more. 

It focuses on the applicant's ability to communicate, and interact, learning skills, attitude towards education, social consciousness, maturity, integrity in character, tolerance, motivation, and other personal characteristics.

Drexel University

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Drexel University College of Medicine offers excellent scientific training programs that center on innovation, cross-disciplinary, and a highly diverse learning environment. 

Its medical degree programs are student-centered and feature discipline-specific and integrative coursework. Also, it is integrated with intense research training and development with the latest technology in medicine study. 

Medical students are also exposed to public health, patient care systems, clinical rotations, and more. And helping them grow professionally and individually, allowing them to showcase their skills and knowledge in medicine. 

The school does not have a minimum GPA requirement for those who wish to enroll in any medical degree program. 

However, it highly recommends a GPA score of 3.66 to be a competitive applicant. It also requires the official MCAT score, three letters of evaluation/recommendation, official transcripts, a personal statement essay, and more. 

Howard University

Location: Washington, DC

The Howard University School of Medicine provides vast clinical opportunities through research and residency training programs. It also offers extensive medical fundamentals, patient care, and public health coursework. 

It also supports underserved communities, minorities, and other ethnic groups by providing them with the best and most fully trained medical professionals. It develops its students holistically, with compassion for patients, respect for various differences, and more. 

The minimum GPA requirement of the school is 3.0 for Science. Also, it requires applicants to submit a minimum MCAT score of 494 and to have at least 71 semester hours with the following courses Biology, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Math, Statistics, Biochemistry, English, and other Humanities courses.

Tulane University

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

The Tulane University School of Medicine offers an array of educational, clinical, and research opportunities that will help you hone your medical skills and will have a promising medical career in the future. 

Also, the institution highly supports and values diversity in its programs. It welcomes all applicants from different races, nationalities, ethnic groups, and more. It provides a rich learning environment for its students with an infusion of cultural competency, sensitivity, and attentiveness to everyone’s differences. 

For those who wish to enroll in this medical school, it requires applicants to have a baccalaureate degree with a strong science background. However, they also still accept applicants with different majors. 

The medical school does not have a minimum score for GPAs, MCAT, GRE, and DAT. However, due to a highly competitive pool of applicants, the school will choose the strongest applicants with exemplary academic records.

Summary Table:Medical Schools That Accept Students with a Low GPA