What is considered a low GPA for medical school?

Asked by: Wendy Steuber  |  Last update: June 29, 2022
Score: 4.5/5 (22 votes)

Most medical schools set a cap at a 3.0 GPA. Generally, a low GPA is less than a school's 75th or 80th percentile. You can also review your chosen school's average GPA for accepted students. If your GPA is more than 0.3 points below that average, you can assume the school will consider it low.

What is the lowest GPA for med school?

What is a low GPA for medical school? Different medical schools have different GPA targets for applicants, but anything below 3.7 is usually considered low.

Is a 3.5 GPA too low for medical school?

Admissions experts advise aspiring medical school students to aim for a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Is a 3.2 GPA bad for med school?

By medical school standards, 3.2 is an extraordinarily low GPA. Even if you ace the MCAT, you're going to have a difficult time finding any medical school that will admit you. The fact that you struggled academically as an undergraduate is a strong indicator that you will not do well in medical school.

Is a 3.3 GPA too low for medical school?

Can I get into med school with 3.3 GPA? Based on your MCAT ratings and if you go to allopathic or osteopathic schools, the chance of going into medical school with a 3.3 GPA is 39.5 percent to 56.7 percent. However, a 3.0 GPA, particularly without a stellar MCAT ranking, will not get you into most med schools.

Pre-Med with LOW GPA – How to Still Get Into Medical School

28 related questions found

Is a 3.4 science GPA good for medical school?

A science GPA around 3.3-3.4 is Very Good, one between 3.5-3.7 is usually Excellent and one above 3.8 is generally Superior. By way of reference, the average GPA for students attending top medical schools is 3.89. Students attending state medical schools might have overall GPA's around 3.63.

Is a 3.4 GPA too low for medical school?

While you can still get into medical school with a low GPA, it's a lot more difficult, and all other areas of your application need to really stand out. If your GPA falls between 3.4-3.6, you can still get accepted, but in these cases, a good MCAT score can improve your chances of acceptance.

Can I get into med school with a 2.7 GPA?

Many medical schools have a cut-off for GPAs below 3.0. The average GPA at most MD medical schools ranges from about 3.7 to 3.9. The average GPA at most DO medical schools ranges from about 3.4 to 3.6.

Is a 3.2 GPA competitive?

While a 3.2 is a decent GPA, it's not significantly higher than average and will put some limits on your college search and application process. More selective schools will probably be out of reach with this GPA, but you will still have plenty of options.

Is 3.6 A good GPA for med school?

However, you probably need at least a 3.5 GPA to be competitive for most (if not all) medical schools. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, only about 30% of all applicants who have a GPA between 3.4 and 3.6 get accepted into a medical school.

What MCAT score do I need with a 3.5 GPA?

Assuming a good cumulative GPA (i.e., 3.5+) and well-written application essays, we suggest the following rough program breakdowns depending on your MCAT total score: 511+: 100% MD programs; 0% DO programs. 506–510: 75% MD programs, 25% DO programs. 500–505: 25–50% MD programs; 50–75% DO programs.

What MCAT score do I need with a 3.4 GPA?

Myth 2: A high MCAT score will make up for my low GPA, or vice versa. Fact: This myth is true at a certain level but only in extreme cases. For example, a student who has a 3.4 GPA (which would be considered a low GPA by premed standards) but a 519 MCAT has a decent chance of getting into an allopathic medical school.

Is a 3.9 GPA good for med school?

For top schools like Harvard or UCSF, you should aim for a 3.9 GPA. For all medical schools, above a 3.5 is a good target. However, your MCAT and GPA alone are not enough to persuade medical schools to admit you. Applying to medical school requires strong grades, test scores, leadership experience, and resumes.

Can I become a doctor with a low GPA?

Getting into medical school with a low GPA is something that many students think is impossible. But that's not the case at all. In fact, med schools accept students with a low GPA every year. It's really quite common and will continue to happen for the foreseeable future.

Is a 3.93 GPA good in college?

"I encourage people to go for a 3.0 (GPA) or higher," Campbell says, which is equivalent to a B average. Experts say a 4.0 GPA, which is an A letter grade average, can be difficult to maintain throughout college.

Can I get into med school with a 2.5 GPA?

No, probably not. Admission to medical school is very competitive and you need to show that you've been an excellent student. A 2.5 GPA is OK-ish but not excellent.

Is a 3.3 GPA good in college?

Well, a 3.3 GPA is great for any college student. This is because it is a grade point average that is well above the average college GPA in the US (3.1). If you are thinking whether a 3.3 GPA is good for grad school, you should not be too worried.

Can I get into Harvard with a 3.2 GPA?

The average high school GPA for admitted students at Harvard University is 4.18 on a 4.0 scale. This is a very competitive GPA, and Harvard University is clearly accepting students at the top of their high school class.

Is a 3.3 GPA good in graduate school?

A 3.3 GPA is considered a B. It is somewhere between a B and a B+. Not only do B's get degrees, but they can also help you get into grad school. B's are considered above average on most academic scales.

Can I get into med school with a 2.8 GPA?

Last year, 17% of med school applicants with a GPA between 2.8 and 3.0 who also had an MCAT score between 502–505 got accepted. That is a very moderate MCAT score. For people with that same GPA range but above a 517 MCAT score, there was a 42% acceptance rate.

Is a 3.7 GPA good for med school?

Your goal is to get a 3.7 or better.

You want to be right in the middle of the average GPA for matriculants (people who have a 100% success rate of getting in), not just for applicants (who, remember, have a 41% success rate). A 3.7 means getting A's in 70% of your classes (with nothing lower than a B in the rest).

Is 3.8 GPA good for med school?

The AAMC's top band of GPAs is defined as 3.8 or higher, which is an excellent GPA for students looking to be competitive in the medical school admissions process. According to AAMC data, two-thirds of applicants with a GPA higher than 3.79 are accepted to medical school.

Is MCAT score or GPA more important?

A high MCAT score can bring up a lower GPA – and vice versa – but only to a certain extent. A low score on either will draw red flags, making you unlikely to be accepted. Other schools look at your objective factors as a checklist, meaning there is no real difference between a 3.9 GPA and a 3.6 GPA.

Is a 3.68 Science GPA good for medical school?

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) reported an average GPA for medical school of 3.60 across all applicants for the 2020-2021 application cycle. For the same year, applicants had an average science GPA of 3.49 and an average non-science GPA of 3.74.

Do I need a 4.0 to get into medical school?

You don't need a 4.0 to get in to a medical school, but if you fail a class (or a few) you will make life much harder. In undergrad, especially, there are so many ways to improve your score. Seek help from the professor, classmates, tutors, etc. Ask for extra credit, or ways to improve your score.