What is the lowest GPA to enter medical school?

Asked by: Zoe Cruickshank  |  Last update: August 3, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (13 votes)

What is considered a low GPA for medical school? 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.

What is the lowest GPA med schools accept?

Medical Schools With the Lowest GPA Requirements
  • University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine (Reno, Nevada) - 2.80.
  • Meharry Medical College (Nashville, Tennessee) - 3.48.
  • Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (Roanoke, Virginia) - 3.61.
  • Tulane University School of Medicine (New Orleans, Louisiana) - 3.65.

Can I get into medical school with a 2.3 GPA?

While perfect grades are not required for medical school admission, premeds "would want to be in the mid-3.0 range and higher to feel relatively competitive," Grabowski says. Still, it is possible to get into med school with a mediocre or low GPA.

Can you get into medical school with a 2.0 GPA?

If your GPA is more than 0.3 points below that average, you can assume the school will consider it low. If your next question is, “can I get into med school with a 2.0 GPA?” unfortunately, the chances are unlikely.

Can I get into medical school with a 2.9 GPA?

It's difficult but not impossible to get into a top medical school with a GPA of 3.0 or lower if the med school has no GPA requirement. Data from the AAMC shows that acing the MCAT ( a score above 517) and having a GPA between 2.8 and 2.99 results in a 46.7% chance of admission.

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

33 related questions found

Is a 2.7 a bad GPA?

The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 2.7 is below average, and so you may have to work harder to catch up.

Can you be a doctor with a 2.7 GPA?

What is considered a low GPA for medical school? 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.

How do I fix my low GPA for medical school?

5. Will medical schools still accept me with a low GPA? While your GPA is an important factor, it is not the only factor. To improve your application overall, you need to score well on the MCAT (if required by your school of choice), and to continue doing well in your extra-curricular activities to boost your profile.

Can a good MCAT makeup for a bad GPA?

But what if you only have a GPA of 3.0-3.10 and you want to increase your chances by getting a high MCAT score? Well, if you can get your MCAT to the 514-517 score range, then the odds of getting accepted goes up to 41.7%, even with a 3.0 to 3.10 GPA.

Is MCAT more important than GPA?

But, the easy answer is: MCAT. Some med schools believe that GPA is a better indicator of future success because it measures your work ethic and determination. However, your MCAT score is the only factor that is completely objective. It is the only factor that can compare all students evenly.

What is a good GPA for residency?

Depending on the residency program, some RPDs may want a minimum GPA of 3.0,4 while other programs may have a higher cut-off depending on the number of applicants for that cycle. During the first year, your focus should be on academics, particularly in the first semester.

Is the MCAT a hard test?

The MCAT requires more substantive, specific knowledge and is heavy on critical reasoning. The MCAT is also a very long exam, nearly twice as long as the GMAT and LSAT. So with respect to whether the MCAT is harder than other entrance exams, the answer is likely yes, but depends on the type of student you are.

What medical school has the lowest acceptance rate?

The most selective medical school is once again Florida State University, with a 2.1% acceptance rate in fall 2020. On the other end of the spectrum, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences reported the highest acceptance rate of 20.2% in fall 2020. See: 14 Mistakes That Can Keep You Out of Medical School.

Can you get into Harvard medical school with a low GPA?

Before you throw your hands up in defeat, consider that while Harvard's average stats are quite high, not everyone getting in has a 3.9 GPA and 519 MCAT score. Given that these are average scores, approximately as many students with lower stats get in as those with higher stats.

Does GPA really matter for med school?

Generally speaking, your undergraduate performance is the most important aspect of your medical school application . The most competitive medical schools may use national GPA averages as cutoffs for initial selection.

Can I get into med school with a 2.5 GPA?

What Is the Lowest Acceptable GPA for Med School? A GPA of 3.0 or higher is generally considered to be the minimum requirement for medical schools. Some schools may have a lower minimum requirement, such as a 2.5 or 2.75, but these are less common.

Is it possible to bring your GPA up in one year?

If you have a 3.0 GPA and 15 credit hours, by earning straight A's during your next (15 credit) semester, you can bump your GPA to a 3.5. However, if you have already earned 60 credit hours and have a 3.0 GPA a straight-A semester will only bump your GPA to a 3.2.

How do you explain low GPA in med school interview?

Applicants should consider the following pointers when explaining poor academics in their medical school application:
  1. Only address major weaknesses.
  2. Don't blame others.
  3. End on a positive note.
  4. Highlight strengths that could make up for the weakness.

Can you get into med school with an F?

Many students have been accepted into medical school after failing and retaking a course or two early in their college education. Three or more F's may be considered a deal-breaker.

Will Harvard accept a 2.7 GPA?

Even though the average weighted GPA for Harvard is 4.2, this is still an average. Successful applicants may have scores that fall well above or below that figure. That means you won't automatically be rejected if your GPA is under 4.0. Some say that the lowest GPA accepted to Harvard is about 3.0 (weighted).

What to do if you don't get into medical school?

Here are eight choices to consider:
  1. Apply again. Applying a second time is a common step for many med school candidates. ...
  2. Apply to other schools. ...
  3. Take a gap year. ...
  4. Pursue a master's degree. ...
  5. Apply to nursing school. ...
  6. Apply for a physician's assistant (PA) program. ...
  7. Change your med school plans. ...
  8. Consider an alternative career path.

What universities accept 2.7 GPA?

What colleges can I get into with a 2.7 GPA? Take a look at all of your options for a 2.7 GPA, including National Louis University, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Arkansas at Monticello, all of which accept students with an average GPA of 2.7.

Can I raise my GPA from 2.7 to 3?

From a 2.7 to 3.0 GPA

*It is not possible to raise your GPA to the 3.0 target using regular credit classes or repeating previously failed classes in the time you have left to graduate.

Is A 2.9 A Good GPA?

Is a 2.9 GPA good? A 2.9 GPA means that you've earned mainly Bs in all of your classes. This GPA is slightly below the 3.0 national average GPA for high school students, so it will limit the range of colleges where you can expect to be accepted. 9.88% of schools have an average GPA below a 2.9.