Worried about admission - low GPA

[stateofequilibrium]

Hi, I'm planning on applying to Ross for next year but I'm a bit worried.

I have a cumulative 2.8 GPA mainly MAJORLY screwed up by my lower division classes (I have a fairly strong record in advanced courses, took a lot of them and did well). I haven't taken my MCATs yet but I do have a lot of medical-related background experience. I also come from a school that is widely known to have one of the hardest science divisions and extremely cut-throat in competition.

The usual hospital volunteering at two local hospitals. A private neurosurgical research position with the local med school where I would spend 10+ hours a week in surgery and countless hours in clinic, and a laboratory research position that is sponsored by NASA (these also factored into a quarter of just horrendous grades, 48 hour shifts are NOT fun but I figure it will help me prepare for residency). I was the only undergraduate there, the rest were MD/PhD's.

Plus school related extra-curriculars such as being club officers for our premed organization and highschool outreach programs.

As of yet I have no papers published, but we do have two letters currently out for revision (once we get our lazy butts back into gear).

[bevo]

I wouldn't stress on it too much, which is easier said than done in your position.

I came out of a top 30 univeristy which is competitive as well. Ignoring the reasons for my problems then, I came out with a 2.4 having received 2 Ds in the first semester of basic chemistry. That was the extent of my premedical courses up to that point. I went to a different university and fulfulled my premed requirements there coming out with a 3.4? gpa while doing all of my premed requirements and a few upperleve courses and before I came here started to work in a neuroscience lab myself.

I had taken the MCAT and did not do spectacular, sleeping pills a few hours before test time to make you sleep isn't advisable :|

Anyways, I got in here very quickly (compared to the other schools I applied too).

Everyone here has a background of some sort and once you get here it doesn't matter at all. All that matters is what you do once you get here.


At this point I think the only determining factor is how many science courses other than your prereq classes have you taken. If you have only done the prereqs then I believe there is a good chance you would be placed in the medprep course. It helps to have taken a few extra courses like anantomy and physiology as well as biochemistry and even mollecular and cell biology.

Good luck.

And remember, you lose 100% of the chances you don't take.

[sweetmia81]

i dont know what guidelines they have for acceptance but if it is ur gpa thats bothering you, do not let it, i have heard of lower gettin in, but as i have been told numerous times, its not gettin in, its stayin in..good luck!

[stateofequilibrium]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I am rapidly approaching my 216unit cap here mainly due to upper-division science (molecular, genetics, biochemistry, developmental, neuroscience, anatomy, physiology, behavioral, cell.. actually, you name it I've about taken it)

My main worry is that it is the premedical courses and introductory courseworks that have me screwed up so badly and I hear most schools use those as a measuring stick.

[MitchDC]

Ross attempts to look at the big picture instead of harping on the small stuff. This place is all about giving people chances and then providing them a strong education once they get here. You seem like a good candidate -- best of luck to you!

MitchDC

[bobby_sepulveda]

Hey state,
I too am worried about my gpa, but my problem is my upper division work when my attenions gravitated towards work and extra curricular activities. When did you have your interview and where?

[stateofequilibrium]

I didn't yet. I cursorarily talked to them over the phone and they said I should apply AFTER I had taken my MCATs for the Fall '04 year. Of course who I talked to was not the regular person, so I will be phoning them again and what the score is.

If I can get through the admissions process quickly and relatively painlessly I think I might be able to cool it on the classes for a while. Last year was a pure overload, 3-4 Upperdivision science classes per quarter most of them with a 40% fail rate in the classes. But I got through :twisted:

[pablo]

also consider ross has classes that start in sept, jan, may...sept class usually a bit competitive and fills up...others less so.

[bobby_sepulveda]

i don't know why they would tell you that, since the mcat scores don't really even factor into your acceptance. When are scheduled to take the mcat?

[stateofequilibrium]

The lady told me starting Fall '04 they will be using MCATs for admissions, I'm going to phone in again tomorrow to confirm this.

[TopGunner]

I applied to Ross at the end of June and I had my interview on Friday. I didn't take the MCAT yet, but I am signed up to take it in August. I'm applying for Jan '04 admission. Hope that helps. My advice to you is to apply ASAP!

[bobby_sepulveda]

I know I ask alot of questions

Has anyone not gotten into Ross on their first try and had to inprove their gpa just to squeek by? I am really bent on coming to Ross regardless of bad press. I am from LA, I love LA and I have obligations in LA. Ross gives the opportunity to live out my dream( provided I get my tail in gear and hit the books hard) and I if I do well enough I could be back in LA in less than two years, side by side with UCLA students doing their rotations. This is very attractive to me, alot more attractive than say wisconsin, or taking the MCAT again( even though I might just for spite) and waiiting another year.

Holla Back

[Rainmaker3000]

Man, if you dreamin to be side by side with UCLA students, let me tell you this, they are just as dumb/smart as you or you might expect.

UCLA sucks!!!

My personal opinion, i am an alumni of UCLA, graduated this year, and let me tell you its the worst school you can go to. They have over 30,000 students in total. I would rather go to community college or private, but ofcourse the parents (being Asian and all) must have a child in UCLA.

sorry about this verbal garbage and offtopic rant, but in my opinion UCLA sucks>

WOW, i feel good having gotten that out of the way!

Now, what was the topic bein discussed?

Rainmaker3K

[microphage]

Man, if you dreamin to be side by side with UCLA students, let me tell you this, they are just as dumb/smart as you or you might expect.

UCLA sucks!!!

My personal opinion, i am an alumni of UCLA, graduated this year, and let me tell you its the worst school you can go to. They have over 30,000 students in total. I would rather go to community college or private, but ofcourse the parents (being Asian and all) must have a child in UCLA.

sorry about this verbal garbage and offtopic rant, but in my opinion UCLA sucks>

WOW, i feel good having gotten that out of the way!

Now, what was the topic bein discussed?

Rainmaker3K

So how do you REALLY feel about UCLA? :roll:

[emerson24]

Well, what I think is that when they do the alumni mailings for supporting the school, he ain't contributing :lol: