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Hi everyone! After reading every day for the last 2 years I finally decided to make an account and post. I am in a tough spot right now in terms of when to apply, or what my next step should be. I'll post my stats below.

 

Undergrad Ed School: University of Pittsburgh, B.S. Natural Sciences (Graduating this Spring)
Cumulative Undergrad. GPA: 3.15
Science Undergrad. GPA: 3.05

 

Just a bit of a background on my low GPA...I sucked my freshman year. Absolutely lazy. But I've stepped it up since and have A/A-/B+ in the upper level courses (Ochem, A&P I & II, Patho, Micro, Nutrition, Med Term).


Age at application time : 22 if I apply this coming cycle

1st GRE: 301 (4.5)
2nd GRE: Definitely taking after graduation

Direct Patient Care : Nursing Assistant at a Assisted Living facility - 700 hours and counting

I have volunteer experience in a special program that does involve patient contact. The University of Pittsburgh PA program accepts this as direct patient care. - 150 hours and counting

Extracurricular/Research Activities:​ 3 years in non-clinical Obstetric research, abstract presentation at a professional health conference - working on my own paper now that I hope will get published, President of my school's PA program, multiple volunteer activities/events, regular hospital volunteer - 60 hours, 20 hours shadowing.

 

My issue is that I don't know if I should even bother applying this cycle. My GPA is so low and the averages at some of these schools are much higher. Should I retake the basic pre-reqs or continue with upper level courses? Also I would like to switch up my patient care experience. The assisted living facility is nice, but very repetitive. I was considering clinical research that would involve some phlebotomy? Here's the job description to a job I'm considering applying to:

 

"As part of the Obstetrical Specimen Collection Unit, this research assistant will be responsible for attending births in the labor suite and operating rooms, collecting and processing placental and cord blood samples, and drawing and processing maternal blood"

 

Let me know what you all think! Thanks so much :)

 

 

 

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I'd suggest volunteer EMT on top of your current job. Apply this cycle, especially if your recent credits have been very good (especially in upper division). Continue taking upper division stuff to keep getting that gpa up.

 

I think you have a decent shot if you have that strong upward trend. Just put the time in and research programs who dont focus on gpa so heavily, there are quite a few out there.

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I don't think you should apply this cycle. Just looking at the stats you've presented, I don't think you'll have a great chance at even receiving interviews but that also depends on your school list. You could target schools that emphasizes less on HCE/PCE but those programs tend to have highest GPA and GRE standards. Vice versa, programs that don't emphasize on GPA/GRE would want applicants with an immense amount of HCE. Retaking classes wouldnt help you much as CASPA itself doesn't replace grades. Some programs do do grade replacement such as WesternU so that would work in your favor if you plan on retaking classes.I think you should invest your time in accumulating HCE over the next 2 years before applying. 

 

As for the job your considering, I say that's health care experience but not patient care experience. Some schools will count that as both HCE and PCE. 

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I'd suggest volunteer EMT on top of your current job. Apply this cycle, especially if your recent credits have been very good (especially in upper division). Continue taking upper division stuff to keep getting that gpa up.

 

I think you have a decent shot if you have that strong upward trend. Just put the time in and research programs who dont focus on gpa so heavily, there are quite a few out there.

 

Thanks for your input, I appreciate the optimism. Becoming an EMT is hard in the Pittsburgh area because it is saturated with many students in my same position. Pitt also has an emergency medicine program so many of those students get first pick at EMT opportunities.

I'll definitely look into it and do more research on schools to find the perfect set.

 

 

 

I don't think you should apply this cycle. Just looking at the stats you've presented, I don't think you'll have a great chance at even receiving interviews but that also depends on your school list. You could target schools that emphasizes less on HCE/PCE but those programs tend to have highest GPA and GRE standards. Vice versa, programs that don't emphasize on GPA/GRE would want applicants with an immense amount of HCE. Retaking classes wouldnt help you much as CASPA itself doesn't replace grades. Some programs do do grade replacement such as WesternU so that would work in your favor if you plan on retaking classes.I think you should invest your time in accumulating HCE over the next 2 years before applying. 

 

As for the job your considering, I say that's health care experience but not patient care experience. Some schools will count that as both HCE and PCE. 

 

Thanks so much. I figured as much. I might just apply to a handful that stress a 'holistic approach' or calculate the last 40/60 credits for the GPA, and just rack up HCE/PCE for next year.

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If that is your GPA after getting good grades in all the upper level classes then I would say you will need a year or two off to gain work/HCE.  I had something similar but my GPA crushing bit was receiving 2 D's and and F in calc.  Yeah I messed up my first two years at Pitt too and it can be brutal there for some of the science/math classes but I took several years to gain experience and came back and applied with 7000+ hours of Paramedic work, a great GRE score and a very well done essay that landed plenty of interviews.  I think at 22 you could also consider retaking the other courses to get A's then applying to a DO program such as PCOM who do grade replacements.  I considered this if I didn't get into PA school this time around because I would've nearly had a 4.0 that way!

 

And yes, get that EMT course done.  There are plenty of companies constantly hiring in the Pittsburgh area, even if it is just a transport company.

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Hey disciple! I've been watching your post for awhile now, congrats on the acceptance!

 

Yeah I was just not prepared for life at Pitt. Too many credits with C's and B's attached to them. I'm definitely expecting to take a year or two off, although I'm still going to apply (I know, waste of money) just to see if someone will take a flier on me based on my other achievements and upward trend. PSU, Kentucky, Wake, Scared Heart is who I have in mind. I really appreciate the advice.

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I haven't taken biochem yet and I'm in genetics now, but according to the normal prereqs without replacing upper levels for lower levels, I'm right around a 3.2 because of a C's in gen chem. Still not good. The only school I have a respectable prereq GPA (that I've found) is Wake because they allow the replacement, which is a 3.65.

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Well if you already have better grades in higher level classes no point in retaking those gen eds again.  GPA is only one part of an application, some places its like 10 points out of 50 for your total application so I'd work on other areas like has been stated and make them shine.  The gpa is pretty much staying where it is, trust me I know all about that  sadly unless going somewhere specifically on grade replacements

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