Med School GPA: Minimum Requirements + Tips for Improvement (2024)

Your grade point average, or GPA, is a very important factor when applying to medical school. It serves as a standard measure of your academic performance and ability to handle the coursework of medical school.

What is the minimum GPA to apply to med school? The minimum GPA for most med schools is 3.0. But if you’re a pre-med student, you’ll need to aim for a GPA of 3.6 or higher to be a competitive applicant.

In 2022-2023, the mean science and overall GPA of matriculants were 3.68 and 3.75, respectively. The mean science and overall GPA of applicants was 3.52 and 3.68, respectively.

How important is my GPA to medical school admissions officers?

Your GPA is one of the most, if not the most important factor in the medical school admissions process. A high GPA suggests that you’re capable of managing the demanding coursework involved in medical school education.

Applications are initially screened by admissions committees before they are reviewed in detail, and applicants with low GPAs and MCAT scores are filtered out. In other words, your letters of recommendation and personal statement won’t have their time to shine if your GPA is too low.

Is my GPA more important than my MCAT score? Both your GPA and your MCAT score are important for your med school application.

Your GPA is reflective of your academic ability and a predictor of how well you will perform in medical school. Unlike the grades given to you by teachers according to their grading criteria, the MCAT is a standardized test. It levels the playing field and admissions officers can use it to equally compare all applicants.

Med School Admissions GPA Requirements

Each medical school has its own set of requirements and prerequisites for its prospective medical students.

What is a good GPA for med school? In general, 3.6 or above is a good GPA for med school.

A 3.8 GPA is needed to be considered very competitive for med school. This is especially true if you’re applying to ivy league schools.

You can check your competitiveness on the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) online database. There is a fee of $28 per year to use this tool.

What is the GPA needed for medical school? A GPA of 3.0 is usually needed to be considered for medical school.

Can I get into med school with a 3.0 GPA? There is always a chance that you can get into med school with a 3.0, but the rest of your application would need to be incredibly strong. Not all medical schools require a certain minimum GPA to apply, but even if there is a minimum cutoff GPA, it’s generally irrelevant — applying to med school is competitive, no matter where you apply.

Instead of looking at minimums, check to see if your GPA is competitive for the particular schools that you are applying to. A competitive GPA and the minimum GPA required to apply to that school are usually much different.

Gain more insight into how competitive you will be on your AMCAS or AACOMAS application.

Try our Medical School Chance Predictor

Science GPA Requirements

Your science GPA, also known as your BCPM (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics) GPA, plays a larger role in your medical school application. Admissions committees use this to assess your performance in the foundational sciences needed for a medical education and beyond.

How do you calculate a GPA for medical school? If you are applying to MD programs, AMCAS Application Grade Conversion Guide will help you get an idea of how AMCAS converts and balances your transcripts. They look at grades from undergrad, and, if applicable, master’s programs to provide a weighted GPA for your courses.

Science GPAs should be at a minimum 3.3, with the most competitive schools averaging 3.89.

Non-Science GPA Requirements

Your non-science GPA includes all other courses outside the science courses. It’s a reflection of your academic ability and potential outside of the sciences.

While the non-science GPA might not carry as much weight as the science GPA, a high non-science GPA can demonstrate a well-rounded academic background. Medical schools appreciate students who can excel across a range of subjects, not just the sciences.

The target for this GPA is typically similar to the science GPA, but some flexibility may be given for a lower non-science GPA if the science GPA is high.

Overall GPA Requirements

The overall GPA, which includes all your undergraduate coursework, provides an overview of your general academic performance and endurance. Most medical schools seek applicants with an overall GPA of at least 3.5. Top-tier schools often expect an average closer to 3.7 or above.

Getting Into Medical School With a Low GPA

While a lower GPA might be more challenging, it does not necessarily preclude admission to medical school. A strong performance in other areas can be the edge you need to overcome low grades.

Schools often take a holistic approach to applications, so you can often balance a weakness in one area with strengths in other areas. You may also need to be realistic with the school that you are applying to.

Pro tip: Colleges of osteopathic medicine tend to have slightly lower GPA requirements in comparison to an allopathic school.If your GPA is slightly lower than the average, focus on other areas of your application like your personal statement.

1. Excel on the MCAT.

A good MCAT score can help offset a lower GPA. It demonstrates your knowledge and understanding of the critical concepts related to the study of medicine.

A strong performance, particularly in the biological and physical sciences sections, can show admissions committees that you are capable of handling the rigor of medical school.

To excel on your MCAT, make sure to set a proper study schedule, and if your practice tests are still difficult, consider an MCAT prep course. If you have a low GPA and a lower than average MCAT score, remember that you always have the option to retake the exam.

We can help you boost your MCAT score.

Learn How

2. Highlight your research and clinical experience.

Experiences that demonstrate a sincere commitment to medicine can be the spark you need to interest admissions committees.

This can include medical research, shadowing, volunteering in a clinical setting, or other healthcare-related work. Highlight these experiences in your application, and use them to illustrate your passion for medicine and patient care.

3. Showcase your extracurricular activities.

Being a successful physician requires more than academic prowess. Skills like leadership, communication, and empathy are equally important. Extracurricular activities, such as leadership roles in clubs, participating on sports teams, or volunteering, can highlight your skills.

Write a strong medical school personal statement and participate in extracurricular activities on your secondary application to help balance your profile.

4. Write a strong personal statement.

Use your personal statement to explain your path towards medicine.

If specific circumstances affected your GPA, such as a personal hardship or health issues, you could address these in your personal statement. Demonstrate how these challenges shaped your resilience and commitment to medicine.

5. Get compelling letters of recommendation.

Letters of recommendation can attest to your character, work ethic, and passion for medicine. If you faced hardships during your studies that affected your GPA, ask your letter writer to mention how you overcame the struggles in class.

Cultivate strong relationships with your professors or clinical supervisors who can vouch for your potential as a future healthcare provider.

Improve Your GPA To Be a Competitive Med School Applicant

Continuing your education allows you to take advanced science courses, expanding on your prerequisite courses. It will also boost your GPA. Doing well in a post-bacc program can help prove your academic readiness for medical school.

If you are just in your first year of your undergrad, remember that you don’t have to be a health sciences major; you can choose any major you want in order to go to medical school. Choosing a major that you have an ardent interest in may help boost your GPA.

Every medical school has its own admission requirements. Each will weigh different components of your application differently. It’s essential to research each school’s requirements and seek guidance from academic advisors or mentor physicians as you plan your strategy.

Book a meeting with the enrollment team with our friends at MedSchoolCoach to see how we can help you be an attractive medical school applicant.

Related posts:

  1. How to Write About COVID-19 in Your Medical School Personal Statement
  2. Use MSAR To Choose Which Medical Schools You’ll Apply To
  3. 5 Reasons to Consider a Pre-Med Traveling doctor program(+ Tips for Traveling!)
  4. What Counts as Clinical Experience for Medical School?
Med School GPA: Minimum Requirements + Tips for Improvement (2024)

FAQs

How can I improve my medical school application with a low GPA? ›

Here are seven tips to get into medical school with a low GPA:
  1. Reinvent yourself academically. ...
  2. Get a high MCAT score. ...
  3. Raise your undergraduate GPA to at least 3.0. ...
  4. Get involved in research. ...
  5. Volunteer or work at healthcare settings. ...
  6. Get strong letters of recommendation. ...
  7. Write a compelling personal statement.

What if my GPA is not good enough for med school? ›

If you have a low GPA, consider applying for a DO program instead of an MD program. The typical cutoff for DO programs is around a 3.4 GPA, while most MD programs require at least a 3.7 GPA. Another option is to consider attending a school that has a higher acceptance rate.

Is 3.7 a bad GPA for med school? ›

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 will accept? ›

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 a 3.3 GPA too low for medical school? ›

So let's say you are finishing with a less than 4.0 G.P.A., something more in the range of 3.3-3.4, that's not too bad, but for medical school it's definitely on the lower end.

Can I get into med school with a 3.4 GPA? ›

Only about 30% of all applicants who have a GPA between 3.4 and 3.6 get accepted into a medical school.

Can I get into Harvard Med with a 3.8 GPA? ›

If your MCAT and GPA are excellent (517 and 3.8 or higher) or there are other extenuating circumstances about your background that distinguish you, try applying. Many people in medicine consider HMS the best medical school in the country so do what is within your control to make yourself a competitive applicant!

What is the lowest GPA for Harvard medical school? ›

While Harvard Medical School is highly competitive, the lowest GPA accepted tends to be around 3.0. However, this can fluctuate from year to year based on the applicant pool and other factors.

Will a 3.8 GPA get me into med school? ›

Many admissions officers view a GPA of 3.8 as very competitive, and they like to see at least a GPA of 3.5 or above. These scores will be especially competitive if your major is related to medicine, and it's even better if it's a difficult science major like neuroscience or physics.

What is a low GPA for NYU medical school? ›

The GPA range of students is 3.62 to 4.0. There are no NYU medical school requirements for GPA, but it's helpful to see how you compare to admitted students. If your GPA is in the lower end of this range, remember that NYU reviews applications holistically.

Does GPA really matter for med school? ›

How Important is GPA 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.

What GPA do most medical schools require? ›

Most medical schools require candidates to have a 3.0 or higher GPA to even apply, and many require 3.5 or higher. But beyond the minimum requirements, each school gives its own particular weight to GPA and MCAT scores when reviewing applications.

How to compensate for a low GPA medical school? ›

As your GPA goes below a 3.5, though, there will likely be more ground for you to make up via the other areas of your application. A strong resume of extracurricular experiences, a compelling life story, and/or a stellar MCAT score can certainly help compensate for a lower-than-average GPA.

How to raise GPA for med school? ›

This might mean retaking old courses for a better grade.
  1. If your GPA is very low, you might consider spending a year or two taking non-degree or post-bac courses (and acing them). ...
  2. Another way of improving your GPA is by enrolling in a Special Master's Program (SMP). ...
  3. Consider expanding your school list.
Jan 16, 2024

How do you explain low GPA to medical school? ›

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.
Jun 18, 2019

How can I make my medical school application stronger? ›

Craft a Stand-Out Medical School Application
  1. Highlight Your Clinical Experience. The majority of successful applicants have some experience in a hospital, clinic, hospice or other health care setting. ...
  2. Show off Your Academic Chops. Research. ...
  3. Demonstrate the Value of Your Extracurricular Activities.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Francesca Jacobs Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6063

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (48 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Francesca Jacobs Ret

Birthday: 1996-12-09

Address: Apt. 141 1406 Mitch Summit, New Teganshire, UT 82655-0699

Phone: +2296092334654

Job: Technology Architect

Hobby: Snowboarding, Scouting, Foreign language learning, Dowsing, Baton twirling, Sculpting, Cabaret

Introduction: My name is Francesca Jacobs Ret, I am a innocent, super, beautiful, charming, lucky, gentle, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.