Low GPA going for OoS MLS: Am I Cooked?
Hi all,
I graduated UC Davis (2025, Neurobio/Physio/Behavior) and I’m currently working full-time as a lab tech in histology for a vet diagnostics company. I also have about 3 years of undergrad research in vertebrate comparative anatomy. Current job has basically pushed me into wanting to go oos MLS > CLS (back to California eventually).
Right now I’m starting post-bacc prereqs and GPA repair while working full time. If everything goes right I’ll land around a ~2.7 GPA by application time next year (horrific I know).
Plan is:
- Hematology (UCSD Extension, online)
- Biochem (UCSD Extension, online)
- Micro + lab (in-person)
- Analytical/Quant Chem + lab (in-person)
- Medical Microbiology (UCSD Extension, online)
- Pathophysiology (maybe)
Target schools right now:
- INOVA Fairfax
- United Regional Health Care System
- University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Carolinas College of Health Sciences
- Sentara RMH
- Ohio State
- University of Utah
- Corewell Health
My goal is basically: get into any solid NAACLS MLS program so I can come back to California for CLS later:
- Is a ~2.7 GPA realistic to get into these? I know the threshold for most of them are 2.5 but still
- Are any of these on my list actually known for taking borderline GPA applicants or am I coping with half of them
I’m trying not to just throw another year into coursework if I’m still going to get screened out everywhere 😞 I need to hear some success stories.
Appreciate any blunt feedback.