Application screening for GPA (cumulative vs. BCMP)

[ButAtYourBest]

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So what's the deal with applications getting "screened" for not meeting a GPA cut-off? Is this threshold more strict for cumulative GPA's vs. BCMP GPA's?

I'm in a post-bac program, and I never really considered med school, or any grad school, while in undergrad. So my GPA from undergrad is not super strong.

However, I have a great opportunity as a post-bac taking essentially all my pre-req classes to do really well in terms of my BCMP GPA.

I have a LOT of credits from undergrad. Right now, I probably have close to 145 college credits. So each additional 'A' I get only boosts my cumulative GPA by like .01 or .02 or something ridiculously miniscule.

On one hand, it seems really silly for me to take a bunch of electives for the sole purpose of boosting my cumulative GPA.

I sort of just want to concede that my cumulative GPA is going to be my weakest link, and focus on other things. I'll take electives, but only meaningful ones (not just GPA stuffers), and focus on getting a good MCAT score and constructive extra curriculars.

I'm not sure what I'm really asking...but how important is the cumulative GPA, and is an average or below average (by med school applicant standards) something that can be compensated for with a really strong BCMP GPA? Perhaps are there certain schools that are "known" for giving less weight to the cumulative/non-science GPA? Or how would I find out if such schools exist?

Thank you

 

[Optimalsauce]

I would like to know as well

 

[CoolWhipp]

It helps when you have thousands of applicants to review. If you don't feel strong about a student with a certain low gpa to the extent where great ECs won't make you feel much better about them, then they just screen you out.

 

[ButAtYourBest]

It helps when you have thousands of applicants to review. If you don't feel strong about a student with a certain low gpa to the extent where great ECs won't make you feel much better about them, then they just screen you out.

what's meant by like "screen you out". I'm imagining a macro on excel that filters out everyone below X gpa.

is there any insight on how the two GPA's (overall and science) are treated?

 

[pharmacy85]

what's meant by like "screen you out". I'm imagining a macro on excel that filters out everyone below X gpa.

is there any insight on how the two GPA's (overall and science) are treated?

and which schools do it, and at what gpa

 

[lykyamy00]

i am in a post bacc program too and they have told us that med schools will look at your undergrad and post bacc gpas separately! they will NOT add your post bacc grades to undergraduate and come up with a new gpa. so if your undergrad gpa isnt strong its ok... as long as your post bacc gpa is awesome you should pass any screening. also, if you are currently in the post bacc, schools will wait till you get your first semester grades before making a dicision to screen you out. it may mean a later interview or later secondaries but whatever at least you still get your shot!

also, a lot of schools dont screen for their secondaries, they kind of just send one to whoever applies. and some schools like jefferson will only give you a secondary if you have above a 3.6 cumulative (at least that's what i heard). but most schools dont screen out by gpa for the secondary

 

[ButAtYourBest]

i am in a post bacc program too and they have told us that med schools will look at your undergrad and post bacc gpas separately! they will NOT add your post bacc grades to undergraduate and come up with a new gpa. so if your undergrad gpa isnt strong its ok... as long as your post bacc gpa is awesome you should pass any screening. also, if you are currently in the post bacc, schools will wait till you get your first semester grades before making a dicision to screen you out. it may mean a later interview or later secondaries but whatever at least you still get your shot!

also, a lot of schools dont screen for their secondaries, they kind of just send one to whoever applies. and some schools like jefferson will only give you a secondary if you have above a 3.6 cumulative (at least that's what i heard). but most schools dont screen out by gpa for the secondary

Is that really true about Jefferson? That seemed like a school "within my range" but I will not have an overall GPA of 3.6 (though my post-bac/Science GPA will exceed that).

 

[amakhosidlo]

Is that really true about Jefferson? That seemed like a school "within my range" but I will not have an overall GPA of 3.6 (though my post-bac/Science GPA will exceed that).

Lol, no. I got a Jefferson secondary and I do NOT have a 3.6😛

Very few schools screen for secondaries. The majority are automatic, or if not then their screening criteria are FAR more lax (think ~2.75/25)

I'm pretty sure they do screen for "serious consiseration" though. They'll gladly take a $100 secondary fee from someone with a 3.2, just before they toss their app in the trash...

 

[ILikeDrugs]

I am pretty sure the screening system if far more complex than: if c.GPA < 3.2 then delete application. I would think it would check multiple variables and look something like: if c.GPA < 3.2 then check s.GPA. if c.GPA < 3.2 then check MCAT. I also think that the GPA for the last 60 units, post-bac, and GPA trend is taken into consideration.

 

[shiftingmirage]

I think LizzyM made a post somewhere where she said her school used to screen, but doesn't anymore because people who maybe didn't apply themselves as much in UG went on to some form of grad school and excelled so although their UG GPA my not qualify them,their grad GPA shows they are able, dedicated to course work, etc. I'm not sure how universal this theory is, and as others have mentioned, when schools do screen, it's not a 3.7, it's more like a 2.7, 3.0.