Are nontrads expected to have higher GPAs than traditional students

[salsasunrise123]

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Hey, This might sound like a dumb question but are nontrads expected to have higher postbac GPAs than traditional students? I'm particularly interested in DO schools FYI. Thx.

 

[RomanTaylor]

Statistically, nope. Non-trads have a harder time in university settings, I would guess because we are so far removed from academia while living "real life," that it's hard to jump back in with those that are just experiencing life after high school.

 

[Dianyla]

Nontrads are more likely to have baggage, especially in the GPA department.

If so, then yes, they are expected to redeem that baggage by doing really well at all recent coursework attempts.

 

[jl lin]

Nontrads are more likely to have baggage, especially in the GPA department.

If so, then yes, they are expected to redeem that baggage by doing really well at all recent coursework attempts.

It's not at all a dumb question; but I think the last part is a big piece of it.

I don't agree that nontrads have a harder time in the university setting compared with many kids just coming out of HS. I mean by far I haven't seen this. I think it is more about those with previous baggage, and then they mature. With that experience and maturity, they seem often better at getting down to business in the university setting. Even though they can do that, they still have to calculate "academic baggage" issues from before, and that's the issue for a number of nontrads.

 

[bjl12]

they still have to calculate "academic baggage" issues from before, and that's the issue for a number of nontrads.

As a non-trad with academic baggage, I can confirm this.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Roman... Not sure where you found that tidbit of info, but I kick most of my compadres asses in the study/grade department... I'm waaaaaaay older than the little 22yr olds that are fresh out of school and still call each other to make sure they have their hair the same way...

And Dianyla is right, you have to redeem yourself

 

[RomanTaylor]

Roman... Not sure where you found that tidbit of info, but I kick most of my compadres asses in the study/grade department... I'm waaaaaaay older than the little 22yr olds that are fresh out of school and still call each other to make sure they have their hair the same way...

And Dianyla is right, you have to redeem yourself

Granted, I should have prefaced my statement with "in my experience."

Since the introduction of amazing post-military college benefits, especially the 9/11 GI Bill, the military sends thousands of veterans to college at a constant rate.

What I have seen is that not only do the veterans have a difficult time adjusting to civilian life, it is compounded by the different lifestyle that comes along with academia.

Going from making a living and being productive to studying and performing at an intellectual level is a different world, and, in my experience of observing success/failure in my brothers and sisters...the vast majority do not make it.

Baggage is one factor, sure. But the mindsets have to shift from right to left by a large degree, and that jolt is what makes it harder for us.

 

[excitedtoapply]

I think it really depends upon your history. If you have course work from younger days that is "challenging" in terms of admission to med school (3.2 or lower) then you probably need to do some GPA repair and get some rocking grades. If you have a previous GPA that isn't great but isn't terrible (3.3 to 3.5ish) I would argue that as a nontrad you get a bit of wiggle room because while you were getting those grades you were working towards X (not medical school) so you also participated in Y and Z rather than focused on getting a 4.0. Y and Z should probably go in your application (perhaps your personal statement).

If you don't have previous course work haunting you, just put yourself in the same boat as every other applicant. If you don't have the best grades, you better have a dang good reason for it that in you personal statement.

 

[darkjedi]

In my experience applying as a non-trad, I feel like I was definitely given a bit of wiggle room with my mediocre-ish GPA of a 3.6. While my MCAT was my 'redeeming' statistic, I also believe the fact that I was a non-trad/career changer helped my application quite a bit too.

 

[notbobtrustme]

In my experience applying as a non-trad, I feel like I was definitely given a bit of wiggle room with my mediocre-ish GPA of a 3.6. While my MCAT was my 'redeeming' statistic, I also believe the fact that I was a non-trad/career changer helped my application quite a bit too.

3.6 isn't mediocre, it's the matriculant average. Mediocre is <3.4, IMO.