cGPA, sGPA, pre-req GPA

[RiceFiend]

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How important is pre-req GPA compared to the other two; what's its weight relative to the other two? All I ever see listed by med schools and AAMC are cGPA and sGPA, so I don't know if they ever bother with pre-req GPA.

 

[AdmiralChz]

That's because they usually don't - your pre-req performance is looked at through the MCAT. The science gpa is just that, the science gpa.

 

[RiceFiend]

So you're saying as a GPA, it's nonessential because it is instead reflected in one's MCAT scores?

 

[RySerr21]

So you're saying as a GPA, it's nonessential because it is instead reflected in one's MCAT scores?

for some people, their pre req GPA is the same thing as their science GPA. Remember that not everyone is a science major or takes extra science courses. So essentially they can be the same thing. AMCAS doesn't differentiate between science GPA and pre req GPA becuase the pre reqs are included in the science GPA. If you do poorly in your pre reqs, you arent going to have a science GPA. Dont think that your pre reqs arent important.

 

[RiceFiend]

for some people, their pre req GPA is the same thing as their science GPA. Remember that not everyone is a science major or takes extra science courses. So essentially they can be the same thing. AMCAS doesn't differentiate between science GPA and pre req GPA becuase the pre reqs are included in the science GPA. If you do poorly in your pre reqs, you arent going to have a science GPA. Dont think that your pre reqs arent important.

I can see that pre-req GPA could potenially be more important for non-science majors (it is essentially their sGPA), but what about science majors? Wouldn't a sGPA incorporate the pre-req GPA as well, therefore making the importance of pre-req GPA for science majors trivial? Although, I could see how pre-req GPA can be a standard to access all applicants regardless of major.

Bottom line, how much weight is there to pre-req GPA for science majors compared to cGPA and sGPA?

 

[236116]

There is no such thing as a pre-req gpa.

there is all the bio, chem, physics and maths courses you have ever taken in university AKA the sgpa.

then there is all the courses you have ever taken ever in uni aka the cgpa.

 

[AdmiralChz]

There is no such thing as a pre-req gpa.

there is all the bio, chem, physics and maths courses you have ever taken in university AKA the sgpa.

then there is all the courses you have ever taken ever in uni aka the cgpa.

I'll highlight this again just in case the OP still doesn't get it.

 

[RySerr21]

I can see that pre-req GPA could potenially be more important for non-science majors (it is essentially their sGPA), but what about science majors? Wouldn't a sGPA incorporate the pre-req GPA as well, therefore making the importance of pre-req GPA for science majors trivial? Although, I could see how pre-req GPA can be a standard to access all applicants regardless of major.

Bottom line, how much weight is there to pre-req GPA for science majors compared to cGPA and sGPA?

your logic doesnt make sense. First of all...THERE IS NO PRE REQ GPA, thats been said like 5 times in this thread already. Your pre reqs are included in your science GPA. Because your science GPA is important your preqs are important also. End of story.

 

[RiceFiend]

your logic doesnt make sense. First of all...THERE IS NO PRE REQ GPA, thats been said like 5 times in this thread already. Your pre reqs are included in your science GPA. Because your science GPA is important your preqs are important also. End of story.

Okay, just making sure ^^ I just wanted a consensus 😛

 

[koffein]

I think the OP may have been considering the possibility that marks obtained in pre-req. courses may be used as stronger factors in comparing applicants to one another than other higher level science classes. We've all taken the same pre-reqs, but out upper level classes differ. Hence, difficult to compare. Also take into consideration that not all upper level sci classes are designed as weed-out classes and may be substantially easier to do "well" in than say some of the pre-reqs.
So, to offer my opinion - maybe pre-req marks are viewed in isolation from the rest of the sGPA. Maybe they serve a function that the entire sGPA doesn't.
I just don't see how no one has yet wanted to consider the possibility.

 

[AdmiralChz]

I think the OP may have been considering the possibility that marks obtained in pre-req. courses may be used as stronger factors in comparing applicants to one another than other higher level science classes. We've all taken the same pre-reqs, but out upper level classes differ. Hence, difficult to compare. Also take into consideration that not all upper level sci classes are designed as weed-out classes and may be substantially easier to do "well" in than say some of the pre-reqs.
So, to offer my opinion - maybe pre-req marks are viewed in isolation from the rest of the sGPA. Maybe they serve a function that the entire sGPA doesn't.
I just don't see how no one has yet wanted to consider the possibility.

I see what your saying - how someone with a high sGPA might have gathered lower grades (lets say Cs) during the pre-req courses. As in upper level courses that "aren't designed as weed-out" could significantly pull up a low sGPA, especially if you are a science major. Such poor performance in prereq classes, however, would also (likely) be indicated on the MCAT - so a low score there would reflect poor knowlege of the subjects. If you didn't learn the material for your prereq courses, I can't see you doing remarkably (i.e. C --> A) better on the MCAT.

I am sure that someone has a story to tell how they have overcome this, but I am speaking generally here.