cGPA vs sGPA

[LadySophia]

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What do schools look at more - cGPA or sGPA? I am asking because my sGPA is higher than my cGPA. My cGPA is a lowly 2.9 and my sGPA is 3.7. (More than half a decade ago, I did not take college seriously which resulted in an absymal GPA. However, I have worked hard since.)

 

[Barcu]

Study was done on this. IIRC, cGPA weighted slightly more heavily.

Really? I thought that sGPA came out on top.

Either way, both are looked at more or less equally, so you will have some explaining to do. But I would say that a high sGPA and a low cGPA due to classes from many years ago is a better situation than many others you could be in.

 

[chemistryguy]

I remember hearing that the best predictors of success in medical school for applicants are their MCAT score and their science GPA. Whether or not schools tend to favor the sGPA more heavily in admissions decisions is unknown to me, but I would suspect they might. Although I think a large discrepancy between the two would always warrant an explanation of some sort.

 

[JESSFALLING]

I might be offering some unsolicited advice here, but I recommend working really hard to bring your cGPA to >3.2 if you want a shot at a US allopathic program. You'll also likely need an excellent MCAT (33+) to secure an interview.

With that said, you may find that going D.O. is a much easier route because you could retake a few (2-3) of the older courses that you have poor grades in and quickly repair your cGPA via their grade replacement policy. D.O. schools are also slightly less competitive and will probably jump at your high sGPA. You would also only need a >29-30 MCAT.