Competitive GPA?

[Str8vibes11]

What’s considered to be a “competitive GPA” when applying for clerkships? I understand that there’s are other factors clerkships consider, but I was just curious if it’s recommended to maintain a specific GPA to increase your chances of getting into the “powerhouse” programs. Also would love to know any advice when it comes to choose clerkships since I have to choose them in a couple of months. Thanks in advance!!

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[Weirdy]

Residency Programs Archive - The American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM)

aacpm.org

Minimum GPA cutoffs.
The higher the better.
If you're still lost, aim 3.5+

 

[Bluecollarmed]

Like weirdy said, anything over 3.5 gets you a look at every program. Some places have a "minimum" like 3.0 etc for rotation but if you just barely hit that you might not get an interview and are fighting an uphill battle regardless of how well your month went if you do get one.

 

[Feli]

What’s considered to be a “competitive GPA” when applying for clerkships? I understand that there’s are other factors clerkships consider...

No, there really is not.

It's just rank/gpa. It's usually a resident or a program secretary sorting clerk apps. Good ones get many dozens or even 100+ student apps for maybe a dozen or two or three dozen clerk month spots in each cycle at big and popular programs... so they just offer best students top choice month based on rank/gpa. Nobody cares about student clubs or volunteer or whatever for clerk apps; there's just not time for that.

As above, it's fine (and good) to clerk at some great programs that are a bit out of your league, but you'd be wise to also do at least a couple where you'll be one of their better applicants (you can get your choice of clerk months for scheduling, will be likely to be a strong match candidate). GL

 

[Tabasco9]

Weirdy said it best, higher the better.

All programs are required to list their minimum cutoffs for clerkship/residency interviews. You can find it here:
aacpm.org/residency_programs/

Just click the program and scroll down close to the bottom of the information sheet.

A lot of the programs that are thrown around as highly sought after have class rank/gpa cutoffs (e.g. top 25-50%, or 3.4+)

What the frequent posters say is technically true. If you are accepted to clerk you have a chance to match. I matched at one of the programs that is always mentioned in the top-tier lists. From what I’ve seen this year, these programs are mostly filled with high class rank students. Can you have a killer month and match? Absolutely.

I filled my schedule with 3 types of programs that worked well for me (in equal distribution)
1) close to home
2) elite programs
3) lesser known/good reviews on sdn/fun city