Cumulative GPA vs Science GPA Medical School Admission

[deleted421268]

What is more important for medical schools to look at science or cumulative GPA?

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[cantankerous]

Your AO GPA is most important because anybody can regurgitate anatomy, but can they get an A in ceramics? I don't think so.

 

[studentdocftw]

One would assume science...but that isn't to say cumulative is ignored. Just aim to get above 3.5s and 3.7c.

 

[deleted421268]

Like what do admission committees look at when trying admit a student??? Is science GPA weighted more than cumulative?

 

[studentdocftw]

Doubt it. Based on that document, sGPA is weighted 0.1 above cGPA in terms of importance.

https://www.aamc.org/download/261106/data/aibvol11_no6.pdf

 

[md-2020]

Both are important. Whether or not one is slightly more important than another cannot be quantified accurately.

 

[WedgeDawg]

Science is most important. Cumulative is nearly as important.

 

[GrapesofRath]

This will vary from ADCOM to ADCOM. Best to assume they are both important. If I had to guess if there is a choice between the two there are more people more likely to weigh the sGPA higher than there are those who will weigh the cGPA higher. Like I said, just a guess though.

 

[PugsAndHugs]

Science is most important. Cumulative is nearly as important.

Well said.

 

[clippers50fan]

Doubt it. Based on that document, sGPA is weighted 0.1 above cGPA in terms of importance.

https://www.aamc.org/download/261106/data/aibvol11_no6.pdf

I love this table. It shows that while there are obviously more important factors, on a scale of 1-5, every single consideration falls within 1 point of each other from 2.7-3.7, showing the balance the medical schools want.

 

[efle]

This table is a little newer and shows a few more things ranked. In order starting with most important, the big 6 academic metrics are

1) sGPA
2) MCAT - note that this is a departure from the earlier survey where it was sGPA, then cGPA, then MCAT
3) Upward/downward trends
4) cGPA
5) Post-bacc grades
6) Selectivity of alma mater (only for private MD schools)

All of them fall under "highest importance" though

 

[mrspecialist]

cGPA, well-roundness for the WIN!

 

[clippers50fan]

This table is a little newer and shows a few more things ranked. In order starting with most important, the big 6 academic metrics are

1) sGPA
2) MCAT - note that this is a departure from the earlier survey where it was sGPA, then cGPA, then MCAT
3) Upward/downward trends
4) cGPA
5) Post-bacc grades
6) Selectivity of alma mater (only for private MD schools)

All of them fall under "highest importance" though

Question. Does this mean when applying to private schools, undergrad institution actually does matter?

 

[efle]

Question. Does this mean when applying to private schools, undergrad institution actually does matter?

Yes exactly, its of highest importance to private Med schools and lowest importance to public Med schools

 

[GrapesofRath]

This table is a little newer and shows a few more things ranked. In order starting with most important, the big 6 academic metrics are

1) sGPA
2) MCAT - note that this is a departure from the earlier survey where it was sGPA, then cGPA, then MCAT
3) Upward/downward trends
4) cGPA
5) Post-bacc grades
6) Selectivity of alma mater (only for private MD schools)

All of them fall under "highest importance" though

Are those in order from most to least important or are they all simply rated as highest importance with no way to distinguish amongst the 6 factors?

 

[efle]

Are those in order from most to least important or are they all simply rated as highest importance with no way to distinguish amongst the 6 factors?

Most to least all above 3.0

 

[efle]

No, they are not in order just grouped by a weighted value

End of Footnote 1 says variables are ordered by mean importance ratings...

 

[Lawpy]

No, they are not in order just grouped by a weighted value

End of Footnote 1 says variables are ordered by mean importance ratings...

"Importance was rated on a four-point scale ranging from 1 to 4 (“Not Important,” “Somewhat Important,” “Important,” and “Very Important,” respectively). .... We chose to classify variables using overall mean importance ratings because their mean importance ratings were similar for the interview and the acceptance phases. Variables are ordered by overall mean importance rating."

So it seems the variables are organized from highest mean importance to lowest mean importance and subdivided into three categories.

 

[efle]

So it seems the variables are organized from highest mean importance to lowest mean importance and subdivided into three categories.

Yep

 

[Lawpy]

Yep

Funny an unordered list is used to order the variable importance

 

[efle]

Funny an unordered list is used to order the variable importance

wat

 

[Lawpy]

wat

You would expect the priority list to be ranked using numbers and not bullets

 

[efle]

You would expect the priority list to be ranked using numbers and not bullets

I think it's natural/assumed that it would be in descending order here but I guess they could make it even more explicit

 

[Lawpy]

I think it's natural/assumed that it would be in descending order here but I guess they could make it even more explicit

Well that and usually, you'd use a numbered/ordered list to show an order, not a bullet/unordered list