DO vs MD gpa comparison

[dbizzy]

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So I had a question about gpas concerning Osteopathic and Allopathic schools. We all know the average gpa of matriculants for DO schools is generally slightly lower than for MD schools, but the difference isn't really that huge.

However, since AACOMAS allows grade replacement and AMCAS doesn't, wouldn't the actual difference between the two be significantly greater between the two if we used the same method of calculation for both? I mean, this is assuming that most DO applicants (such as myself) do make good use of the policy by replacing a pretty decent chunk of not-so-flattering grades from the past.

I'm just trying to get an idea of whether or not it really makes a difference when we compare apples to apples.

 

[Bacchus]

It depends on the applicant. You can't make wide generalizations.

 

[preDoGuy24]

So I had a question about gpas concerning Osteopathic and Allopathic schools. We all know the average gpa of matriculants for DO schools is generally slightly lower than for MD schools, but the difference isn't really that huge.

However, since AACOMAS allows grade replacement and AMCAS doesn't, wouldn't the actual difference between the two be significantly greater between the two if we used the same method of calculation for both? I mean, this is assuming that most DO applicants (such as myself) do make good use of the policy by replacing a pretty decent chunk of not-so-flattering grades from the past.

I'm just trying to get an idea of whether or not it really makes a difference when we compare apples to apples.

I'm applying DO and haven't replaced one grade or retaken one class...

 

[StayOnTop]

So I had a question about gpas concerning Osteopathic and Allopathic schools. We all know the average gpa of matriculants for DO schools is generally slightly lower than for MD schools, but the difference isn't really that huge.

However, since AACOMAS allows grade replacement and AMCAS doesn't, wouldn't the actual difference between the two be significantly greater between the two if we used the same method of calculation for both? I mean, this is assuming that most DO applicants (such as myself) do make good use of the policy by replacing a pretty decent chunk of not-so-flattering grades from the past.

I'm just trying to get an idea of whether or not it really makes a difference when we compare apples to apples.

The exact opposite is true for me. I took a number of math classes and got A's in them that allowed my BCPM MD GPA to be a lot higher than my DO Science GPA, because AACOM doesn't count Math classes.

 

[Kevin Baker]

I don't have numbers, but I doubt grade replacement has too much of an effect. Not everyone does retakes, and I'd guess most don't. Even if you do a retake, let's say a C to an A, and assuming you have a degree. the difference is less than 1% of total GPA (.7% by my count). And how many retakes does the average applicant take? I think anywhere from 1-3 is a good range. So, less than a .1 difference in GPA.

edit: apparently I can't do math. .7*3 = 2.1, so less than a .2 difference in GPA

 

[Skippygonenuts]

I actually retook an F and two D's for A's. Helped ALOT!

 

[avatarftw]

I don't think there is a study done on it, but just looking at people's mdapplicants.com profiles, there seems to be an average GPA difference of about 0.2 between the DO calculated GPA and the MD calculated GPA. (with the DO GPA being 0.2 lower than the stated one)

So I had a question about gpas concerning Osteopathic and Allopathic schools. We all know the average gpa of matriculants for DO schools is generally slightly lower than for MD schools, but the difference isn't really that huge.

However, since AACOMAS allows grade replacement and AMCAS doesn't, wouldn't the actual difference between the two be significantly greater between the two if we used the same method of calculation for both? I mean, this is assuming that most DO applicants (such as myself) do make good use of the policy by replacing a pretty decent chunk of not-so-flattering grades from the past.

I'm just trying to get an idea of whether or not it really makes a difference when we compare apples to apples.

 

[dbizzy]

Interesting. Just throwing numbers out there, but let's say it does drop the DO average gpa by just 0.2, from say 3.4 down to about 3.2, what was once a slight gpa difference has now become almost half a point (versus MD). I believe that's also lower than dental, optometry, and pharm's.

I know, I know, who gives a damn. Just thoguht it was interesting, thanks for the input

 

[willen101383]

Honestly, i dont think it would touch that average much. I for one didnt retake any classes...and I think the subset of DO matriculants that actually had to do any "GPA pruning" would be probobly about 10 percent if that. Perhaps I will do an informal poll today in anatomy lab!

But just like you said OP who really cares? haha

A real study would be: Does a super high gpa have anything to do with actually being a good doctor?