Does AO GPA matter?

[musicaldna]

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There is a thread on this but its very outdated so I want to know whats the consensus currently...

I just got verified

sGPA - 3.77
All Other GPA - 3.38
cGPA - 3.62


Would that 3.38 kill me?

 

[Merlin0082]

No,

Though it does look good to show youre well rounded with a strong AO gpa as well, sGPA is most important. Youre fine

 

[musicaldna]

No,

Though it does look good to show youre well rounded with a strong AO gpa as well, sGPA is most important. Youre fine

It better be coz 3.38 is a disgrace on me. I had not calculated the grades before because in Biomedical Engineering, the courses are very very difficult to categorize and hence I did not know which ones would be approved by AMCAS and which ones would not.

 

[BlueElmo]

AO is not as important as science and overall. You look good.

 

[musicaldna]

AO is not as important as science and overall. You look good.

Thank you guys I am excited about the 3.77 sGPA (not at high but higher than expected).

 

[apumic]

hmm, I'm actually a bit surprised how much AO was dismissed. Yes, sGPA is important; however a low AO GPA is going to hurt you somewhat (esp when compared w candidates who were strong all-around). The fact is, though, there's probably little you can do about it at this pt...

 

[musicaldna]

hmm, I'm actually a bit surprised how much AO was dismissed. Yes, sGPA is important; however a low AO GPA is going to hurt you somewhat (esp when compared w candidates who were strong all-around). The fact is, though, there's probably little you can do about it at this pt...

Yes I think so too. But it's just that MSAR and even the school websites only report sGPA and cGPA which makes us think those two are the most important (or hopefully the only ones) considered during the application process.

 

[musicaldna]

It basically came down to categorizing the courses. I am sure I could move some out of BCMP by assigning them to engineering and AMCAS would not mind.

That would jack up my AO and lower the sGPA a bit.....

I was too lazy to try all the permutations and optimize the GPA that way. I think that would be a ridiculous way to bump up the GPA...cheating my way in. So I just went with whatever came to my mind....and turns out my mind favored sGPA...

 

[apumic]

Yes I think so too. But it's just that MSAR and even the school websites only report sGPA and cGPA which makes us think those two are the most important (or hopefully the only ones) considered during the application process.

Well, yes, AO GPA is less important and the cGPA includes sGPA, but for many cGPA is weighted at least 50/50 or more toward AO GPA. I don't know that AO GPA is considered separate from cGPA; however, if one's AO GPA was significantly lower than the sGPA, that might raise some questions.

 

[musicaldna]

Well, yes, AO GPA is less important and the cGPA includes sGPA, but for many cGPA is weighted at least 50/50 or more toward AO GPA. I don't know that AO GPA is considered separate from cGPA; however, if one's AO GPA was significantly lower than the sGPA, that might raise some questions.

I hope not and if it does, I have the answers.

 

[muhali3]

Better to have a low AO gpa, than a low sGPA. I don't think you should be worried. The impact of the low AO is dependent upon what classes brought it down, what semester you took them, upward trends, etc. If they were hard classes that you bombed in your first semester of freshman year, then they'll be more understanding.

 

[266549]

Better to have a low AO gpa, than a low sGPA.

craaapppppp. that 4.0 ao gpa due to awesome lib arts is worth squat next to the sgpa.

 

[musicaldna]

When schools ask to explain any academic fluctuations, should I explain the low AO GPA? I am afraid by doing so I may deliberately point them to my low AO GPA which would otherwise be possibly neglected by them.

 

[muhali3]

craaapppppp. that 4.0 ao gpa due to awesome lib arts is worth squat next to the sgpa.

Yes, the AO GPA does not have as much impact as the sGPA. What you just quoted does not contradict that. 3.0 AO GPA/4.0 sGPA is better than 4.0 AO GPA/3.0sGPA

 

[muhali3]

When schools ask to explain any academic fluctuations, should I explain the low AO GPA? I am afraid by doing so I may deliberately point them to my low AO GPA which would otherwise be possibly neglected by them.

Unless there were C's or below, I don't think you need to explain it. Your cGPA is good enough so w/e.