Does grad school gpa matter for residency application?

[OddNath]

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Hey guys

Not that I plan on blowing off what few grad requirements I have left, but do the grades matter for anything? Like is there a spot in the ERAS where they ask for it? Or do you only have to list it when applying for grants?

Thanks!

 

[Doctor&Geek]

Heck no.

 

[Fencer]

Unless it is in the 2.0's (<3). Even in that case, > 4 papers on neurological related bench research will make for that. However, if you are applying for a post-doctoral NIH application, they might. For a K08 or K23, they would not matter. Papers will matter.

 

[Brunette1981]

Also, at my school most graduate departments require a B average to progress to thesis studies. This would be per your school reqs of course, so don't blow the classes off so much you get kicked out of your PhD program. That might look bad to residency directors.

 

[Neuronix]

Though as a caveat to that, at least in my graduate program you'd have to be really bad to get less than a B in something. It seems a C+ is considered you didn't show up at all or hand in any of the assignments. A difficult MRI class that scared most of the class into audited ended up being curved with A- being the average.

My undergrad was essentially the same way. My transcript may have looked impressive because I had taken so many graduate level courses in Neuroscience, but the grading was far more forgiving than my undergrad classes!

This is pretty common knowledge I think. So I really doubt anyone's going to pay much attention to grad school grades (at least they shouldn't!). I think poor grades in grad school are more likely to reflect the school being tough than it is the student being poor, all other things roughly equal.

 

[OddNath]

don't blow the classes off so much you get kicked out of your PhD program. That might look bad to residency directors.

Haha, good to know! Thanks for all the advice, guys!

 

[alibai3ah]

Would that mean that doing grad school to augment your chances into medical school is worthless? I mean I know that UG gpa is given the weight, but say you believe that your UG gpa is not a fair gauge of your intellect, wouldn't a 4.0 master's atleast compensate a bit to help that student out?

Though as a caveat to that, at least in my graduate program you'd have to be really bad to get less than a B in something. It seems a C+ is considered you didn't show up at all or hand in any of the assignments. A difficult MRI class that scared most of the class into audited ended up being curved with A- being the average.

My undergrad was essentially the same way. My transcript may have looked impressive because I had taken so many graduate level courses in Neuroscience, but the grading was far more forgiving than my undergrad classes!

This is pretty common knowledge I think. So I really doubt anyone's going to pay much attention to grad school grades (at least they shouldn't!). I think poor grades in grad school are more likely to reflect the school being tough than it is the student being poor, all other things roughly equal.

 

[Neuronix]

I received a similar PM, and here was my response:

Greetings,

I did not do a masters, I just took a lot of graduate classes. In general adcoms don't split hairs about the grades you received. They don't know what programs are difficult and which ones aren't, so they will still count your 4.0 master's GPA for what it is, though the # that counts most will be when all those courses from undergrad and masters are averaged in together. The upward trend can sort of help when it comes decision time.

Post-undergraduate cirricula can be different also. Post-baccs can be quite difficult, as they are meant to weed out pre-meds, just like undergrad. PhD cirricula are meant to promote their own graduate students, so it's a different story. Adcoms know this kind of stuff, but still the moral of the story is I'm not trying to talk anyone out of a master's degree. It will still increase your GPA and give you the upward trend that may help you in your case (but in reality I have no idea because I don't know your case).

Good luck,
Eric