Downward trend that bad?

[k12123]

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I've been worried about the downward trend that I've been experiencing as I go on to take upper division science courses:

Fall 11: 3.67
Spring 12: 3.64
Summer 12: 3.63 (I got an A in gen bio II and a B in physics I)
Fall 12: 3.46 (Here I got the B+ in evo and B in calculus, A- in gen chem II, A in speech)
Spring 13: 3.36 (B in physics II, cell bio, ochem lab, B+ in polsci, A in ochem lecture)

My cGPA is 3.54 and sGPA is 3.51.

For my bio classes, I made As in both gen bio, B+ in evo, and B in cell. For physics I made Bs for both. I've had all A- for intro to chem and both gen chem and received my first A in ochem I. For the record I don't have anything lower than a solid B in my transcript (knock on wood).

I have two semesters left until I apply. Would this downward trend be detrimental to my application? Thanks!

 

[gc91]

I had a downward trend my sophomore year too, when I was taking Ochem and anatomy plus 9 other credits both semesters. I felt the same way you did, but once those two classes were out of the way my GPA came right back up my junior year (I actually had a 4.0 the semester before I applied.) Your GPAs are good and if you can get an A in ochem lecture you're fine.

 

[ph7]

I've been worried about the downward trend that I've been experiencing as I go on to take upper division science courses:

Fall 11: 3.67
Spring 12: 3.64
Summer 12: 3.63 (I got an A in gen bio II and a B in physics I)
Fall 12: 3.46 (Here I got the B+ in evo and B in calculus, A- in gen chem II, A in speech)
Spring 13: 3.36 (B in physics II, cell bio, ochem lab, B+ in polsci, A in ochem lecture)

My cGPA is 3.54 and sGPA is 3.51.

For my bio classes, I made As in both gen bio, B+ in evo, and B in cell. For physics I made Bs for both. I've had all A- for intro to chem and both gen chem and received my first A in ochem I. For the record I don't have anything lower than a solid B in my transcript (knock on wood).

I have two semesters left until I apply. Would this downward trend be detrimental to my application? Thanks!

I would be a bit worried just because schools will look at this and imagine a similair start in their med school. At the same time you are taking two more semesters so if you ace those remaining classes you can show that you buckled down and ready for med level classes. I know from personal exp that schools love to see that upwards trend bc you are improving so I highly suggest you do that.

Best of luck!

 

[Dreamstoo]

I've been worried about the downward trend that I've been experiencing as I go on to take upper division science courses:

Fall 11: 3.67
Spring 12: 3.64
Summer 12: 3.63 (I got an A in gen bio II and a B in physics I)
Fall 12: 3.46 (Here I got the B+ in evo and B in calculus, A- in gen chem II, A in speech)
Spring 13: 3.36 (B in physics II, cell bio, ochem lab, B+ in polsci, A in ochem lecture)

My cGPA is 3.54 and sGPA is 3.51.

For my bio classes, I made As in both gen bio, B+ in evo, and B in cell. For physics I made Bs for both. I've had all A- for intro to chem and both gen chem and received my first A in ochem I. For the record I don't have anything lower than a solid B in my transcript (knock on wood).

I have two semesters left until I apply. Would this downward trend be detrimental to my application? Thanks!

I'm in a similar boat. For freshman year, I remember having a 3.31 cgpa and a 3.52 sgpa. Currently a sophomore and I brought up my cumulative gpa to a 3.38 and my sgpa dipped quite a bit due to some really tough courses fall 2013 (Qualitative analysis lab and lecture, lecture was curved to a C, I got a B even though I got a B+, my professor down curved the class 😡 (also half of our final was material we were supposed to study outside of class but since the class was so demanding no one really read the book... he asked 30 multiple choice questions based on the readings, I just started giggling like a crazy person and circled random answers, somehow passed the final lol. I heard he ended up curving the final by 20%+ because the highest uncurved grade was like a 73%). I think my science gpa is about a 3.43.

I hope to bring my cumulative up to a 3.5 by end of junior year and my science gpa to a 3.5+. Goal for graduation is a 3.6 cgpa and a 3.5 sgpa.

Freshman year I was struggling boat loads in calculus which messed up my cumulative gpa (also the main reason why MD might be out of reach for me is because of the huge dent calc 1 and calc 2 put in my science gpa, despite getting pretty solid grades in calc 3/calc4).

 

[Dreamstoo]

I've been worried about the downward trend that I've been experiencing as I go on to take upper division science courses:

Fall 11: 3.67
Spring 12: 3.64
Summer 12: 3.63 (I got an A in gen bio II and a B in physics I)
Fall 12: 3.46 (Here I got the B+ in evo and B in calculus, A- in gen chem II, A in speech)
Spring 13: 3.36 (B in physics II, cell bio, ochem lab, B+ in polsci, A in ochem lecture)

My cGPA is 3.54 and sGPA is 3.51.

For my bio classes, I made As in both gen bio, B+ in evo, and B in cell. For physics I made Bs for both. I've had all A- for intro to chem and both gen chem and received my first A in ochem I. For the record I don't have anything lower than a solid B in my transcript (knock on wood).

I have two semesters left until I apply. Would this downward trend be detrimental to my application? Thanks!

With a 30+ MCAT you will be a very very strong applicant for a DO

 

[k12123]

next semester I will be taking a light load because I plan to take the mcat in january. so im taking french (I took ap french but never took the ap exam so the class should he pretty easy. A critical thinking class with an easy instructor, bio research for 3 units and ochem ii with the lab. If I do relatively well, would it look bad because I only took one real science course? thanks!

 

[Dreamstoo]

next semester I will be taking a light load because I plan to take the mcat in january. so im taking french (I took ap french but never took the ap exam so the class should he pretty easy. A critical thinking class with an easy instructor, bio research for 3 units and ochem ii with the lab. If I do relatively well, would it look bad because I only took one real science course? thanks!

Dude, they really don't look much at your plan of study, just have a solid gpa. I'm taking thermodynamics, inorganic chemistry, quantum mechanics, o chem lab 2 in fall . Then a software course and physical chemistry the following term. And literally my last 4 semesters are all electives (and 6 credits of upper level chem courses which I'll do research for credit at the lab I currently work at). I'm at a trimester school, my last term of junior year and my three terms of senior year should be easy 3.7-4.0 terms .

 

[Goro]

Detrimental? Yes.
Lethal? No

If your MCAT is fine and your interviews go well 9and you WILL be asked about the downward trend), then you'll probably be OK.

The trend might kill you if you're a borderline interviewee, and someone will likely point out the trend, and onto the wait list you go.

However, going from A -> B+ is not lethal. A -> would definitely hurt. Overall, don't fret.

I've been worried about the downward trend that I've been experiencing as I go on to take upper division science courses:

Fall 11: 3.67
Spring 12: 3.64
Summer 12: 3.63 (I got an A in gen bio II and a B in physics I)
Fall 12: 3.46 (Here I got the B+ in evo and B in calculus, A- in gen chem II, A in speech)
Spring 13: 3.36 (B in physics II, cell bio, ochem lab, B+ in polsci, A in ochem lecture)

My cGPA is 3.54 and sGPA is 3.51.

For my bio classes, I made As in both gen bio, B+ in evo, and B in cell. For physics I made Bs for both. I've had all A- for intro to chem and both gen chem and received my first A in ochem I. For the record I don't have anything lower than a solid B in my transcript (knock on wood).

I have two semesters left until I apply. Would this downward trend be detrimental to my application? Thanks!

 

[k12123]

Thanks Goro! However, if I pull it back around 3.6-3.65 within the two semesters, would adcoms still be suspicious of the "U" curve?

 

[Goro]

No, a "U" or "V" shaped curve tells us that you had some life issues going on and you managed to surmount them, which is really good. Indicative of what you're a really capable of, which is handling medical school (without the distractions).

A continually downward slope is the bad thing.

Thanks Goro! However, if I pull it back around 3.6-3.65 within the two semesters, would adcoms still be suspicious of the "U" curve?

 

[Starry]

No, a "U" or "V" shaped curve tells us that you had some life issues going on and you managed to surmount them, which is really good. Indicative of what you're a really capable of, which is handling medical school (without the distractions).

A continually downward slope is the bad thing.

I hate to hijack this thread but what do you think of this "U" curve:
fall4.00 --> spring3.64 --> summer4.00 -->
fall3.53 --> spring3.60 --> summer2.42 -->
fall2.75 --> spring3.70 --> now(no classes this summer)

I read somewhere that admissions looks at yearly GPA, not semesterly. In that case, I have a downward slope with no explanation. However, I can explain the curve by semester since I had family/personal issues for the summer and fall that I dropped below 3.0. In addition, I pulled my life around and had a 3.7 that spring and a 33 MCAT.

cGPA 3.44, sGPA 3.40

Thoughts?

 

[Goro]

I'm sure that there are some MD schools that want only perfection, and would thus sneer at you, but I don't think any DO schools would do that. Clearly, you had a bad year, and in interview, I'd ask about it, but the overall transcript says this is a star student.

I hate to hijack this thread but what do you think of this "U" curve:
fall4.00 --> spring3.64 --> summer4.00 -->
fall3.53 --> spring3.60 --> summer2.42 -->
fall2.75 --> spring3.70 --> now(no classes this summer)

I read somewhere that admissions looks at yearly GPA, not semesterly. In that case, I have a downward slope with no explanation. However, I can explain the curve by semester since I had family/personal issues for the summer and fall that I dropped below 3.0. In addition, I pulled my life around and had a 3.7 that spring and a 33 MCAT.

cGPA 3.44, sGPA 3.40

Thoughts?

 

[Starry]

I'm sure that there are some MD schools that want only perfection, and would thus sneer at you, but I don't think any DO schools would do that. Clearly, you had a bad year, and in interview, I'd ask about it, but the overall transcript says this is a star student.

😎 I see what you did there.

Thanks Goro, your input is really appreciated. 👍