GPA-based screening?

[rickhammal20]

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So I am planning to apply in 2013 (next cycle), and I currently have a 3.6 overall GPA and 3.4 science GPA, with a 36 MCAT. I am a rising senior, and I don't anticipate my GPA changing very much at all when I apply.

Obviously, many medical schools conduct initial screenings based on GPA and MCAT. I am wondering which GPA is used for the screening, and what the cut off number is for mid-tier schools? I've heard that some of the top schools screen out everyone with sGPAs of 3.5 or lower. I've also heard that some schools only screen based on pre-requisite BCPM GPA. I didn't do very well in those courses, and my semi-decent sGPA (as a bio major) is largely because of upper-level bio courses.

Now I am worried that because of my 3.4...I am at risk of being screened out at many places despite a strong MCAT. If this is the case, should I make every effort during senior year raising that science GPA to a 3.5+? Thanks!

 

[gatorade848]

the only screen i know is the 3.0 screen. 3.4 should be good enough to get past primary at many schools. if it is used in a screening process then its probably a percentage of the final score

ex. gpa 33%, mcat 33%, EC 33%; you add them up those that has less than 80% get "screened out"

 

[darkjedi]

So I am planning to apply in 2013 (next cycle), and I currently have a 3.6 overall GPA and 3.4 science GPA, with a 36 MCAT. I am a rising senior, and I don't anticipate my GPA changing very much at all when I apply.

Obviously, many medical schools conduct initial screenings based on GPA and MCAT. I am wondering which GPA is used for the screening, and what the cut off number is for mid-tier schools? I've heard that some of the top schools screen out everyone with sGPAs of 3.5 or lower. I've also heard that some schools only screen based on pre-requisite BCPM GPA. I didn't do very well in those courses, and my semi-decent sGPA (as a bio major) is largely because of upper-level bio courses.

Now I am worried that because of my 3.4...I am at risk of being screened out at many places despite a strong MCAT. If this is the case, should I make every effort during senior year raising that science GPA to a 3.5+? Thanks!

Definitely make every effort to get your GPA as high as possible. I actually don't know much about sGPA screening, but a 3.6 cGPA won't get you screened at most places.