GPA details

[badmintondr]

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So I'm currently in my senior year and debating whether or not to take on a heavy science course load in order to up my gpa.

I am currently at a 3.279 gpa (Sad I know)

However, I calculated it out and I figured out I could theoretically reach 3.40 if I took 3 classes a quarter for 2 more quarters. This is assuming I get all A's. However, I am planning on taking MCAT in april so I don't want to overkill myself and do poorly on MCAT and poorly in school.

So, do med schools take into consideration 3.34 vs 3.37 vs 3.39 vs 3.40?

I know in actuality 3.39 is incredibly close to 3.40 but I'd think some schools screen solely based off of 2 significant figures, which would leave me screwed.

1. Could anyone perhaps share some insight as to whether or not they take into consideration the 3rd digit of the gpa?

2. Also, I was wondering if take retake a class for which I got a C+ at a community college (I am currently enrolled in a UC), would it be accepted by the DO schools?

Thanks very much!

PS. This forum is such a godsend. My passion for medicine rose exponentially just by reading these forums!

 

[JoshUNCW]

So I'm currently in my senior year and debating whether or not to take on a heavy science course load in order to up my gpa.

I am currently at a 3.279 gpa (Sad I know)

However, I calculated it out and I figured out I could theoretically reach 3.40 if I took 3 classes a quarter for 2 more quarters. This is assuming I get all A's. However, I am planning on taking MCAT in april so I don't want to overkill myself and do poorly on MCAT and poorly in school.

So, do med schools take into consideration 3.34 vs 3.37 vs 3.39 vs 3.40?

I know in actuality 3.39 is incredibly close to 3.40 but I'd think some schools screen solely based off of 2 significant figures, which would leave me screwed.

1. Could anyone perhaps share some insight as to whether or not they take into consideration the 3rd digit of the gpa?

2. Also, I was wondering if take retake a class for which I got a C+ at a community college (I am currently enrolled in a UC), would it be accepted by the DO schools?

Thanks very much!

PS. This forum is such a godsend. My passion for medicine rose exponentially just by reading these forums!

I just wanted to point out, 3.39 rounded to two sig figs is a 3.4...

 

[123165]

Yes and Yes

 

[badmintondr]

Wow. Thanks. I guess I had a brain fart. The MCAT is getting to me.

 

[JoshUNCW]

Haha, it happens to the best of us. But I just wanted to point out, I doubt anyone will make the distinction between a 3.39 and a 3.4... I'm sure everyone will consider it a 3.4 so I wouldn't worry about that. Just make sure everything else in your app is extremely strong and get straight A's from here on out to show a trend of improvement.

 

[TopQuark]

1. Could anyone perhaps share some insight as to whether or not they take into consideration the 3rd digit of the gpa?

Maybe, but a 3.27, 3.279, 3.28, or a 3.3 are all considered low. If you plan on applying next cycle, study hard and do well on the MCAT to compensate. Luckily, most DO schools won't screen you out until looking at your whole application, so having good EC's can also help. Apply early, the applicant pool gets bigger and more competitive every year.

2. Also, I was wondering if take retake a class for which I got a C+ at a community college (I am currently enrolled in a UC), would it be accepted by the DO schools?

AACOMAS will take the highest grade. Retake as many of these as possible, just get an A in them the second time around. If you can, try to retake the class from the same institution. This might save a headache in the future since AACOMAS may not consider similar classes at two different colleges as the same class.

 

[beckhunter116]

For the retake make sure that the class that you retake has the same number of credit hours or more.

 

[Everglide]

Retake classes with low grades, crush them and get all A's 🙂

Speaking from personal experience, moving your gpa by .12 with only 6 classes in your senior year seems unlikely. Maybe check your math on that. (obviously retakes will help your AACOMAS gpa a lot more than just adding another class)

 

[ejcali]

My school won't replace grades for classes that are passed, I actually thought you couldn't retake them at all. Is this common then, for students to retake the classes they got c's in? Seems to me like adcomms might see this as a ploy since 3rd/4th year students should have little difficulty in a 1st/2nd year class they have already taken, is this the case? Sorry if this is off topic a little but I just never considered the idea much for these reasons.

 

[nshalaby]

im in the same boat as you...having to deal with a lower gpa and in my later stages of college...i think you did calculate something a little wrong cause getting your gpa to a 3.4 from your 3.2 would be hard just because you've taken so many credits those 6 classes arent going to weigh very much...from what i've read on here you need an excellent app...do ec's, get involved in research if possible, volunteer, and get a good LOR from a DO. If you do well on the MCAT and your app is good i think your chances are pretty good...

 

[Everglide]

As far as I know, retaking classes you did poorly in is not seen as a "ploy" by adcoms. Retaking and doing well demonstrates you can master the material and shows dedication.

Like most other schools, your school doesn't replace grades however AACOMAS (not AMCAS) will use your new retake grade to calculate your gpas.

 

[badmintondr]

First off, I appreciate the replies.
Furthermore, as far as GPA calculation goes, I'm pretty sure I can raise it from the 3.30 to 3.4 if I take 6 classes and get A's. (Checked the math! The reason why I listed 3.2 was because my GPA was 3.259 without factoring this quarter's grades)
Also, does anyone know how mandatory it is to retake it from the same school? The UC policy states that I cannot retake classes which I got a C or above in (Which is primarily the classes I want to retake)

Also, I've done research and gotten 2 poster papers out of this. Is this considered decent? I've always thought that they scoffed at research unless you got a publication.

 

[Everglide]

First off, I appreciate the replies.
Furthermore, as far as GPA calculation goes, I'm pretty sure I can raise it from the 3.30 to 3.4 if I take 6 classes and get A's. (Checked the math! The reason why I listed 3.2 was because my GPA was 3.259 without factoring this quarter's grades)
Also, does anyone know how mandatory it is to retake it from the same school? The UC policy states that I cannot retake classes which I got a C or above in (Which is primarily the classes I want to retake)

Also, I've done research and gotten 2 poster papers out of this. Is this considered decent? I've always thought that they scoffed at research unless you got a publication.

Going from 3.3 to 3.4 sounds about right with all As. 🙂

The school I graduated from had the same retake policy, 2.0 or greater and you could not retake, regardless of reason. You will probably need to make some calls around your school to look further into this.

I had a lot of research hours and 0 publications. No one seemed to mind. At the very least, something is better than nothing.