GPA normalization for different tiers of schools

[yahoogoogle]

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I was told that dental schools have a GPA normalization system to account for school/major difference. for example 3.0 from MIT engineering might be placed higher in priority than a 3.5 from a community college sociology major. is this true? anyone has more information on the system?

 

[ItsGavinC]

Yes, this is entirely true. I can't verify that every school does this, but I know that some schools do, which would lead us to believe that many do.

The simplest way to do it is to use the tiers that are provided by US News. Tier one schools will carry more weight than lower tier schools.

The problem with this method is that it doesn't hold true accross the board. The upside is that it generally does hold true.

 

[armorshell]

Yes this system is already in place...it's called tha DAT

 

[ItsGavinC]

Yes this system is already in place...it's called tha DAT

It probably doesn't make a difference in many cases.

Two students with the same DAT scores. One from Yale with a 3.2 and one from a local community college with a 3.6. The Yale applicant would probably get more looks.

Just my opinion though.

 

[abzirian]

Yes, this is entirely true. I can't verify that every school does this, but I know that some schools do, which would lead us to believe that many do.

The simplest way to do it is to use the tiers that are provided by US News. Tier one schools will carry more weight than lower tier schools.

The problem with this method is that it doesn't hold true accross the board. The upside is that it generally does hold true.

I looked at that list for med school, and my med school friends totally disagree with the rankings (like michigan state being so much above university of michigan)

 

[ArmoredTooth]

The "reputation" and "ranking" of your undergraduate college doesn't matter to dental schools like eye-oh-waaaah.

Iowa only cares if you have a 3.9 overall GPA.

So even if you've attended Cal Tech, or Harvard and graduated with a 3.3 GPA, and you're an out-of-state applicant, they will defer your application.

The same sh_t happened to my friend who graduated from Princeton with a 3.45 overall GPA.

Iowa sent him an email stating that his application will be deferred.

 

[egots]

i dont really know how much weight things like that carry, cuz then what about majors at certain schools, you can major in a second tier school but the program you major in is a higher ranked program then a first tier school...then which GPA is valued more?

 

[pudge123]

If a student gets a low DAT score but has a high GPA at a lower tier school, maybe that says something about the school? Thats why I think all schools make you take a standarized test because the truth is this is the only thing that can seperate all applicants under one roof.

The truth is we will never know unless we sit on the adcoms.

 

[jpollei]

If a student gets a low DAT score but has a high GPA at a lower tier school, maybe that says something about the school? Thats why I think all schools make you take a standarized test because the truth is this is the only thing that can seperate all applicants under one roof.

The truth is we will never know unless we sit on the adcoms.

And even if you've done that for a few years, it still may not be clear. 🙂 Just my experience.

 

[HermeytheElf]

The "reputation" and "ranking" of your undergraduate college doesn't matter to dental schools like eye-oh-waaaah.

Iowa only cares if you have a 3.9 overall GPA.

So even if you've attended Cal Tech, or Harvard and graduated with a 3.3 GPA, and you're an out-of-state applicant, they will defer your application.

The same sh_t happened to my friend who graduated from Princeton with a 3.45 overall GPA.

Iowa sent him an email stating that his application will be deferred.

Dude, lay off Iowa. This forum isn't here for your personal vendetta with Iowa...you didn't get in, now move on.

 

[in her drawer]

Dude, lay off Iowa. This forum isn't here for your personal vendetta with Iowa...you didn't get in, now move on.

He wasn't really attacking Iowa; he was more or less stating his understanding of the situation.

 

[apaul]

man am I excited to go to my interview in Iowa🙂

 

[shainapunim]

I dont know what the policy is now, but like 20+ years ago, I have heard from 2 Duke Alumns that they added a full 1.0 to the GPA, each of these students had slightly below a 3.0 and corrected their interviewers who then told them of the policy. The DAT is in no way an equalizer since it tests purely facts and they are well aware of that. You should know the facts period coming from either school, but knowing the facts will not be correlated to grades in comparing comm college vs. ivy.

 

[armorshell]

I dont know what the policy is now, but like 20+ years ago, I have heard from 2 Duke Alumns that they added a full 1.0 to the GPA, each of these students had slightly below a 3.0 and corrected their interviewers who then told them of the policy. The DAT is in no way an equalizer since it tests purely facts and they are well aware of that. You should know the facts period coming from either school, but knowing the facts will not be correlated to grades in comparing comm college vs. ivy.

So we should pretty much get rid of the DAT then right? Because it has no meaning, nor any correlation to performance in dental school right? It's not like it's a standardized test 🙄

 

[in her drawer]

I dont know what the policy is now, but like 20+ years ago, I have heard from 2 Duke Alumns that they added a full 1.0 to the GPA, each of these students had slightly below a 3.0 and corrected their interviewers who then told them of the policy. The DAT is in no way an equalizer since it tests purely facts and they are well aware of that. You should know the facts period coming from either school, but knowing the facts will not be correlated to grades in comparing comm college vs. ivy.

murk loar

 

[cdmOMR]

Uh oh, here we go again...

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=316505

...kinda sad that thread never did get to 3 pages 🙁

 

[IdiotsAnnoyMe]

It probably doesn't make a difference in many cases.

Two students with the same DAT scores. One from Yale with a 3.2 and one from a local community college with a 3.6. The Yale applicant would probably get more looks.

Just my opinion though.

well, based on predents profiles, it seems that students from top schools are at a high premium. This is based on their acceptance rates. and that they seem to get accepted into many, many dental schools. Not just 3-4 but 5-8-ish. Even those students who applied in Nov/Dec still get into a great many schools.

 

[in her drawer]

Science GPA:2.8 damn calculus

I was not aware that math courses were part of the science GPA. It almost makes me wish that I had taken calc I and II in college, instead of rolling with my AP credit.

 

[cdmOMR]

I was not aware that math courses were part of the science GPA. It almost makes me wish that I had taken calc I and II in college, instead of rolling with my AP credit.

Yea im pretty sure math is part of the sciences unfortunatly. I took AP Calc in HS but only got a 3 of the AP test. I thought I knew it all and never studied for it and got a C+ and a C 🙁 . This was also before I knew about SDN, and before I realized what is needed to get into d-school, and before I realized how much work i would have to do just to catch up. Generally ignorance is bliss, but not in this case.

 

[in her drawer]

Yea im pretty sure math is part of the sciences unfortunatly.

I guess I just learned something new. Now that makes me upset about my B in calc III, not that I was ever pleased with it.

 

[HermeytheElf]

Uh oh, here we go again...

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=316505

...kinda sad that thread never did get to 3 pages 🙁

I think it was for the best...if our WASPy friend had followed through on her promise, her hispanic gardener and housekeeper would be out on the street. Quite frankly, I don't want the deportation of a family of hard working illegal immigrants on my conscience.