- Joined
- Sep 27, 2002
- Messages
- 443
- Reaction score
- 0
I know a lot of people on SDN have been inquiring about GPA adjustments in relation to the undergraduate institution they came from. I do have a definitive answer for that...well, at least for one medical school. I am a SC resident and recently interviewed at Medical University of South Carolina and the dean of admissions came out and told us during the information session that yes, they do adjust your gpa according to the institution you went to. And quite frankly, he offered to tell us exactly what the adjustments were if we wanted to ask. He says the school uses Barron's Guide to Colleges to do the adjustment. Apparently there is some scale of competitiveness in there that they use. I went to Duke University and Dean Underwood told me that they added .45 to our overall gpa when they screen and evaluate applicatioins from my school. I have no idea what factor they give for other schools...
I have been reading all of you guys/gals post for several weeks and just wanted to state some observations. Personally, i don't think it matters where you went to school. That's what the MCAT is for (although i hate standardized testing and didn't do so hot...). It normalizes all of us cause in this sense we're all going through the same experience. I think far more important is how you take advantage of the opportunities around you. It probably is true that at some "tier-1" schools you may have more opportunities but personally i think if you're a person with iniative and drive, you can succeed anywhere, under any circumstance, and around any type of people. Isn't that what medicine is about anyways...the constant adjustments and adaptability that we'll have to make for the rest of our lives. It doesn't take a Rhodes scholar from harvard with a 42 MCAT and 3.9 gpa to make a great physician....it takes dedication, committment and a true passion for what you do. I think as premeds we get too caught up in numbers, staying on top of the game, and our anxieties take over our lives. So i guess what i'm saying is don't worry about where other people went to school and the numbers they have cause it'll only stress you out.. Maximize what you have to work with and move forward.
As Oct. 15th approaches i just wanted to say good luck to everyone and hope all turns out well in the end. For those of us still waiting, remember the admissions process doesn't end till next fall and plenty of people will be getting in in Jan, Feb, March, etc...
Your Blue Devil,
AOL SN: dukeblue02😉
I have been reading all of you guys/gals post for several weeks and just wanted to state some observations. Personally, i don't think it matters where you went to school. That's what the MCAT is for (although i hate standardized testing and didn't do so hot...). It normalizes all of us cause in this sense we're all going through the same experience. I think far more important is how you take advantage of the opportunities around you. It probably is true that at some "tier-1" schools you may have more opportunities but personally i think if you're a person with iniative and drive, you can succeed anywhere, under any circumstance, and around any type of people. Isn't that what medicine is about anyways...the constant adjustments and adaptability that we'll have to make for the rest of our lives. It doesn't take a Rhodes scholar from harvard with a 42 MCAT and 3.9 gpa to make a great physician....it takes dedication, committment and a true passion for what you do. I think as premeds we get too caught up in numbers, staying on top of the game, and our anxieties take over our lives. So i guess what i'm saying is don't worry about where other people went to school and the numbers they have cause it'll only stress you out.. Maximize what you have to work with and move forward.
As Oct. 15th approaches i just wanted to say good luck to everyone and hope all turns out well in the end. For those of us still waiting, remember the admissions process doesn't end till next fall and plenty of people will be getting in in Jan, Feb, March, etc...
Your Blue Devil,
AOL SN: dukeblue02😉
