Grad School GPAs

[nontradv]

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Hey All,
I am applying for entry in 2011 and currently grinding it out for the june 17th mcat. I am curious about a few things...

1. How will schools factor in my grad school gpa ) Post Bac grades are great! Undergrad grades are solid, but of course a solid 4 semesters of grad school 4.0s would be an advantage.

2. Taking biochem in the fall - how will this factor in, given that all of my apps will be in by that time

3. Planning to pursue masters degree in counseling during my interim year. How will these grades factor in to my app? Or will they at all?

Thanks!

 

[Parts Unknown]

Graduate level courses are listed separately from undergrad courses, and therefore do not impact your undergrad GPA.

Considering the rampant grade inflation in graduate programs, a 4.0 isn't going to help you very much. It's almost expected.

Taking a lone biochem course the fall before med school is a likely a waste of time, money, and effort. Spare yourself and focus on secondaries and (hopefully) interviews.

You should be wary of entangling yourself in a Masters, however fluffy it looks. Some schools will not consider your application if you are currently enrolled in a graduate degree program.

If you have a solid undergrad GPA, do well on the MCAT, and have decent EC's then you are in good shape. No need to go all ADD and continue piling on more classes and degrees. Just focus on the task at hand and enjoy the calm.

 

[nontradv]

Thanks for the quick response.

I am neither pursuing another masters degree nor am I taking biochem to continuing beefing up my application, but rather because I want to (masters) and need to (biochem) so that I don't fail out my first year of ms!

 

[ShinyDome19]

for allopathic schools, graduate GPA doesnt calculate in to your undergrad GPA as PartsUnknown suggested. However, for Osteopathic schools, they do calculate an overall GPA which takes all credits - UG, PB and Grad - in to account.

 

[nontradv]

Thanks, ShinyDome.

I don't intend to apply to any DO programs...Hopefully, the MD schools will take my masters degree into account somehow!

 

[Parts Unknown]

Thanks for the quick response.

I am neither pursuing another masters degree nor am I taking biochem to continuing beefing up my application, but rather because I want to (masters) and need to (biochem) so that I don't fail out my first year of ms!

Like I said, the Masters may limit the number of schools that will consider your application, so think long and hard before you do it.

Biochem is one tiny speck of a course in medical school. I'm not saying that taking it beforehand won't be helpful, but is it really worth it?