Grade replacement, not as cool as it sounds

[nicknickp3]

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I've been thinking about this for a while, if you have to send them all of your transcripts, wont they be able to see the route two different applicants took to their 3.5 or whatever gpa they have. For example, if someone maintained a 3.5 all their undergraduate career, and someone who had a really crap start, grade replaced and is now at a 3.5., will the tie breaker be their soft factors? or do yall think they guy with replacement will get auto-tossed?

 

[TriagePreMed]

I've been thinking about this for a while, if you have to send them all of your transcripts, wont they be able to see the route two different applicants took to their 3.5 or whatever gpa they have. For example, if someone maintained a 3.5 all their undergraduate career, and someone who had a really crap start, grade replaced and is now at a 3.5., will the tie breaker be their soft factors? or do yall think they guy with replacement will get auto-tossed?

Grade replacement has worked for some people. My understanding is that people retake a few courses (2 or 3). The advantage is that a school is much more willing to take 3.5 with retakes than 3.1 with no retakes. If you want to make yourself comparable to the kid with the 3.5 all throughout college (assuming all else identical), it isn't going to happen.

 

[Postal]

Well, I think it all depends. If the guy with the replacement had some amazing life experiences or a lot of worthwhile clinical experience, I don't think he gets tossed. And if he took some upperlevel sciences and got good grades the first time, then I think it evens out

 

[Goro]

You're being too paranoid. Lots of factors go into accepting an applicant. 4.0 automatons are a dime a dozen. People get to where they are in life by many different routes, and it tends to make them better for it.

I've been thinking about this for a while, if you have to send them all of your transcripts, wont they be able to see the route two different applicants took to their 3.5 or whatever gpa they have. For example, if someone maintained a 3.5 all their undergraduate career, and someone who had a really crap start, grade replaced and is now at a 3.5., will the tie breaker be their soft factors? or do yall think they guy with replacement will get auto-tossed?

 

[aSagacious]

I don't think your logic is flawed at all. Given two applicants with identical GPAs (and comparable ECs, etc), one with a slew of retakes and one without, obviously the one without the retakes is going to be given preference.

 

[DrWily]

Truth is, none of us are qualified to answer this question as we are not AdComms. They will take everything into consideration and we cannot make assumptions based on our own beliefs.

 

[doingit9]

Truth is, none of us are qualified to answer this question as we are not AdComms. They will take everything into consideration and we cannot make assumptions based on our own beliefs.

I"m pretty sure Goro is on an adcom... but I agree with your reasoning.

 

[Goro]

You are correct. You should all keep in mind that the old chestnut of DOs "looking at the whole person" also applies to AdComs too.

Not all applicants are identical and maybe the guy who sailed through undergrad with a 3.5 might make a good medical student, but the fellow who struggled and eventually overcame the rough early years with a 3.5 made up of grade replacements and some post-bac activity might make a better doctor, and that's what we try to look for.

I"m pretty sure Goro is on an adcom... but I agree with your reasoning.