Grades and update letters

[believe <3]

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How much weight do adcoms give to update letters, especially those pertaining to grades? For instance, when I apply this year, I will have ~3.8 cGPA and ~3.7 sGPA. However, this summer, I will be taking a lot of hard courses as well (micro, neuro, possibly anatomy, high level engl/lit, maybe calc). The reason I will not be taking most of these during the spring semester is because I am writing my MCAT in April and I don't want a hard semester to cost me a low MCAT score…

If I get A's in all my summer courses and send update letters to all the schools that I applied to, would it be looked at favorably? Or would it not be considered at all since I didn't have these grades in before AMCAS was submitted?

@gyngyn @Goro @LizzyM @Ismet @Catalystik your advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Catalystik]

How much weight do adcoms give to update letters, especially those pertaining to grades? For instance, when I apply this year, I will have ~3.8 cGPA and ~3.7 sGPA. However, this summer, I will be taking a lot of hard courses as well (micro, neuro, possibly anatomy, high level engl/lit, maybe calc). The reason I will not be taking most of these during the spring semester is because I am writing my MCAT in April and I don't want a hard semester to cost me a low MCAT score…

If I get A's in all my summer courses and send update letters to all the schools that I applied to, would it be looked at favorably? Or would it not be considered at all since I didn't have these grades in before AMCAS was submitted?

@gyngyn @Goro @LizzyM @Ismet @Catalystik your advice is greatly appreciated!

In your personal situation, considering how high your GPAs will be when you submit your Primary, I doubt a grade update about excellent summer coursework will have much impact on decision-making, since your academic abilities will not be in question.

 

[believe <3]

In your personal situation, considering how high your GPAs will be when you submit your Primary, I doubt a grade update about excellent summer coursework will have much impact on decision-making, since your academic abilities will not be in question.

Thank you for your input! Also, I do not go to a very high-ranked school…I attend a state school that is probably in the mid 100's ranking-wise. Do you think that this fact will make adcoms reconsider my academic abilities, even if my overall GPA is decent? Perhaps they will think it is easier to attain my GPA at this school? That's why I was hoping a hard summer would help clear any doubts!

 

[LizzyM]

We don't spend any time on updates... they are not verified or calculated into your gpa as compared to a transcript that is transcribed onto your AMCAS application and submitted for verification.

If you don't feel your application is as strong as it can be by the deadline for applications, then plan on a gap year and apply a year later than you would otherwise. Better to be a year late and get in on the first try than to apply, not get in anywhere and have to reapply.

 

[believe <3]

We don't spend any time on updates... they are not verified or calculated into your gpa as compared to a transcript that is transcribed onto your AMCAS application and submitted for verification.

If you don't feel your application is as strong as it can be by the deadline for applications, then plan on a gap year and apply a year later than you would otherwise. Better to be a year late and get in on the first try than to apply, not get in anywhere and have to reapply.

I see…would you say a 3.8/3.7 is okay then? After all, if I factored in those classes into my GPA, it would only raise to 3.83/3.76. In adcoms' eyes, is that a big GPA difference? Or can a strong MCAT overcome that?

 

[LizzyM]

I see…would you say a 3.8/3.7 is okay then? After all, if I factored in those classes into my GPA, it would only raise to 3.83/3.76. In adcoms' eyes, is that a big GPA difference? Or can a strong MCAT overcome that?

a 3.80 vs a 3.83 is no big deal and likewise a 3.70 vs 3.76 is not a big deal. And this is a best case scenario whereas something could go wrong and you could be looking at a GPA that stays the same or declines. AMCAS Table 25 will tell you what your chances are at a given MCAT but for the most part a 3.8 is going to get you some interviews and good interviews will get you offers.

 

[believe <3]

a 3.80 vs a 3.83 is no big deal and likewise a 3.70 vs 3.76 is not a big deal. And this is a best case scenario whereas something could go wrong and you could be looking at a GPA that stays the same or declines. AMCAS Table 25 will tell you what your chances are at a given MCAT but for the most part a 3.8 is going to get you some interviews and good interviews will get you offers.

Thanks! Also, I did not do as well in my pre-req sciences (B+ in both bio and gen chem classes and one B+ in orgo 1) However, I have tried to make up for this by getting A's in upper-level bio. courses (Genetics, Biochem, Neuroscience Pharmcology courses, Biology-based research)

I would have liked to further make up for it by taking Microbiology, Anatomy/Physiology and Eukaryotic Cell Biology before application time, but I don't think I can factor those classes in time now. Nevertheless, I will be taking these classes in the summer and will send update letters to the few schools that do consider grade updates...

Considering the A's I have received in the upper-level science courses I took so far, would you say it is enough to prove to adcoms that I am competent in the sciences?

 

[LizzyM]

So you balanced each B+ (3.3) in required courses with A (4.0) in elective courses to come out in the middle (3.7). I wouldn't be concerned and I wouldn't feel as if the application were stronger with more A's and a gpa of 3.73 rather than 3.70.

 

[Ismet]

Update letters are better for updating on new activities or new publications. There's not much one can do in one semester to boost GPA, and your GPA will go up so slightly that there is really no point.

 

[believe <3]

So you balanced each B+ (3.3) in required courses with A (4.0) in elective courses to come out in the middle (3.7). I wouldn't be concerned and I wouldn't feel as if the application were stronger with more A's and a gpa of 3.73 rather than 3.70.

Thanks LizzyM! Then, I will work on my EC's and getting a stellar MCAT score to further balance my app out.

 

[believe <3]

Update letters are better for updating on new activities or new publications. There's not much one can do in one semester to boost GPA, and your GPA will go up so slightly that there is really no point.

So there are no schools that specifically value grade updates in their decision-making process? For example, I thought VCU appreciated grade update letters?

 

[Ismet]

So there are no schools that specifically value grade updates in their decision-making process? For example, I thought VCU appreciated grade update letters?

It doesn't really make a difference when you already have an above average GPA and you're just raising it slightly. A 3.7 vs a 3.73 is not going to make any difference between reject/waitlist/accept.

I can't speak for VCU.

 

[medbunny56]

It doesn't really make a difference when you already have an above average GPA and you're just raising it slightly. A 3.7 vs a 3.73 is not going to make any difference between reject/waitlist/accept.

I can't speak for VCU.

is it worth updating schools about a few science grades if i have a 3.64 cgpa and 3.49 sgpa?