Higher science gpa than non?

[sketchyMcG]

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Anybody else have this? I usually see higher non-science gpas, but my sci is a 3.48 and non is a 3.23 undergrad. Anybody know if this is good/bad/neither?

 

[shamthis]

my science is 3.49/ non is 3.48...

 

[sketchyMcG]

Sorry for the multiple posts, this board was giving me grief!

 

[Camden772]

Most schools give more weight to the BCPM GPA, so you're probably better off with a high BCPM GPA. But I think it would be of only a slight advantage if any.

My BCPM GPA was a 3.82 and my non BCPM GPA was like a 3.54 (I can't remember exactly) it worked out to a 3.69 cum in undergrad.

 

[xaelia]

3.64 BCPM, 2.97 non-science, 3.17 overall. Woo!

I always win this game. In the words of the online wannabe hacker script kiddies: "pwn3d"

 

[UCSBMed1]

Non-science GPA: 3.77
Science GPA: 3.92

 

[tms]

3.5 science
2.8 non-science
3.3 overall
34Q mcat
great LORs
great ECs

4 interviews so far...1 rejection...waiting on 6 (post-secondary)

 

[latinfridley]

Originally posted by xaelia
3.64 BCPM, 2.97 non-science, 3.17 overall. Woo!

I always win this game. In the words of the online wannabe hacker script kiddies: "pwn3d"

comp sci will definitely do that to ya. ive made one A out of 6 comp sci classes taken so far.

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by tms
3.5 science
2.8 non-science
3.3 overall
34Q mcat
great LORs
great ECs

4 interviews so far...1 rejection...waiting on 6 (post-secondary)

What are great ECs? I have no idea if my ECs are average, crap, or great?

 

[STi555]

Originally posted by Gleevec
What are great ECs? I have no idea if my ECs are average, crap, or great?

Well I know that mine are crap. What I always wonder about is how everyone knows they have great LORs. I mean I would imagine that nearly every applicant can find someone to write a positive letter for them. Have you seen your letters? I saw one of mine so I know its great but I don't know about the others.

 

[randomlogik]

unless there is the small likely hood that the sci and nonsci gpa are identical, one has to be higher than the other. use a little common sense....which one would you prefer to be higher?
geez....

 

[Ramoray]

Originally posted by STi555
Well I know that mine are crap. What I always wonder about is how everyone knows they have great LORs. I mean I would imagine that nearly every applicant can find someone to write a positive letter for them. Have you seen your letters? I saw one of mine so I know its great but I don't know about the others.

ha thats funny, my ECs suck, LORs are average, i mean all LORS sound hte same, i have read mine, and my premed advisor says all LORS are basically the same, if a prof aggres to write one its not going to be bad.. but ya ECs suck.. fukem

 

[xaelia]

Heh, there's definitely a difference between a good LOR and a bad one.

Good: My creative director from the interactive design company I worked for, which is a page and a half of detailing his favorite projects of mine and various hyperbole of my personal qualities.

Bad: My thesis advisor, who wrote me a three paragraph generic "satisfactorily conducted himself" trinket of a letter.

I'd guess most folks collection end up being a mix of the two....

 

[HouseHead]

So does *who* you get your LOR make a big difference? Like, if it's from someone at a med school, or someone really important in the medical/research community, could that garner attention for an application that might otherwise not get an interview?

 

[scootad.]

i suppose it may possibly help if the dean or someone on the adcom wrote one of your LORs.

 

[tms]

I guess "great ECs" are certainly subjective. The important thing is that they truly give you something to talk about in an interview, show breadth in tasks performed, and allow an adcom to see that you are concerned with patient care.

I volunteered at U of Maryland shock trauma. Sure, there were the usual menial tasks involved (i.e. carrying urine to the lab, making beds, etc.), but I had the chance to learn suturing techniques, interact with attendings in rounds (i.e. have my voice heard amongst residents and med students), attended to families who lost family members, learn the ins and outs of equipment and supplies, etc, etc. The list goes on and on.

I also volunteered in the psych department at Johns Hopkins hospital. The clinic I worked in addressed mental health disorders of patients with concomitant HIV infection. I shadowed the attending doctors at first. Eventually, I interviewed patients on my own, before the attendings saw them. This allowed me to see if my observations were correct. I met patients from various economic and cultural groups. I was able to interact with terminal patients with late stage AIDS, drug abusers, etc. Additionally, I was able to discuss issues with the public health and social workers, medical sutdents, and residents.

As far as LORs are concerned. I believe that letters that give personal insight are best. Most letters are "so and so is an excellent student... and will make a great doctor". My best letters, which I did not see rather my pre-med advisor told me, were from a vistitng biochem professor and my physics professor. These professors happen to be ones that I spent time with during office hours. We spent time discussing life, religion, sports, etc. My physics professor was a big name prof., taught at Harvard, etc. However, most of our discussions regarded research, the university's policies, our professional goals, and education in our country and world-wide...obviously not just Maxwell's equations.

Hope this helps. Look for LOR writers who know more than just the guy or gal who aces tests or does a great job in lab. Look for ECs that will expose you to different people and different techniques.

 

[odisea]

Does flying(working on my private pilot license) count as EC or it only makes one look individualistic and selfish(it doesn't benefit anyone, really)? I also work at a nursing home and volunteer at a hospital once a week. Thanks in advance for any feedback!

 

[xaelia]

Anything you put a substantial amount of time into (while wearing pants) is probably fair game for including on your list of ECs. There is a limit, so if you have tons of experience and working on your pilot's license is only the 15th-most important aspect of your life, then you might have to leave it off...otherwise, I'd vote that putting any kind of diverse and interesting activities, outside of the core group to prove you're serious about medicine, will only help you.

 

[odisea]

Thanks for your opinion. To clarify, flying is very important to me, it takes up quite some time and even more money, if my med school aspirations are not fulfilled I would like to fly for major airlines. But I am also a foreign national(european), which some people think is sketchy, for instance, I told the DON I want to major in biochem and fly and she asks the nurse, in my presence, "how am I to understand that: he wants to spread germs all over the country?"😡 😡 😡
So I am wondering, should I mention it or pursue it any further, or concentrate more on doing something more people-oriented which benefits the wellbeing of the community?

 

[pocwana]

eh, not in the mood to read the other posts now, but my BCPM is 0.24 higher than my non-sci. It's better this way than the other cuz the adcoms want to know how you'll do in science courses.

 

[sketchyMcG]

Originally posted by randomlogik
unless there is the small likely hood that the sci and nonsci gpa are identical, one has to be higher than the other. use a little common sense....which one would you prefer to be higher?
geez....

Thanks for your insight, and thanks for breaking that down for me. I feel smarter already. I was asking because there is a large discrepancy between the two and it is obvious that I am more inclined to do well in science classes. This may seem great on the surface (which you obviously cannot penetrate), but I was under the impression that med schools nowadays were looking for the "well rounded" type. I was just wondering if anyone else here had such a discrepency and how that has affected their application. Maybe next time instead of being a prick you should try being helpful. Just an idea.....🙂

 

[randomlogik]

well, personally i dont feel that your .25 difference in GPA is anything near a large discrepency. i mean yeah, maybe if you had a sub 3.0 non-sci and a really high sci gpa, there would be something to worry about, but i think that you should be quite fine. sorry if i went off on you before....i just get sick of people worrying about things that dont need to be worried about. 😛
good luck with everything. 🙂

 

[MUN2005]

Originally posted by tms
I interviewed patients on my own, before the attendings saw them.

In a volunteer position? Were you a med student at the time? Those docs must have alot of time on their hands!