How Bad Is A GPA Decrease Trend?

[doc3232]

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Right now I'm at about a 3.5 and dropping....
and I'm hoping for a solid DAT to make up for my low EC's,.
Really need to get into UCLA or UCSF.
I'm getting worried.
Thanks

 

[polospy]

I would think that it would look unfavorable. Generally the classes taken in the beginning of undergraduate is easy than the later semesters. I would say try to ace your upper division science classes and make a bold statement. I'm a little worried myself because this might be the semester where my gpa drops a little.

 

[SugarNaCl]

Right now I'm at about a 3.5 and dropping....
and I'm hoping for a solid DAT to make up for my low EC's,.
Really need to get into UCLA or UCSF.
I'm getting worried.
Thanks

I think it depends if 1. Your grades are still respectable (even if not 3.5) and
2. If you are willing to do some additional work (postbacc) if your GPA ends up being sub-par. CA schools seem REALLY competitive, so I bet you will need a VERY good DAT score as well. Good luck.

In other words, I would be more concerned if I were you if my GPA was a 3.1 and falling.

 

[SHC1984]

I don't think "trends" matter as long as your OVERALL GPA is good! I have an 3.85 overall GPA. However my trend was 3.9-4.0 from freshman to junior year....My senior year I got extremely lazy and just didn't give a **** so I got three W my senior year and a C. Which brought my GPA down to 3.85, so my point is a downward trend doesn't matter as long as your overall GPA and your DAT score is GOOD! 😀

 

[SanOnofre2002]

I don't think "trends" matter as long as your OVERALL GPA is good! I have an 3.85 overall GPA. However my trend was 3.9-4.0 from freshman to junior year....My senior year I got extremely lazy and just didn't give a **** so I got three W my senior year and a C. Which brought my GPA down to 3.85, so my point is a downward trend doesn't matter as long as your overall GPA and your DAT score is GOOD! 😀

A 3.85? Wow, you really got crazy.

 

[samdds]

It depends how you define decrease trend. Some people thought getting a few Bs is gonna kill them.

 

[blankguy]

I don't think "trends" matter as long as your OVERALL GPA is good! I have an 3.85 overall GPA. However my trend was 3.9-4.0 from freshman to junior year....My senior year I got extremely lazy and just didn't give a **** so I got three W my senior year and a C. Which brought my GPA down to 3.85, so my point is a downward trend doesn't matter as long as your overall GPA and your DAT score is GOOD! 😀

Your case will be nitpicking. If somebody had a 3.6 and went down to 3.3 then it might be a cause for concern.

 

[ummjoey]

i agree with both blankguy and SHC1984.

my gpa was jumping around all over the place. i didnt really have any trends. sometimes it went down and sometimes it went up.

but like blankguy said. if you start out with a 4.0 and keep going down every quarter. the dental schools might look at it unfavorablely.

nevertheless, like SHC1984 said, you will still be pretty competitive if you go from a 4.0 to a 3.5.

 

[blankguy]

i agree with both blankguy and SHC1984.

my gpa was jumping around all over the place. i didnt really have any trends. sometimes it went down and sometimes it went up.

but like blankguy said. if you start out with a 4.0 and keep going down every quarter. the dental schools might look at it unfavorablely.

nevertheless, like SHC1984 said, you will still be pretty competitive if you go from a 4.0 to a 3.5.

Actually a 4.0 to 3.5 drop is pretty significant. It depends on how it happens if it's a one year drop but the rest of the way is stable it might not be as bad. A steady significant decline might be a concern. a 4.0 to 3.8 is not a big deal. It's not all about whether the number is right where it is considered competitive. A 3.5 is competitive but if it came from increasing from 2.8 then it is good. If it's declining from somewhere else then it is bad.

 

[rockhound]

I am a returning student, and since returning to school, I have earned all A's. However, my overall GPA is only a 2.93. I applied to 11 schools. I got 9 rejections and 2 no responses, and I didn't get a single interview. The moral is that if your overall GPA is not over a 3.0, then don't waste your money. (Unless, maybe you get a perfect score on your DAT.)