How bad is bad?

[AttemptingScholar]

My scienceGPA trend is a pretty straight line down--3.7 to 3.3. So A- to B+. My cGPA went 3.8 to 3.6, again, downward trend. My immediate thought is I don't feel like this would be "concerning to the Admissions Committee", but I'm not sure. Is it bad enough that I should explain it if a secondary gives me a space?

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[honeybee87]

Well it’s def not good lol. As long as you’re not applying to the uc schools or top 20 as long as ur overall gpa is still good then u might have a shot. And how are you gonna explain it? It’ll just look like an excuse. Unless it’s something major, everyone has **** going on in their lives (and most people think they have it “worse” than everyone else when they really don’t), I think that’s what some people don’t understand and they make their app even worse by either explaining something minor (which this downward trend is not minor) or they make excuses

 

[Goro]

My scienceGPA trend is a pretty straight line down--3.7 to 3.3. So A- to B+. My cGPA went 3.8 to 3.6, again, downward trend. My immediate thought is I don't feel like this would be "concerning to the Admissions Committee", but I'm not sure. Is it bad enough that I should explain it if a secondary gives me a space?

The problem is that explanations come off as excuses.

An example,

You: "My mom got sick"

Adcom member: Why didn't you take a LOA? or take some Ws?

At my school, this would likely put you on a wait list.

Are you done with school? If not, you have time to recover. If you're done, you might need to do a post-bac or SMP.

 

[gyngyn]

This won't work at my school either.

 

[Dr. Stalker]

My scienceGPA trend is a pretty straight line down--3.7 to 3.3. So A- to B+. My cGPA went 3.8 to 3.6, again, downward trend. My immediate thought is I don't feel like this would be "concerning to the Admissions Committee", but I'm not sure. Is it bad enough that I should explain it if a secondary gives me a space?

A competitive MCAT can assuage this situation, but it will not fix it. Be prepared to eloquently describe why you had a downward trend WITHOUT making excuses.

 

[993444]

The problem is that explanations come off as excuses.

An example,

You: "My mom got sick"

Adcom member: Why didn't you take a LOA? or take some Ws?

At my school, this would likely put you on a wait list.

Are you done with school? If not, you have time to recover. If you're done, you might need to do a post-bac or SMP.

This won't work at my school either.

I'm in a similar situation, except for the fact that I had to stop volunteering for a little bit because my time went towards a family situation. My academics were fine. Is that ok?

 

[Moko]

Downward trends can be concerning. No one wants to catch the proverbial falling knife. The most attention would be paid to your 3rd and 4th year's academic performance.

 

[Dr. Stalker]

I'm in a similar situation, except for the fact that I had to stop volunteering for a little bit because my time went towards a family situation. My academics were fine. Is that ok?

Yes you're fine. Taking time off from ECs will likely be glossed over.

 

[Kardio]

My scienceGPA trend is a pretty straight line down--3.7 to 3.3. So A- to B+. My cGPA went 3.8 to 3.6, again, downward trend. My immediate thought is I don't feel like this would be "concerning to the Admissions Committee", but I'm not sure. Is it bad enough that I should explain it if a secondary gives me a space?

Hi OP. I can relate to your situation. My science performance was similar and my cGPA drop was a little bit more precipitous.

A problem is that, for your sGPA to fall from 3.7 to 3.3, you probably had (or approached) some sub-3.0 semesters towards the end of school. In other words, I imagine that you struggled to maintain a B-average in the upper division science courses that most mimic the intensity of med school.

FWIW: I did not apply immediately after college, did an SMP and am applying as a first time applicant now. I believe it was important for me because I showed that I “broke” my downward trend, got past the life issues that caused me to sink, and am back on the horse.

 

[Goro]

I'm in a similar situation, except for the fact that I had to stop volunteering for a little bit because my time went towards a family situation. My academics were fine. Is that ok?

100% OK

 

[AttemptingScholar]

Hi OP. I can relate to your situation. My science performance was similar and my cGPA drop was a little bit more precipitous.

A problem is that, for your sGPA to fall from 3.7 to 3.3, you probably had (or approached) some sub-3.0 semesters towards the end of school. In other words, I imagine that you struggled to maintain a B-average in the upper division science courses that most mimic the intensity of med school.

FWIW: I did not apply immediately after college, did an SMP and am applying as a first time applicant now. I believe it was important for me because I showed that I “broke” my downward trend, got past the life issues that caused me to sink, and am back on the horse.

Oh sorry, I understand people's reactions! Those were my semester grades. My final sGPA was 3.49 and my final cGPA was 3.67 and I never had a class below a B!

 

[LizzyM]

Adcoms mostly see GPA by academic year, not by semester.
It is shown in a table with columns for BCPM, all other and total.
Anything beyond 90 units is shown as senior year (in other words, if you do 5 years those last 2 are smooshed together).
College credits earned in HS are shown separately at the top of the table. Grad coursework is shown separately at the bottom.

A downward trend from first to second year of college is very typical, there is then a rebound giving a J curve or Nike swosh.

 

[init2020]

What about someone that submitted their app this cycle as a 4.0 but then getting all B's in the fall semester (and final, I think)? An offer of acceptance wouldn't be recinded on that basis, would it?

 

[Engrailed]

Adcoms mostly see GPA by academic year, not by semester.
It is shown in a table with columns for BCPM, all other and total.
Anything beyond 90 units is shown as senior year (in other words, if you do 5 years those last 2 are smooshed together).
College credits earned in HS are shown separately at the top of the table. Grad coursework is shown separately at the bottom.

A downward trend from first to second year of college is very typical, there is then a rebound giving a J curve or Nike swosh.

Yes, I had a similar thing.
Went from 4.0 to 3.8 then 4.0 the rest of the way... but that dip might also be because I took physics and organic in the same semester!

Also, when comparing applicants, do adcom members view A+s any differently than As?
If two students had similar GPA but one had more A+s

 

[Goro]

Yes, I had a similar thing.
Went from 4.0 to 3.8 then 4.0 the rest of the way... but that dip might also be because I took physics and organic in the same semester!
A 4.0 to a 3.8 is the thing as saying 4.0 to a 4.0. That drop is trivial.

Also, when comparing applicants, do adcom members view A+s any differently than As?
No

If two students had similar GPA but one had more A+s
SDNers are advised not to get too wound up about single metrics.

 

[AnMDtoB]

What about someone that submitted their app this cycle as a 4.0 but then getting all B's in the fall semester (and final, I think)? An offer of acceptance wouldn't be recinded on that basis, would it?

haha nope

I believe most (if not all) schools specify their conditions of acceptance which are usually:
- finishing your degree program
- not getting into legal trouble/drug issues
- not doing something wild/racist with social media

EDIT: oh and no IAs