How do adcoms evaluate grades?

[DrOneDay7]

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EDIT: Spent a lot of time searching threads about this topic, but couldn't find any threads addressing a similar situation to mine.
Do they look at yearly sgpas and throw out an app if deemed not up to par? Or do they go through list of individual grades before tossing an app? I ask b/c of how my yearly amcas sgpas are calculated. Took a total of 85 undergrad BCMP credits. I calculated my total sgpa ever since fall of soph yr, which included 68 of my total 85 BCMP credits, and it's > 3.6.

1st yr- Did badly but learned my lesson. Took classes fall, spring and summer semesters of 1st yr.

2nd yr- Taking into account fall and spring semesters only, I earned a 3.7. But science classes I took the previous summer of 1st yr are calculated in my 2nd yr amcas sgpa, bringing my 3.7 down to a 3.3.

3rd yr- Took very few science credits. Though I earned mostly 4.0s and some 3.5s in my sciences the last 3yrs of undergrad, there was only ONE single science class I did iffy in, which unfortunately was during 3rd yr, so hunkered down the 3rd yr sgpa due to few credits that yr. 🙁

4th yr- 3.74 sgpa, so not worried about it.

If adcoms look at my yearly sgpas only, it looks like I was a 'B' student the first 3 yrs due to bad 1st yr grades, my 1st yr summer grades included in 2nd yr sgpa, and one iffy grade bringing down my entire 3rd yr sgpa. However, if they ran through my list of science grades ever since fall of sophomore yr, they'd see I earned mostly all 4.0s, some 3.5s, maybe like 2 or so B's sprinkled in, and 1 iffy grade throughout my last 3yrs of undergrad - it's a pretty shocking upward trend w/ respect to 1st yr.

I'm not trying to complain by any means; I'm simply wondering if I'll be tossed at schools before getting the chance to show adcoms how much of a comeback I made after my first yr, which is proven by my list of individual grades? Any feedback is appreciated!

 

[darkjedi]

If your final sGPA is greater than a 3.6, then don't worry too much about it. Usually, adcoms will not dive too deeply into the individual grades, besides maybe to skim it. With a 3.6, you should be able to pass most screens anyway. After that, it will start to depend more on your MCAT, ECs and interview.

 

[DrOneDay7]

If your final sGPA is greater than a 3.6, then don't worry too much about it. Usually, adcoms will not dive too deeply into the individual grades, besides maybe to skim it. With a 3.6, you should be able to pass most screens anyway. After that, it will start to depend more on your MCAT, ECs and interview.

Thanks for your response! Unfortunately, I was really, really hoping adcoms would view my list of individual grades since they demonstrate my upward trend after freshman year much more than my yearly sgpas do. Sorry, I probably worded my initial post very confusingly since I'm sort of flustered and anxious about this.

My overall sgpa is under a 3.6.
Calculating my total sgpa ever since fall of sophomore year, then it's above a 3.6. But I completely blew it on my first 17 BCMP credits taken the fall, spring and summer of freshman year.
Well, nothing I can really do but pray adcoms do a 10 sec. run through of all my grades before sending me straight into the trash bin. 🙁

 

[darkjedi]

Thanks for your response! Unfortunately, I was really, really hoping adcoms would view my list of individual grades since they demonstrate my upward trend after freshman year much more than my yearly sgpas do. Sorry, I probably worded my initial post very confusingly since I'm sort of flustered and anxious about this.

My overall sgpa is under a 3.6.
Calculating my total sgpa ever since fall of sophomore year, then it's above a 3.6. But I completely blew it on my first 17 BCMP credits taken the fall, spring and summer of freshman year.
Well, nothing I can really do but pray adcoms do a 10 sec. run through of all my grades before sending me straight into the trash bin. 🙁

Well what is it now? Your current sGPA is probably the most important factor. The reason upward trends are great is because you are improving your GPA as opposed to hurting it. Downward trends can seem like you cannot handle upper level classes.

As I mentioned before, passing the screen is probably your key concern. If your sGPA is below what certain schools would screen for, they may not even have the time to really look in depth into your application. If you are on the cusp, you might be able to pique their interest with a letter of interest, detailing the uniqueness of your application so that they might give your app a deeper look, potentially overlooking your sGPA.

 

[DrOneDay7]

Well what is it now? Your current sGPA is probably the most important factor. The reason upward trends are great is because you are improving your GPA as opposed to hurting it. Downward trends can seem like you cannot handle upper level classes.

As I mentioned before, passing the screen is probably your key concern. If your sGPA is below what certain schools would screen for, they may not even have the time to really look in depth into your application. If you are on the cusp, you might be able to pique their interest with a letter of interest, detailing the uniqueness of your application so that they might give your app a deeper look, potentially overlooking your sGPA.

Thanks again for the helpful advice. Even with my terrible freshman performance, my overall sgpa is still well above the stats screened out at the schools I've applied to, according to their websites. My ECs are pretty good and my upper level science grades are virtually almost all A's, so maybe that will partially compensate.

If you wouldn't mind answering, is it acceptable to send a letter of interest pre-interview?

 

[tantacles]

Thanks again for the helpful advice. Even with my terrible freshman performance, my overall sgpa is still well above the stats screened out at the schools I've applied to, according to their websites. My ECs are pretty good and my upper level science grades are virtually almost all A's, so maybe that will partially compensate.

If you wouldn't mind answering, is it acceptable to send a letter of interest pre-interview?

It's acceptable. Some schools take them, and some don't, and their effect is very student-specific and school specific. Either way, though, it shouldn't hurt you. I sent a pre-interview letter of interest to the school I currently attend that doesn't accept them. They responded saying they wouldn't consider it, but I still received an interview months later.

 

[DrOneDay7]

It's acceptable. Some schools take them, and some don't, and their effect is very student-specific and school specific. Either way, though, it shouldn't hurt you. I sent a pre-interview letter of interest to the school I currently attend that doesn't accept them. They responded saying they wouldn't consider it, but I still received an interview months later.

Okay, thank you so much! That is very good to know!! I think I will probably go ahead and do that then.

 

[darkjedi]

Thanks again for the helpful advice. Even with my terrible freshman performance, my overall sgpa is still well above the stats screened out at the schools I've applied to, according to their websites. My ECs are pretty good and my upper level science grades are virtually almost all A's, so maybe that will partially compensate.

If you wouldn't mind answering, is it acceptable to send a letter of interest pre-interview?

Yes, it can be if you haven't heard anything by say late November. Just make sure you say something substantial, and not just a generic letter.

 

[DrOneDay7]

Yes, it can be if you haven't heard anything by say late November. Just make sure you say something substantial, and not just a generic letter.

Thank you!! I will put the advice to good use! 🙂

 

[Goro]

You've displayed what appears to be the classic upward trend. This is very common and something we like to see.

Not everyone is ready for college at age 18, and sometime life cuts into study by throwing you a big fat knuckleball right between the eyes. Not conducive for good study when dad gets cancer or mom gets fired.

The sum of your transcripts show that you can handle a rigorous curriculum. that's what we look for.

Overall, it's the cGPA and the sGPA, not a single year, that determines making the cut (well, along with MCAT and ECs, etc).

No one gives a rat's ass if you got a C in calculus as a sophomore, when the rest of your transcript is stellar.

EDIT: Spent a lot of time searching threads about this topic, but couldn't find any threads addressing a similar situation to mine.
Do they look at yearly sgpas and throw out an app if deemed not up to par? Or do they go through list of individual grades before tossing an app? I ask b/c of how my yearly amcas sgpas are calculated. Took a total of 85 undergrad BCMP credits. I calculated my total sgpa ever since fall of soph yr, which included 68 of my total 85 BCMP credits, and it's > 3.6.

1st yr- Did badly but learned my lesson. Took classes fall, spring and summer semesters of 1st yr.

2nd yr- Taking into account fall and spring semesters only, I earned a 3.7. But science classes I took the previous summer of 1st yr are calculated in my 2nd yr amcas sgpa, bringing my 3.7 down to a 3.3.

3rd yr- Took very few science credits. Though I earned mostly 4.0s and some 3.5s in my sciences the last 3yrs of undergrad, there was only ONE single science class I did iffy in, which unfortunately was during 3rd yr, so hunkered down the 3rd yr sgpa due to few credits that yr. 🙁

4th yr- 3.74 sgpa, so not worried about it.

If adcoms look at my yearly sgpas only, it looks like I was a 'B' student the first 3 yrs due to bad 1st yr grades, my 1st yr summer grades included in 2nd yr sgpa, and one iffy grade bringing down my entire 3rd yr sgpa. However, if they ran through my list of science grades ever since fall of sophomore yr, they'd see I earned mostly all 4.0s, some 3.5s, maybe like 2 or so B's sprinkled in, and 1 iffy grade throughout my last 3yrs of undergrad - it's a pretty shocking upward trend w/ respect to 1st yr.

I'm not trying to complain by any means; I'm simply wondering if I'll be tossed at schools before getting the chance to show adcoms how much of a comeback I made after my first yr, which is proven by my list of individual grades? Any feedback is appreciated!

 

[DrOneDay7]

You've displayed what appears to be the classic upward trend. This is very common and something we like to see.

Not everyone is ready for college at age 18, and sometime life cuts into study by throwing you a big fat knuckleball right between the eyes. Not conducive for good study when dad gets cancer or mom gets fired.

The sum of your transcripts show that you can handle a rigorous curriculum. that's what we look for.

Overall, it's the cGPA and the sGPA, not a single year, that determines making the cut (well, along with MCAT and ECs, etc).

No one gives a rat's ass if you got a C in calculus as a sophomore, when the rest of your transcript is stellar.

Lol thank you!! That is reassuring!