How important is going from a 3.48 --> 3.50?

[gc7777]

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Hi everyone. By the time I apply to med school, my gpa will be a 3.48. If I take 7-8ish more credits, i can push it over the 3.5 mark.

Logically, I'd imagine med schools would have some sort of a point system for each gpa category to make screening for interviews more efficient (3.4-3.49, 3.5-3.59) but obviously I have no proof that this is the case.

have you guys heard anything about this? will getting over that 3.50 mark improve my chances that significantly?

thank you 🙂

 

[darkjedi]

Higher GPA is always better. Will it be worth the difference, and can you guarantee those grades? Maybe not

 

[bigdogrob4284]

Higher GPA is always better. Will it be worth the difference, and can you guarantee those grades? Maybe not

This.

 

[pre med 2014]

It's the difference between acceptance and rejection

 

[Arbor Vitae]

It's the difference between acceptance and rejection

hardly, GPAs aren't standardized, .02 is insignificant, there is no difference in their eyes really

just like everything above a 35 MCAT is statistically the same score. GPAs are even more subject to variation between universities, majors, and even courses within the same school, so you can't really compare GPAs that well. You can't say a 0.02 difference in GPA means anything at all.

 

[Dreamer29]

I think going from a 3.48 to 3.5 has a greater advantage than just any 0.02 jump because you've extended into the next "threshold," if you will. It has more to do with psychological perception. Although a 3.5 is mathematically closer to a 3.48, it's easy for the mind to associate it with other 3.5x values. However, I don't think that simply passing that 3.50 mark will suddenly significantly boost your application. But I believe if you have a chance to boost your GPA, do it.

 

[CanIHazDopamine]

It's the difference between DO and MD........

😀

 

[gc7777]

thanks a lot. this was helpful.

 

[Domino2178]

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[ERMAHGERD]

Quantitatively? Virtually no difference.
Subjectively? Probably the same difference as buying something that's priced $.99 rather than $1.00 😀

 

[BLACKMD]

I've heard they go out to 6 decimal places. So a 3.496783 could be 10 spots below a 3.5

 

[Arbor Vitae]

I've heard they go out to 6 decimal places. So a 3.496783 could be 10 spots below a 3.5

No they wouldn't be ranked lower for a .02 difference. Take stats. There is no difference. Grading isn't standardized across teachers, classes, majors, schools, etc... You can't say there is a statistical difference between those 2 values. You'd also have to look at standard deviations. basically 2 people with those 2 gpas would be lumped into the same percentile group of gpas. The only standardized thing we have to compare is MCAT. And even with MCAT, the standard deviation is like 2 points, so within 2 points on the MCAT is not statistically different. Everybody above 35 is in the 99th percentile. You can't really compare a 37 to a 38 and say that the 38 did better. This is basic statistics, and as people trying to become physicians you guys should be able to understand why gpas are not standardized and can't be compared quantitatively between applicants.