How much does an upward trend help?

[knbio16]

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Does anyone have any firsthand experience on how much an upward trend helps? Have you guys seen anyone get into a good Med school with a lower than average gpa (3.5-3.6) that displays a rising trend

 

[efle]

a somewhat lower gpa (3.2-3.6)

That's a massive range that spans "absolutely needs post-bacc" to "almost avg for accepted students"

 

[knbio16]

That's a massive range that spans "absolutely needs post-bacc" to "almost avg for accepted students"

Sorry meant a below avg gpa, in the 3.5-3.6 range.

 

[efle]

Sorry meant a below avg gpa, in the 3.5-3.6 range.

Something like a 3.55 with a strong upward trend? Wouldn't worry if you have a solid MCAT, ECs, and aren't from California!

 

[gyngyn]

What's wrong with 3.6?

 

[Goro]

Those numbers are very competitive.
Rising trends always help.

Sorry meant a below avg gpa, in the 3.5-3.6 range.

 

[aldol16]

It's about the story your application tells rather than "oh, let's give this guy a 0.2 GPA boost to compare him to other applicants because he has an upward trend." Think about your grades and GPA as metrics that they can use to assess whether you can handle medical school. A low overall GPA might be concerning but then when they look at the trend, it might become obvious that you switched career choices halfway through college and so your bad grades were all before you switched. Or perhaps the bad grades were all in your first year because you had trouble adapting but then after that, you overcame that challenge and excelled. These extenuating factors may give them more confidence in your ability to handle medical school and then they may move on to assess the next part of your application.