How much does average matter?

[279708]

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Does med school look at your average from different courses? or just the final GPA?

 

[riverjib]

They look at the whole picture, unless your GPA is so abysmal that it doesn't warrant looking further. If something is lacking, SOMETHING else must be stellar, or they won't waste their time.

 

[Dral]

Yeah, I think they look at everything. You have to enter all your individual grades for each course into your AMCAS app. iirc. A C in gen chem or a withdrawal failing sends up red flags...a red flag that a ton of other people with basically equivalent apps don't have.

And like riverjib said, you CAN make up for that sort of thing...if you got a C in gen chem, but worked for 6 months in a clinic in Africa, you can make up for it. However, again...most applicants don't have that C and have also 'saved the world' in some way.

 

[Mattabet]

Does med school look at your average from different courses? or just the final GPA?

Your final GPA (grade point average) is an average from different courses. So the answer is 'yes'. They do.

 

[RySerr21]

Does med school look at your average from different courses? or just the final GPA?

they will look at your total gpa first of all - but that does far from tell them the whole story. They will investigate every grade in every course youve ever taken at the college level. They will look for patterns, trends etc. The overall gpa is the tip of the iceberg, which in most cases is a good thing.

 

[J ROD]

Every class is fair game....😱

 

[Narmerguy]

They look at it all

 

[J ROD]

They look at it all

even Facebook!!! 😀

 

[oaklandguy]

Average matters a lot. It is one of the most important things when applying. Purchase the MSAR and find out for yourself.

 

[Global Warming]

First they look at your TOTAL GPA & TOTAL Science GPA. Then they break down your entire G.P.A. per year.

1st Year = 3.4

2nd Year = 3.5

3rd Year = 3.6

4th Year = 3.7

Total = 3.55

Also notice that in this example, there is an upward trend that also plays a role in the final decision. To what degree? Depends on the school. But you can bet your ass that having an upward trend >>>> downward trend.

However, be on the safe side and just get 4.0 throughout college 🙂

 

[FluffyRabbit]

First they look at your TOTAL GPA & TOTAL Science GPA. Then they break down your entire G.P.A. per year.

1st Year = 3.4

2nd Year = 3.5

3rd Year = 3.6

4th Year = 3.7

Total = 3.55

Also notice that in this example, there is an upward trend that also plays a role in the final decision. To what degree? Depends on the school. But you can bet your ass that having an upward trend >>>> downward trend.

However, be on the safe side and just get 4.0 throughout college 🙂

But, but... if I have a 4.0 first year I can't have an upward trend! Oh no!

 

[Global Warming]

But, but... if I have a 4.0 first year I can't have an upward trend! Oh no!

No upward trend??!!

You'll fail. No doubt.