How significant are strong upward trends in GPA?

[TheBatman]

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I sometimes browse through the what are my chances section and always notice when OP's mention their upward trends. Can a strong upward trend late in your undergrad negate a below average GPA?

 

[khrisskhoras]

I sometimes browse through the what are my chances section and always notice when OP's mention their upward trends. Can a strong upward trend late in your undergrad negate a below average GPA?

It is helpful if the final GPA is decent (greater than 3.55). However, if the medical schools say your GPA is still a serious problem, you can quote your nemesis and reply "why so serious?"

 

[slopes23]

It is helpful if the final GPA is decent (greater than 3.55). However, if the medical schools say your GPA is still a serious problem, you can quote your nemesis and reply "why so serious?"

If your GPA is 3.54 or less though then it really kind of makes no difference.

 

[khrisskhoras]

If your GPA is 3.54 or less though then it really kind of makes no difference.

its a rough estimate I have. Dont quote me on it, but im just saying in any case a 3.55 or lower is pretty low for MD schools. A good MCAT and life story could help make up for this to an extent.

 

[TheBatman]

its a rough estimate I have. Dont quote me on it, but im just saying in any case a 3.55 or lower is pretty low for MD schools. A good MCAT and life story could help make up for this to an extent.

A 3.6 is the average GPA for all the students that matriculated. Now imagine all the perfect 4.0's, 3.9's, 3.8's that are included in that 3.6 average. My point has been made.

 

[khrisskhoras]

A 3.6 is the average GPA for all the students that matriculated. Now imagine all the perfect 4.0's, 3.9's, 3.8's that are included in that 3.6 average. My point has been made.

By taking off those students from the average, you're removing ~30% of matriculants and ~80% of acceptances at top tier schools, so I dont get the point youre making. Some of those 3.8 GPA students also have upward trends after starting off slow.

Generally, having a below average GPA (less than 3.6 ish) with upward trend wont help you much if you dont have a good MCAT (33 coupled with a 3.55 at least) to make up for the below average gpa. You'll look stronger than someone with your GPA and no upward trend. The trend also depends on workload per semester/quarter and type of coursework (upp div/low div). Theres alot of things involved.

 

[TheBatman]

By taking off those students from the average, you're removing ~30% of matriculants and ~80% of acceptances at top tier schools, so I dont get the point youre making. Some of those 3.8 GPA students also have upward trends after starting off slow.

Generally, having a below average GPA (less than 3.6 ish) with upward trend wont help you much if you dont have a good MCAT (33 coupled with a 3.55 at least) to make up for the below average gpa. You'll look stronger than someone with your GPA and no upward trend. The trend also depends on workload per semester/quarter and type of coursework (upp div/low div). Theres alot of things involved.

You made my point in your quoted reply. It's not just the GPA and MCAT that matter but rather the course work.. A 3.4Gpa with upper level science courses > 3.8 with only the bare minimum

 

[Goro]

They are helpful, but keep in mind that no matter how steep the upward trend, it will not help you if your GPA is below the cutoff for an autoscreen.

I sometimes browse through the what are my chances section and always notice when OP's mention their upward trends. Can a strong upward trend late in your undergrad negate a below average GPA?

 

[LostinLift]

They are helpful, but keep in mind that no matter how steep the upward trend, it will not help you if your GPA is below the cutoff for an autoscreen.

The autoscreen cutoffs are allegedly 3.0 for most/many schools, so that's a pretty wide berth.

 

[csx]

how much of a GPA increase is considered significant? a .3 increase? a .5? 1.0? etc

 

[slopes23]

its a rough estimate I have. Dont quote me on it, but im just saying in any case a 3.55 or lower is pretty low for MD schools. A good MCAT and life story could help make up for this to an extent.

too late.