Is a GPA increase from 3.78 to 3.8 worth waiting until the end of June?

[student113]

I'm mainly wondering if 3.8 ends up being in a separate "bracket." If the GPA increase is not worth it, I'd be able to submit on the first day.

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[wanderer]

No.

 

[FlowRate]

Didn't we already answer this? The difference is marginal. Unless your MCAT is <32, I don't think you'll get screened out of any school with a 3.78. As far as I know, most schools use screening functions and cutoffs, not brackets. Then again, I don't know anything except for my state school. Wait for it to come from an adcomm, but I'd believe me =P

 

[student113]

Haha yeah Flowrate, you did address this before, but you were the only one and I wanted to ask this specific question directly.

I guess for screening of secondaries, it'd be okay. But I'm wondering if it comes down to me and another applicant after the interview, all other things being equal (rare I know, but if), will this put my GPA in a lower bracket.

 

[amine2086]

I'm mainly wondering if 3.8 ends up being in a separate "bracket." If the GPA increase is not worth it, I'd be able to submit on the first day.

Go ahead and submit as soon as possible. The 0.02 gain on the GPA is not going to make or break the deal.

 

[apumic]

Early submission>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>....>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>0.02 (insignificant) difference in GPA

I think we're all in agreement here. If anyone (myself included) had disagreed they would have most likely posted a response. Typically, only one post about something w/ quite a few views means no one disagreed with what was said.

 

[anfleisch]

Early submission is more important than a 0.02 grade jump. But then again, Late June is still early. I think the 0.02 grade change does not tell us enough about what you will be adding to your application. Were you taking a very hard semester load with important classes such as many of the prereqs or difficult 400 level sciences. If you took a prereq like orgo or orgo lab, maybe it is worth waiting. I think it also depends on if you are solidifying an upward trend in your grades. Remember, if you only have something like 80 credits, another 15 or so is a big portion of your load.

Also, will you have everything else in within the first few weeks of June (letters, MCAT). Submitting AMCAS on June 1 without a complete application is meaningless. I think late-July is still very early to be complete (late June submission + a few weeks for verification) if you feel you are improving your application.

 

[student113]

Thanks everyone. I just saw LizzyM make a comment in another thread, where the person is deciding between a 3.59 and a 3.6, and she said that the OP will "rise faster to the top" with a 3.6 than a 3.59. Meaning brackets do exist! GRR.


To answer anfleisch

1. The quarter in question involves only 1 upper div bio class and not a pre-req. All my harder classes are done.
2. I have had a year of consecutive 4.0's without this quarter, so I think/hope the upward trend is fine.
3. Yes everything else can be in by June 1st.

Haha I had made up my mind to submit early, now I have to gripe about LizzyM's comment a little more 😳

 

[whoknows2012]

Thanks everyone. I just saw LizzyM make a comment in another thread, where the person is deciding between a 3.59 and a 3.6, and she said that the OP will "rise faster to the top" with a 3.6 than a 3.59. Meaning brackets do exist! GRR.


To answer anfleisch

1. The quarter in question involves only 1 upper div bio class and not a pre-req. All my harder classes are done.
2. I have had a year of consecutive 4.0's without this quarter, so I think/hope the upward trend is fine.
3. Yes everything else can be in by June 1st.

Haha I had made up my mind to submit early, now I have to gripe about LizzyM's comment a little more 😳

a 3.59 is vastly different than a 3.78 (where you will already be "at the top")

 

[JokerMD]

no it makes no difference at all

 

[duress]

edit: hmm, the comment isn't as severe as I thought.

 

[SunnyBlues]

Hmm... Good question. The fact is, "late" June is still really early (everywhere but on SDN) and, even though the difference of 0.02 is very slight when you think of it in terms of two 100ths of a point, when glancing over an application, 3.8-something is more impressive to the eye than 3.7-something. You've earned a 3.80... why not get credit for it on your application?

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[canada1311]

Hmm... Good question. The fact is, "late" June is still really early (everywhere but on SDN) and, even though the difference of 0.02 is very slight when you think of it in terms of two 100ths of a point, when glancing over an application, 3.8-something is more impressive to the eye than 3.7-something. You've earned a 3.80... why not get credit for it on your application?

Just my opinion, of course.

I submitted my AMCAS on the first day (which was June 2nd or so), and ended up waiting weeks for schools to get me their secondary. Although schools can theoretically send you their secondaries in mid-to-late June, I received them anywhere from early July to mid-August.

My advice: since you will still be applying a bit later in June, I would wait for the transcript. I'm really not sure a 0.02 difference would matter, but then again, I also doubt the few weeks in June really matters when it takes most schools awhile to send our their secondaries anyway.

 

[naijaboi]

Hmm... Good question. The fact is, "late" June is still really early (everywhere but on SDN) and, even though the difference of 0.02 is very slight when you think of it in terms of two 100ths of a point, when glancing over an application, 3.8-something is more impressive to the eye than 3.7-something. You've earned a 3.80... why not get credit for it on your application?

Just my opinion, of course.

You are assuming that adcoms cannot tell the 0.02 difference between 3.78 and 3.80. I am pretty sure that they scrutinize your application thoroughly.

To the OP: go ahead and submit your application. If you are passed over for an interview, it will not be because of your GPA.

 

[45408]

In general, no.

I do wish I had waited until the end of June to submit my transcripts though, because my fall grades were lackluster, and my spring grades were very good. It kind of looked like a downward trend rather than a single blip.

 

[boaz]

It is absolutely NOT worth it.

I'm mainly wondering if 3.8 ends up being in a separate "bracket." If the GPA increase is not worth it, I'd be able to submit on the first day.

Few, if any, schools use "brackets." Even those that do have a MUCH lower threshold GPA (more like 3.20).

 

[casillas]

Thanks everyone. I just saw LizzyM make a comment in another thread, where the person is deciding between a 3.59 and a 3.6, and she said that the OP will "rise faster to the top" with a 3.6 than a 3.59. Meaning brackets do exist! GRR.


To answer anfleisch

1. The quarter in question involves only 1 upper div bio class and not a pre-req. All my harder classes are done.
2. I have had a year of consecutive 4.0's without this quarter, so I think/hope the upward trend is fine.
3. Yes everything else can be in by June 1st.

Haha I had made up my mind to submit early, now I have to gripe about LizzyM's comment a little more 😳

I think it's not worth the wait, just because 3.78 is already a high GPA so it is not the same as trying to get up to a 3.60.

and what if for some reason you are not able to raise it to 3.80? then you will submit later and not even have amazing grades to prove it? I think the only time you should wait is if the last few semesters you have been getting low grades and want this to look better on the transcript.

 

[student113]

I submitted my AMCAS on the first day (which was June 2nd or so), and ended up waiting weeks for schools to get me their secondary. Although schools can theoretically send you their secondaries in mid-to-late June, I received them anywhere from early July to mid-August.

My advice: since you will still be applying a bit later in June, I would wait for the transcript. I'm really not sure a 0.02 difference would matter, but then again, I also doubt the few weeks in June really matters when it takes most schools awhile to send our their secondaries anyway.

Yes but I believe the theory is if you apply in late June and take a month to get verified, those secondaries might not get here until September.

Thanks everyone, you have convinced me I think 🙂. And very good point about protecting the consecutive 4.0s I have right now lest the last quarter doesn't make it to 4.0.