Is it bad to have too high a GPA?

[JScrusader]

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Does anyone have a 4.0? I have a friend who graduated with a 4.0 in biochem from a second or third tier liberal arts college. I guess interviewers asked him about grade inflation at his school. Anyone else have this experience?

 

[bujji13]

Absolutely.

If you have any higher than 3.963292828, you are automatically disqualified for admission at all top 20 medical schools. 🙄

No, a high GPA in itself is never a problem. It seemed like your friend was questioned about it with reference to his particular school/school tier. (Not that I'm saying that's OK)

 

[johnstoner]

I don't know why anyone would as if its bad to have too high...i'd rather have too high than not as high. Even if grade inflation...you have to have the highest gpa if possible

theres no penalty for a high gpa...i think this thread sounds loooodikris...

🙄

 

[siempre595]

I heard someone last year from my undergrad school got the question "if you have a 4.0, you must have no life outside class, right?" clearly that could be a problem, but the guy said he did, and started talking about going abroad and some of his extracurriculars. so i guess it looks bad if you have a 4.0 and no personality. but we all have such great personalities on here, i'm sure that's no problem, right??
😀

 

[efex101]

It depends on your performance on the MCAT. I have a 4.0 and will be applying next year, from talking to some adcoms my MCAT score should reflect my GPA. So having a perfect GPA can bite you in the a$$ if your MCAT score is not good. This is specially true if you come from a small undergraduate school (like I do) and adcoms may not be aware of the quality and how rigorous the classes are. I know that when applying to my state schools the 4.0 will be looked upon favorably even w/o a very high MCAT, but when applying to out of state schools that have no idea of my school then applying with a low MCAT will be looked upon unfavorably.

 

[heelshmeel]

Originally posted by johnstoner
I don't know why anyone would as if its bad to have too high...i'd rather have too high than not as high. Even if grade inflation...you have to have the highest gpa if possible

theres no penalty for a high gpa...i think this thread sounds loooodikris...

🙄

I couldnt agree more 😛

 

[finney]

Originally posted by JScrusader
Does anyone have a 4.0? I have a friend who graduated with a 4.0 in biochem from a second or third tier liberal arts college. I guess interviewers asked him about grade inflation at his school. Anyone else have this experience?

Is your friend a MS4 at U of South Carolina?

 

[Random Access]

I don't know how it could be bad to have a high GPA. Sounds like much aworrying about nothing...

 

[JScrusader]

I think he got a 27 on the MCAT so I guess that is why some schools questioned his grades.

 

[relatively prime]

I think it only looks bad if you have a proportionately low MCAT. Because... the schools are going to think "ok... how did this kid who doesn't test well get a 4.0?" They might think you picked an easy major. But if you have a high MCAT, then... no.

But this is ALL speculation...

 

[wexy]

one of my friends with really high grades got waitlisted at a bottom tier school because they knew she wasnt going to attend- which is annoying since she paid to travel to the interview (and apply).

 

[Random Access]

Originally posted by wexy
one of my friends with really high grades got waitlisted at a bottom tier school because they knew she wasnt going to attend- which is annoying since she paid to travel to the interview (and apply).

They should have had the discretion not to interview her if they weren't considering taking her. That's just obnoxious.