Is there a big difference between 3.75 and 3.81

[hs2013]

Depending on how I do on finals, my overall GPA that I would apply with could end up anywhere in that range, and while it may not be a huge difference, just something about getting to the next point and seeing the 8 instead of a 7 that just feels like a big difference.

Like even between a 3.79 or 3.81, it feels like they are so far away, when it literally could be because of just one exam over the course of years.

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[kneeshoe]

No.

 

[Dr. Rafiki]

Yep. Start considering janitorial duties now.

 

[machete fred]

Pack your sunscreen

 

[mwsapphire]

Depending on how I do on finals, my overall GPA that I would apply with could end up anywhere in that range, and while it may not be a huge difference, just something about getting to the next point and seeing the 8 instead of a 7 that just feels like a big difference.

Like even between a 3.79 or 3.81, it feels like they are so far away, when it literally could be because of just one exam over the course of years.

Thanks. We all needed to hear that before finals.

I don't believe there's a difference, I think once you're about the 10th percentile you're within striking distance for a school you plan on applying to ( at least, stats wise). It won't make a difference in your app. Maybe try to score like a point higher on the MCAT

 

[efle]

Score like, 1 point higher on the MCAT and that will be more than enough to offset such a tiny GPA difference.

 

[libertyyne]

0.6 LizzyM points.

 

[AnotherLawyer]

Depending on how I do on finals, my overall GPA that I would apply with could end up anywhere in that range, and while it may not be a huge difference, just something about getting to the next point and seeing the 8 instead of a 7 that just feels like a big difference.

Like even between a 3.79 or 3.81, it feels like they are so far away, when it literally could be because of just one exam over the course of years.

It bumps you into the highest GPA echelon of AAMC Table A-23. Clearly that's a big difference around these parts.

 

[Gurby]

I could be off base, but IMO there isn't much difference between 3.6 and 3.9. Once you're in that range, you've successfully checked off the GPA box. The real place to focus your neuroticism is the MCAT...

 

[Goro]

Depending on how I do on finals, my overall GPA that I would apply with could end up anywhere in that range, and while it may not be a huge difference, just something about getting to the next point and seeing the 8 instead of a 7 that just feels like a big difference.

Like even between a 3.79 or 3.81, it feels like they are so far away, when it literally could be because of just one exam over the course of years.

Only in the minds of the hyper-neurotic.

 

[mwsapphire]

I could be off base, but IMO there isn't much difference between 3.6 and 3.9. Once you're in that range, you've successfully checked off the GPA box. The real place to focus your neuroticism is the MCAT...

I wouldn't go so far as to say that.
That's like, a whole SD.

 

[CavsFan2016]

I could be off base, but IMO there isn't much difference between 3.6 and 3.9. Once you're in that range, you've successfully checked off the GPA box. The real place to focus your neuroticism is the MCAT...

Ehh I wouldn't go that far. 3.6 is definitely going to hurt you at some top schools.

With that being said, a 3.9 is not going to get you into any school if paired with a terrible MCAT


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[mwsapphire]

Ehh I wouldn't go that far. 3.6 is definitely going to hurt you at some top schools.

With that being said, a 3.9 is not going to get you into any school if paired with a terrible MCAT


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I'd say beyond a 3.8 you can focus on MCAT only. 3.6 is barely tenth for the top schools.

 

[aprilfools]

Ehh I wouldn't go that far. 3.6 is definitely going to hurt you at some top schools.

With that being said, a 3.9 is not going to get you into any school if paired with a terrible MCAT


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3.6/519 here. Can confirm 3.6 is pretty much lethal at most top schools.

 

[deev04]

3.6/519 here. Can confirm 3.6 is pretty much lethal at most top schools.

But can you? How would you know it's the 3.6 keeping you out of top schools? There are hoards of people with similar looking stats and similar looking ECs. At the very top, stellar ECs is usually what distinguished you from the pack. A 3.6/519 might hold back, but it's not lethal. Top schools accept people with those stats, they just usually have some super sweet other things working for them. But even a 3.9/521 isn't getting into a top, top school unless they have some nice looking ECs.

 

[libertyyne]

But can you? How would you know it's the 3.6 keeping you out of top schools? There are hoards of people with similar looking stats and similar looking ECs. At the very top, stellar ECs is usually what distinguished you from the pack. A 3.6/519 might hold back, but it's not lethal. Top schools accept people with those stats, they just usually have some super sweet other things working for them. But even a 3.9/521 isn't getting into a top, top school unless they have some nice looking ECs.

3.5 isbelow the 10th percentile for a lot of top schools. I doubt many people without life factors are getting into top schools with a 3.6.

 

[aprilfools]

But can you? How would you know it's the 3.6 keeping you out of top schools? There are hoards of people with similar looking stats and similar looking ECs. At the very top, stellar ECs is usually what distinguished you from the pack. A 3.6/519 might hold back, but it's not lethal. Top schools accept people with those stats, they just usually have some super sweet other things working for them. But even a 3.9/521 isn't getting into a top, top school unless they have some nice looking ECs.

I suppose you're right and I was being a tad hyperbolic. Thought I would say I have pretty significantly above average ECs except for sustained meaningful research, which obviously was a significant factor in the lack of interest from top 20s. Even if a 3.6 isn't truly "lethal" its pretty damn close.

 

[mwsapphire]

3.5 isbelow the 10th percentile for a lot of top schools. I doubt many people without life factors are getting into top schools with a 3.6.

Am I the only one who thinks the 10th percentile GPA is more for people who had steep UW trends and reinvented themselves, and less people who had a constantly lower GPA but had interesting EC's/Life Story.

 

[P0ke]

Am I the only one who thinks the 10th percentile GPA is more for people who had steep UW trends and reinvented themselves, and less people who had a constantly lower GPA but had interesting EC's/Life Story.

Yeah. A lot of them are SMP students, especially schools with an SMP that feeds into their MD program.

 

[libertyyne]

Yeah. A lot of them are SMP students, especially schools with an SMP that feeds into their MD program.

Am I the only one who thinks the 10th percentile GPA is more for people who had steep UW trends and reinvented themselves, and less people who had a constantly lower GPA but had interesting EC's/Life Story.

It is almost impossible to say. Not all schools have smps. It could be people with upward grade trends or other life stuff that makes them appealing or it could just be an average applicant. My money is on strong connections to school, life experiences , baller ecs or something else in their app that compensates and then some.
But what is true is that the top takes people with gpas less than 3.6 with such infrequency that you might as well call it lethal.

 

[P0ke]

It is almost impossible to say. Not all schools have smps. It could be people with upward grade trends or other life stuff that makes them appealing or it could just be an average applicant. My money is on strong connections to school, life experiences , baller ecs or something else in their app that compensates and then some.
But what is true is that the top takes people with gpas less than 3.6 with such infrequency that you might as well call it lethal.

FAQ
Georgetown's SMP has over 200 students and ~30 get into Georgetown MD, and ~85% get in somewhere. That's 140+ SMP students scattering to other med schools, and that's from Georgetown alone. I think BUMAMS has similar stats, so there's probably hundreds if not thousands of SMP students getting into schools other than their homeschool every year. That can make up a good portion of those <10th percentilers across the nation.

 

[tarheelpenner]

Ehh I wouldn't go that far. 3.6 is definitely going to hurt you at some top schools.

With that being said, a 3.9 is not going to get you into any school if paired with a terrible MCAT


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even with an upward trend?

 

[mwsapphire]

even with an upward trend?

The point is that w/o an UW trend it's lethal.
I honestly think applying to a school where your GPA is 10th percentile should only be done if you have a steep UW trend.
Most schools reward reinvention. I finally payed for an MSAR subscription, and the 10th percentile GPA's stretch all the way down to about a 3.5 for Columbia, BU, and Pitt, just to name a few.

 

[CavsFan2016]

even with an upward trend?

Anything is possible.

Is it likely? No.


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[libertyyne]

FAQ
Georgetown's SMP has over 200 students and ~30 get into Georgetown MD, and ~85% get in somewhere. That's 140+ SMP students scattering to other med schools, and that's from Georgetown alone. I think BUMAMS has similar stats, so there's probably hundreds if not thousands of SMP students getting into schools other than their homeschool every year. That can make up a good portion of those <10th percentilers across the nation.

One schools smp information doesn't constitute evidence that most of 10th percentile matriculants are smps candidates. Especially not for t20 schools.

 

[efle]

^ I think the common theme among 10th percentilers is likely to be rare and desired demographic (URM, rural service narrative, MCAT way up at the high end to offset, etc) rather than SMP grads

 

[libertyyne]

Another thing to think of is that 10th percintiles say nothing about the nature of the skew of the distribution. You could have a school where

3.0, 3.3, 3.5 , 3.7, 3.9, 3.7, 3.7,3.7, 3.7,3.7,3.7
Or
2.9, 3.9, 3.9 , 3.9 , 3.9, 4.0, 4.0 ,4.0, 4.0,4.0

Medians and means may tell a story but it's difficult without knowing the rest of the application what was steller about the candidate.

 

[mwsapphire]

I really think it's all of the above factors-
tenth percentile-ers can have steep UW trends, URM/compelling life story/or be SMP grads. It can be any of those. But I'd say if an applicant had a 3.3 freshman year, but a 3.8 soph year and a 3.9 junior year, they should apply to some schools where the mean is a 3.8-3.9.
I think that's been said on here a few times.

 

[libertyyne]

I really think it's all of the above factors-
tenth percentile-ers can have steep UW trends, URM/compelling life story/or be SMP grads. It can be any of those. But I'd say if an applicant had a 3.3 freshman year, but a 3.8 soph year and a 3.9 junior year, they should apply to some schools where the mean is a 3.8-3.9.
I think that's been said on here a few times.

Sure as long as the cumgpa is greater than the 10th percentile.