Is there a difference between a 3.69 and a 3.70 (totally serious)?

[TX500]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I had a current med school friend tell me that he had heard of adcoms grouping GPAs, such as 3.500-3.699, or something odd like that, while looking at applications. He's one of those serious anti-social med students that doesn't joke around a lot, so I don't think he was pulling my string. My cGPA and sGPA are both a 3.690, and taking an additional 4 hours would bump both of those to a 3.70. Is there even a difference, really? Not trying to sound neurotic, just going off of what I heard (remember, I've only heard this from one kid).

 

[McBatCommander]

I think your natural intuitions have answered the question here.

 

[gettheleadout]

There may be some perceived difference psychologically (LizzyM has commented on this before, and it's intuitive to expect anyway), but I really doubt this would ever be a determining factor in your acceptance or rejection.

 

[RCPreMD]

I had a current med school friend tell me that he had heard of adcoms grouping GPAs, such as 3.500-3.699, or something odd like that, while looking at applications. He's one of those serious anti-social med students that doesn't joke around a lot, so I don't think he was pulling my string. My cGPA and sGPA are both a 3.690, and taking an additional 4 hours would bump both of those to a 3.70. Is there even a difference, really? Not trying to sound neurotic, just going off of what I heard (remember, I've only heard this from one kid).

👍

 

[TangoDown]

0.01 point doesn't matter. Unless you've got a really light load, don't take an extra class and add on work you already have. Do something meaningful with those 4 extra hours/week like volunteering or enjoying your life before you get to med school and have none.

 

[TX500]

There may be some perceived difference psychologically (LizzyM has commented on this before, and it's intuitive to expect anyway), but I really doubt this would ever be a determining factor in your acceptance or rejection.

In other words, are you saying a 3.7 just sounds better than a 3.69?

 

[Josh7]

In other words, are you saying a 3.7 just sounds better than a 3.69?

Of course it does :/

 

[Medstart108]

I had a current med school friend tell me that he had heard of adcoms grouping GPAs, such as 3.500-3.699, or something odd like that, while looking at applications. He's one of those serious anti-social med students that doesn't joke around a lot, so I don't think he was pulling my string. My cGPA and sGPA are both a 3.690, and taking an additional 4 hours would bump both of those to a 3.70. Is there even a difference, really? Not trying to sound neurotic, just going off of what I heard (remember, I've only heard this from one kid).

Try and get it bumped up to a 3.7. If its not such a big difference, it shouldn't be too hard to do so and yes there is a psychological difference, whether anyone cares to admit it or not.

 

[TX500]

Of course it does :/

I know it sounds better, but I wasn't sure if he was implying that some adcoms may subconsciously find a 3.7 much more attractive than a 3.69. We all know the difference between a 3.66 and a 3.67 is negligible, but this is something that I feel my friend may have have a point about. Still not sure though.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

In other words, are you saying a 3.7 just sounds better than a 3.69?

Well obviously. But what's being referred to here is that an adcom member who sees 3.69 is subconsciously seeing 3.6 not 3.7. This is also why virtually everything you'll find sold in a store has a price of $X.99. The brain is programmed to round down, not up.

 

[MedPR]

There may be some perceived difference psychologically (LizzyM has commented on this before, and it's intuitive to expect anyway), but I really doubt this would ever be a determining factor in your acceptance or rejection.

This

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

 

[TangoDown]

Well obviously. But what's being referred to here is that an adcom member who sees 3.69 is subconsciously seeing 3.6 not 3.7. This is also why virtually everything you'll find sold in a store has a price of $X.99. The brain is programmed to round down, not up.

This.

OP, with a 3.69, a good MCAT score, and no red flags on your app, you'll get into a U.S. medical school as long as you aren't stupid with what schools/how many schools you apply to.

 

[gettheleadout]

This.

OP, with a 3.69, a good MCAT score, and no red flags on your app, you'll get into a U.S. medical school as long as you aren't stupid with what schools/how many schools you apply to.

Harvard, Hopkins, and MAYBE Penn will be a good enough list right?

lol

 

[TangoDown]

Harvard, Hopkins, and MAYBE Penn will be a good enough list right?

lol

Throw UCSF in the mix. That's my safety school. 👍

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

Harvard, Hopkins, and MAYBE Penn will be a good enough list right?

lol

Throw UCSF in the mix. That's my safety school. 👍

You guys are crazy. It's important to apply to a wide range of schools. Even those with abysmally low rankings like Mayo (I mean, come on, #27? Talk about last resort).

 

[TangoDown]

You guys are crazy. It's important to apply to a wide range of schools. Even those with abysmally low rankings like Mayo (I mean, come on, #27? Talk about last resort).

Ew, not even considering Mayo. My daddy said that if I'm not the chief of derm at Hopkins by 40, he would buy me a mansion in Florida. I definitely don't want to live in Florida, so I've got to go to a half-decent medical school like Hopkins or Harvard.

I already started studying for Step I though. Got my First Aid and everything.

Wish me luck guys .

 

[gettheleadout]

I, for one, enjoy Mayo on my burgers.

 

[TX500]

Well obviously. But what's being referred to here is that an adcom member who sees 3.69 is subconsciously seeing 3.6 not 3.7. This is also why virtually everything you'll find sold in a store has a price of $X.99. The brain is programmed to round down, not up.

I understand, but would have to disagree. If I see something for 4.99, I don't assume it's 4 dollars. I assume it's 5.

Same thing with 19.99, 29.99, etc.

 

[gettheleadout]

I understand, but would have to disagree. If I see something for 4.99, I don't assume it's 4 dollars. I assume it's 5.

Same thing with 19.99, 29.99, etc.

Right, we're not saying people are ignorant of the effect, just that it exists and is used. Likewise adcoms are surely aware that they may view a 3.69 differently than a 3.7 and consciously correct for this by rationally concluding that the difference is insignificant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_pricing

 

[TX500]

Right, we're not saying people are ignorant of the effect, just that it exists and is used. Likewise adcoms are surely aware that they may view a 3.69 differently than a 3.7 and consciously correct for this by rationally concluding that the difference is insignificant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_pricing

Grr...I think I'd rather just focus on my MCAT (taking that in a little over 2 months). Although the 3.7 would look so much nicer 🙁

 

[Geebeejay]

I had a current med school friend tell me that he had heard of adcoms grouping GPAs, such as 3.500-3.699, or something odd like that, while looking at applications. He's one of those serious anti-social med students that doesn't joke around a lot, so I don't think he was pulling my string. My cGPA and sGPA are both a 3.690, and taking an additional 4 hours would bump both of those to a 3.70. Is there even a difference, really? Not trying to sound neurotic, just going off of what I heard (remember, I've only heard this from one kid).

the difference is .01, give or take.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

the difference is .01, give or take.

Hey, look everybody, we have a math major over here!

You guys are crazy. It's important to apply to a wide range of schools. Even those with abysmally low rankings like Mayo (I mean, come on, #27? Talk about last resort).

Mayo was my safety. Outside of the top 20? Garbage.

 

[TX500]

the difference is .01, give or take.

Thanks for the incredibly insightful response 😛

 

[Spinach Dip]

There's absolutely a difference!!!

Imagine two people who apply to the same school. One has 199 hours working in a local soup kitchen. The other has 200. Clearly, 1<2, so the first guy has practically no chance of getting in while the second will get an invite AND a decent scholarship.

Make sense?

 

[TX500]

There's absolutely a difference!!!

Imagine two people who apply to the same school. One has 199 hours working in a local soup kitchen. The other has 200. Clearly, 1<2, so the first guy has practically no chance of getting in while the second will get an invite AND a decent scholarship.

Make sense?

Aw, come on man. No need to mock me. I'm just looking for some advice. I'm just going off of what I heard.

 

[yehhhboiii]

I understand, but would have to disagree. If I see something for 4.99, I don't assume it's 4 dollars. I assume it's 5.

Same thing with 19.99, 29.99, etc.

Intellectually, you understand that there's virtually no difference. But that doesn't stop you from reading left to right and ascribing less significance to the following digits. Advertisers wouldn't use that trick if it didn't work.

 

[TheVillain]

yeah, theres a difference of .01

 

[darkjedi]

Higher GPA is always better. Will it make a difference? Probably not.

 

[Spinach Dip]

Aw, come on man. No need to mock me. I'm just looking for some advice. I'm just going off of what I heard.

LOL. Okay then.

The difference is negligible. There are so many OTHER things on your app (MCAT, LoRs, research, volunteering, undergrad institution, when you apply, etc. etc. etc) that 0.01 GPA points should be the least important thing on your mind.

Take an extra class if you will complete a minor because of it, or if you really want to... not because it'll give you +0.01 on your GPA.

 

[Yorick]

There is a perceived psychological difference, just like things are priced at $.99.

 

[TX500]

LOL. Okay then.

The difference is negligible. There are so many OTHER things on your app (MCAT, LoRs, research, volunteering, undergrad institution, when you apply, etc. etc. etc) that 0.01 GPA points should be the least important thing on your mind.

Take an extra class if you will complete a minor because of it, or if you really want to... not because it'll give you +0.01 on your GPA.

There is a perceived psychological difference, just like things are priced at $.99.

Thanks guys.

I know there's a perceived psychological difference...I just hope the adcoms look past it 🙁

 

[Aerus]

Thanks guys.

I know there's a perceived psychological difference...I just hope the adcoms look past it 🙁

If you get rejected, it probably wasn't because your GPA wasn't a 3.7.

 

[Geebeejay]

Hey, look everybody, we have a math major over here!

haha you're actually correct 🙂

 

[neuro nephrons]

physically, yes. 3.70 is barely higher than 3.69

psychologically, maybe. Definitely yes for you since you are making a thread out of it

in the grand scheme of things......................no IMO

 

[mwall003]

Really, probably not a huge difference. But looking at an application does 3.5 sound better than 3.49? Yes, that's the difference between cum laude and nothing. 3.69 is cum laude vs. 3.70 magna cum laude. 3.89 vs. 3.90 is the difference between summa cum laude at my institution. I would say in reality, the only 0.01 GPA difference is really only significant (while minor) for your graduation latin honors distinctions.

 

[Oogieboogie]

I would only take the class if you can sufficiently ensure your other grades do not suffer as a result of it. Ensure that you get all As so that your GPA does not go down. If it is arbitrary whether or not you take an additional 4 credit course for that .01 then I would do it just for peace of mind during the application cycle. I would not want to spend the entire 3-4 months during application cycle thinking to myself: I REALLY WISH I HAD GOTTEN A 3.7.

It will not make a major impact, but do you want to spend that time fussing over it? I can imagine myself thinking that the minute difference is what pushes me into the acceptance vs waitlist category, and then imagine if that's what you're worrying about when it's too late to worry about it.

The probability that it will come to that is pretty low, but from my perspective I would just do it so I don't have to worry about it.

 

[TX500]

Looks like most of you guys are saying don't bother...0.01 won't do anything.

Thanks guys.

 

[AestheticGod]

I think it does lol.

The 7 looks a lot better than the 6

 

[bbbcccppp]

Good thread imo


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile