Just spoke to 3 advisors about GPA correlation and MAJOR

[integralx2]

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So I decided to do some investigating on the correlation between your GPA and the difficulty of your major. I talked to THREE advisors. Both of them told me the exact same thing. I saw them all separately of each other so its not they coerced each other to the same outcome. They told me that when someone looks over your application they take into account your major, and difficulty. They are looking for people who can handle the work load. For instance engineer major with a 3.6 would have a LESS harder time getting in then a 3.8 Biology Major. BUT, they said this does not mean that your major was so hard you should auto get interview or whatever. Schools receive tons of applications (in thousands in cases) but they wont read everyone's. They set a cutoff. That hey we will read only applications who have lets say 3.5 and a 30 MCAT. The rest we will discard. Then after you make THIS cuttoff then the difficulty of your major takes into effect. Also volunteer work / research , and all the rest of the stuff.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Statistically the data does not support your advisers claims.

 

[gettheleadout]

Is there a question here?

 

[sylvanthus]

You're forgetting a couple of things though. First, in some engineering majors getting a 3.0 is one hell of an accomplishment. This is far from a your 3.6 compared to 3.8 example. A 3.0, even in an extremely difficult major, stands much less of a chance than a 3.8 in an easy major.

Also, advisors are notorious for being completely clueless in just about everything.

 

[integralx2]

Statistically the data does not support your advisers claims.

statistically it does. Because you dont understand what i stated.

 

[EscapedGoat]

Do you have another anecdotal data set of three?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

statistically it does. Because you dont understand what i stated.

Not really.. please refer to the AAMC's stats, basically everyone gets in with around the same stats.

 

[eablackwell]

All I can say is I'm glad FIU didn't cut off their reading at those numbers. 🙂 I think this would be pretty hard to prove, and would be on a case by case basis school-wise. Also, perhaps, it depends on who reviews your file. Often times, the committees split up the apps and read them separately, then speak on the applicant's behalf to the rest of the committee.

Depending on the person viewing your file, they may or may not view a specific major as 1) hard or 2) equal to a given gpa in another major

Also, what about foreign language majors? It's not engineering, but I have plenty of engineer friends who did great in engineering at Duke, but couldn't speak a second language fluently to save their life. Not to mention social skill issues...

It's a nice theory, and it may apply to some schools, but I'm done second guessing what they're going to think about my app. Statwise MD shouldn't even have glanced my way, and somehow I ended up with an interview at one of my top choice schools. 🙂

I'm not sure if you're applying this cycle, but if so, good luck, no matter your major.

 

[eldoctor]

So I decided to do some investigating on the correlation between your GPA and the difficulty of your major. I talked to THREE advisors. Both of them told me the exact same thing. I saw them all separately of each other so its not they coerced each other to the same outcome. They told me that when someone looks over your application they take into account your major, and difficulty. They are looking for people who can handle the work load. For instance engineer major with a 3.6 would have a LESS harder time getting in then a 3.8 Biology Major. BUT, they said this does not mean that your major was so hard you should auto get interview or whatever. Schools receive tons of applications (in thousands in cases) but they wont read everyone's. They set a cutoff. That hey we will read only applications who have lets say 3.5 and a 30 MCAT. The rest we will discard. Then after you make THIS cuttoff then the difficulty of your major takes into effect. Also volunteer work / research , and all the rest of the stuff.

Are you an engineering major by any chance?

 

[apumic]

statistically it does. Because you dont understand what i stated.

Sorry, he's right. The stats don't really support your claim at all. Your advisors are making assumptions w/o checking data. Surprise, suprise there.

As for "not understanding," I suspect it's you, my friend, who may want to check your English skills. If you don't understand, maybe try reading one of your posts. Just sayin'. 😉

 

[UnlikelyDoc]

So I decided to do some investigating on the correlation between your GPA and the difficulty of your major. I talked to THREE advisors. Both of them told me the exact same thing. I saw them all separately of each other so its not they coerced each other to the same outcome. They told me that when someone looks over your application they take into account your major, and difficulty. They are looking for people who can handle the work load. For instance engineer major with a 3.6 would have a LESS harder time getting in then a 3.8 Biology Major. BUT, they said this does not mean that your major was so hard you should auto get interview or whatever. Schools receive tons of applications (in thousands in cases) but they wont read everyone's. They set a cutoff. That hey we will read only applications who have lets say 3.5 and a 30 MCAT. The rest we will discard. Then after you make THIS cuttoff then the difficulty of your major takes into effect. Also volunteer work / research , and all the rest of the stuff.

Wait, you talked to three advisors and they both told you exactly the same thing??!!! Was it that your number agreement syntax is badly disfigured? If you read the five or six responses to your post, you will see that they both disagree with you. Perhaps both of us don't understand what you've stated.

 

[b2sun]

I am both confused and right now....

 

[Monkeymaniac]

I was an engineer major in college, and I would love to think that the difficulty of one's major would factor into the admission decision as much as you think would. But just go to mdapplicants.com and search for profiles of engineering majors who got accepted into the top 20 programs. In contrast to what I had originally thought, their average stats were about the same and even higher in many cases than that of non-engineering majors. You can claim that engineering majors with higher stats are likely to apply to medical schools, but I really doubt this.

I think being an engineering major would give you a slight edge only during interviews/post-screening provided that you did some impressive stuffs (work, research, volunteering) that integrated engineering and basic science or medicine. Also, I think the reputation of your undergraduate institution matters as well. People who enter colleges as engineering majors probably don't give much about the prestige of schools when deciding where to go, since most engineering firms don't put too much weight on it when doing college hiring.

Having said that, if you majored in engineeing in some state school with subpar GPA, adcoms might not be as lenient as you think they would be when it comes to comapring you to some other science majors from good private schools with decent GPAs.

 

[wristbandMD]

Hmm...Isn't it true that a biology major at one school may be easy, but a biology major at another school may be VERY difficult. I know for a fact that same is true with engineering.

If what you say is true, how is it possible to empirically measure the difficulty of a major?

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Hmm...Isn't it true that a biology major at one school may be easy, but a biology major at another school may be VERY difficult. I know for a fact that same is true with engineering.

If what you say is true, how is it possible to empirically measure the difficulty of a major?

You can't. There are colleges in the US where you get the Cum launder ( or another high latin wrights) for having a 3.2. Or compare a psychology major from Ann Harbor ( ranked best psychology undergrad and compare it to a psych major from a liberal arts college with an average gpa of 3.6.

 

[wristbandMD]

You can't. There are colleges in the US where you get the Cum launder ( or another high latin wrights) for having a 3.2.

Exactly. The fact that you can't empirically measure the difficulty of every major at every college every single year means that, in my eyes, the OPs original statement is null.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Exactly. The fact that you can't empirically measure the difficulty of every major at every college every single year means that, in my eyes, the OPs original statement is null.

Which is why the statistics don't support the OP's advisers claims.

 

[b2sun]

What the hell is "cum launder?"

 

[Monkeymaniac]

What the hell is "cum launder?"

I believe he meant cum laude. On a side note, I think Latin honors are given away too generously these days. It translates to "with honor," but it's given to pretty much anyone who graduates with a B average. I'm not saying that it is less of an accomplishment, I'm just saying that it's not something that I'd celebrate either.

 

[eldoctor]

What the hell is "cum launder?"

You do NOT want to know. It IS as bad as it sounds.

 

[soundnin]

I believe he meant cum laude. On a side note, I think Latin honors are given away too generously these days. It translates to "with honor," but it's given to pretty much anyone who graduates with a B average. I'm not saying that it is less of an accomplishment, I'm just saying that it's not something that I'd celebrate either.

as a side note, i thought those distinctions referred to your percent ranking in your graduating class. at least that's what i think it was for my school. i'm not 100% sure lol.

 

[Geekchick921]

You do NOT want to know. It IS as bad as it sounds.

 

[Monkeymaniac]

as a side note, i thought those distinctions referred to your percent ranking in your graduating class. at least that's what i think it was for my school. i'm not 100% sure lol.

Well, I think that really depends on which school you attend. Even different colleges within a university might have different policies 😎 at least that was how my school was like. Besides, schools that grant honors based on GPA probably come up with the cut-offs by doing percentile calculations anyways.

 

[b2sun]

"but it's given to pretty much anyone who graduates with a B average"

At my schoolcum laude is only given to people who graduate with a 3.65 or above

(lol i have a 3.651)

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I fail 🙁. But yes I meant Latin honors.

 

[Monkeymaniac]

"but it's given to pretty much anyone who graduates with a B average"

At my schoolcum laude is only given to people who graduate with a 3.65 or above

(lol i have a 3.651)

3.65 is still a B+ in AMCAS GPA, isn't it?

 

[UnlikelyDoc]

I thought cum laude was 3.2-3.59, magna cum laude was 3.6-3.79, suma cum laude = 3.8-3.99, and exeter cum laude = 4.0.

These are not established parameters?

 

[b2sun]

3.65 is still a B+ in AMCAS GPA, isn't it?

B+ is 3.3, A- is 3.7

It's based on percentiles at most schools I believe.

 

[Monkeymaniac]

B+ is 3.3, A- is 3.7

My point exactly. Any grade short of 3.7 would technically be a B+ 🙂

 

[orthomyxo]

statistically it does. Because you dont understand what i stated.

There's nothing to understand, because your post is basically pointless. Your advisors didn't support their claims with any evidence, according to the story you told. I guess the three of them are just pretty good at making crap up to appease engineering majors.

 

[Big Dog]

May I suggest that your advisors look at MIT's website and then explain why MIT grads have to have a HIGHER mean gpa to get into med school.....

 

[AutumnChild]

I thought cum laude was 3.2-3.59, magna cum laude was 3.6-3.79, suma cum laude = 3.8-3.99, and exeter cum laude = 4.0.

These are not established parameters?

I think it depends on the school and the department. In my department it was percentages. Nothing to do with GPA. I had a 3.67 and did not receive anything. Freaking geniuses in my department....lol

 

[apumic]

Latin honors depend on the school. My UG uses criterion (3.7/3.8/3.9) corresponding to approximate/multi-year average percentile ranks (IIRC, top 7-10%/top 3-5%/top 1-2% respectively).

 

[Ischemic]

Your major doesn't play a lick of a difference. Your school of origin also doesn't play a lick of a difference. There are these "myths" out there that going to a particular school or doing a particular major adcoms will "add" 0.XX to your GPA. It's not going to make up for you having a lower than normal GPA/MCAT due to school or major selection. I guess if you're desperate enough you would believe these myths to calm your nerves.

 

[eablackwell]

I thought cum laude was 3.2-3.59, magna cum laude was 3.6-3.79, suma cum laude = 3.8-3.99, and exeter cum laude = 4.0.

These are not established parameters?

As some have said it depends on the school. At the school I went to it depended on the major. In my major, one could not even graduate cum laude without a thesis paper. After the student wrote and presented it, the professor(s) in charge of guiding the student chose which rank was achieved.

 

[muhali3]

It's a nice theory, and it may apply to some schools, but I'm done second guessing what they're going to think about my app. Statwise MD shouldn't even have glanced my way, and somehow I ended up with an interview at one of my top choice schools. 🙂

May I ask what your stats are?

 

[slowbutsteady]

So I decided to do some investigating on the correlation between your GPA and the difficulty of your major. I talked to THREE advisors. Both of them told me the exact same thing. I saw them all separately of each other so its not they coerced each other to the same outcome. They told me that when someone looks over your application they take into account your major, and difficulty. They are looking for people who can handle the work load. For instance engineer major with a 3.6 would have a LESS harder time getting in then a 3.8 Biology Major. BUT, they said this does not mean that your major was so hard you should auto get interview or whatever. Schools receive tons of applications (in thousands in cases) but they wont read everyone's. They set a cutoff. That hey we will read only applications who have lets say 3.5 and a 30 MCAT. The rest we will discard. Then after you make THIS cuttoff then the difficulty of your major takes into effect. Also volunteer work / research , and all the rest of the stuff.

Love the image of the three advisors:

"Hey, integralx2 is asking us all the same question about med school admissions. Let's mess with him and coerce each other into to giving him the same answer. And a wrong one too. Good times."

 

[DocBell]

I thought cum laude was 3.2-3.59, magna cum laude was 3.6-3.79, suma cum laude = 3.8-3.99, and exeter cum laude = 4.0.

These are not established parameters?

ooo I want your school! My school is cum laude 3.5-3.75 magna is 3.75-3.89 and suma is 3.9-4.0. or something like that.

 

[eablackwell]

May I ask what your stats are?

Sub 3.4gpa sub 30 mcat, crazy good ecs w/ everest style upward trend. 😉

 

[Reaction]

Statistically the data does not support your advisers claims.

Yeah.. med schools give props to engineering majors because apparently its harder than other majors lol

 

[Medwell]

From my undergrad's ChemE page:

"It is important to dispel the myth that engineering premeds have an advantage that displaces a high GPA and high MCAT score. In recent years admission to medical school has become very competitive. Consequently, medical school applicants have a low probability of acceptance without a reputable GPA, even if they opted for a more difficult undergraduate major. Do not expect admissions committees to utilize another academic standard because of the relative difficulty of Chemical Engineering curricula. In fact, most schools clearly state the indifference in undergraduate majors as a selection factor.

Key words here: "dispel the myth". Yes, it's a myth. Your major doesn't matter - only your grades.

 

[Reaction]

From my undergrad's ChemE page:
Key words here: "dispel the myth". Yes, it's a myth. Your major doesn't matter - only your grades.

Actually I have heard from actual med school reps that they look at engineering majors more leniently

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Actually I have heard from actual med school reps that they look at engineering majors more leniently

Stat-wise this isn't evident in the statistics. However they could be able to get by with weaker research or something. But those rep's speak for their own schools and even then as a single person. So I wouldn't consider this the rule, but rather an exception.

 

[hiyaman]

Sub 3.4gpa sub 30 mcat, crazy good ecs w/ everest style upward trend. 😉

lol 👍 everest style upward trend.

 

[Reaction]

Stat-wise this isn't evident in the statistics. However they could be able to get by with weaker research or something. But those rep's speak for their own schools and even then as a single person. So I wouldn't consider this the rule, but rather an exception.

i mean i guess so but i would think they would carry some importance as to what major u have

 

[apumic]

i mean i guess so but i would think they would carry some importance as to what major u have

meh...? why?! I mean, honestly, there's no good way to say what a difficult/easy major is. Which is harder? A music performance BM or a BS in mechanical or chemical engineering? Which better develops important clinical skills?

 

[Longshanks]

I thought cum laude was 3.2-3.59, magna cum laude was 3.6-3.79, suma cum laude = 3.8-3.99, and exeter cum laude = 4.0.

These are not established parameters?

No. Its different for each school's policies. At my undergrad it was 3.5-3.75 cum laude, 3.76-3.89 magna, 3.9+ suma. At other places it goes by percentile rank within your college or major. Never heard of exeter before.

 

[Longshanks]

Your major doesn't play a lick of a difference. Your school of origin also doesn't play a lick of a difference. There are these "myths" out there that going to a particular school or doing a particular major adcoms will "add" 0.XX to your GPA. It's not going to make up for you having a lower than normal GPA/MCAT due to school or major selection. I guess if you're desperate enough you would believe these myths to calm your nerves.

I tend to agree with that statement, and its one often said here and decently supported, but I've grown more curious about this lately because specific schools' "selection criteria" in the MSAR. Such as Temple for example: "review of each completed application includes... academic record, college attended, MCAT scores...".

 

[Narmerguy]

Your major doesn't play a lick of a difference. Your school of origin also doesn't play a lick of a difference. There are these "myths" out there that going to a particular school or doing a particular major adcoms will "add" 0.XX to your GPA. It's not going to make up for you having a lower than normal GPA/MCAT due to school or major selection. I guess if you're desperate enough you would believe these myths to calm your nerves.

Don't say things you can't support.

 

[slowbutsteady]

Your major doesn't play a lick of a difference. Your school of origin also doesn't play a lick of a difference. There are these "myths" out there that going to a particular school or doing a particular major adcoms will "add" 0.XX to your GPA. It's not going to make up for you having a lower than normal GPA/MCAT due to school or major selection. I guess if you're desperate enough you would believe these myths to calm your nerves.

Now you're being silly. It is demonstrably true that some med schools add 0.XX to your GPA if you come from a handful of top schools.

HYP gets you 0.2 at some med schools. Just a fact. Sorry.