Masters vs. Post-bacc + GPA Calculation

Started by laxgirl06
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laxgirl06

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Hey guys, I currently am a junior in college and have a 3.39 cGPA. Should I do a Master's or a Post-bacc, why?
Which one would be better for increasing your GPA, and which one looks better to adcoms?
Also, if I were to get a 4.0 this semester, how would I calculate what my cGPA would change to? Thank you. 🙂
 
I'm not gonna do the math for you (you should be able to do it yourself, you're a junior in college). But my estimate is that if you were to get a 4.0 this semester, assuming equal credits across each semester, you would have about a 3.5 or so. See how you do on the MCAT and keep doing well in school, and then maybe (or maybe not) a post-bacc is in your future. If you are applying to med schools with a 3.6, a post-bacc is likely unnecessary if you took the pre-reqs
 
Graduate classes do not affect your undergraduate gpa. Take undergrad classes as a postbac if you feel you need to. An SMP is a masters, but a do or die last effort with higher stakes/cost.

I'd recommend googling how to calculate your gpa if you don't know how.
 
NonTrad16 said:
Graduate classes do not affect your undergraduate gpa. Take undergrad classes as a postbac if you feel you need to. An SMP is a masters, but a do or die last effort with higher stakes/cost.

I'd recommend googling how to calculate your gpa if you don't know how.
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I know how to calculate my gpa but thanks for the rude comment. It was much appreciated... My question was regarding how do I determine my revised cGPA if for instance I had 74 credits of a 3.4 and 18 of a 4.0.... but thanks for nothing.
 
BurghMed said:
I'm not gonna do the math for you (you should be able to do it yourself, you're a junior in college). But my estimate is that if you were to get a 4.0 this semester, assuming equal credits across each semester, you would have about a 3.5 or so. See how you do on the MCAT and keep doing well in school, and then maybe (or maybe not) a post-bacc is in your future. If you are applying to med schools with a 3.6, a post-bacc is likely unnecessary if you took the pre-reqs
Click to expand...
I didn't ask you to do math, I asked how, but thanks for your rude comment. I am fully aware of what year I am. But thanks anyway...
 
I made a recommendation to take undergrad classes, and that the SMP is a last ditch effort. So that's something. And I don't see a difference between a revised gpa and a normal gpa...

That said: yikes.
 
NonTrad16 said:
I made a recommendation to take undergrad classes, and that the SMP is a last ditch effort. So that's something. And I don't see a difference between a revised gpa and a normal gpa...

That said: yikes.
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You were also rude + condescending: that said: thanks for your concern. I know that you're really as smart as Bill Gates, that's why you're here trolling on fellow pre-meds...
 
laxgirl06 said:
You were also rude + condescending: that said: thanks for your concern. I know that you're really as smart as Bill Gates, that's why you're here trolling on fellow pre-meds...
Click to expand...
It was a perfectly appropriate comment. You'd be surprised how many come here asking how to calculate their GPA. No need to be so thin-skinned.
 
Yikes, indeed... the comments above are already helpful/pointing you in the right direction, no need to be hostile.

To be more specific, your GPA is (total grade point / # of credits), to calculate the example you gave (74 credits of a 3.4 and 18 of a 4.0):
Your total grade point is 3.4 * 74 + 18 * 4.0
Your total credits is 74 + 18
I'll even do the math for you; your GPA comes out to be 3.52, which is pretty close to what @BurghMed estimated in the first place.

NonTrad16 said:
I made a recommendation to take undergrad classes, and that the SMP is a last ditch effort. So that's something. And I don't see a difference between a revised gpa and a normal gpa...

That said: yikes.
Click to expand...
 
Focus on acing junior and senior year

A 3.4 with 74 credits and 4 semesters of 15-18 credit work at a 3.75 level(let's say that's about 65 credits over these next two years) will give you around a 3.55 or so. If you can pull that off you won't need an SMP or a post-bacc.

Personally, IMO, the highest GPA I would ever recommend giving consideration to an SMP is probably around a 3.3(and that's the highest). Your GPA is high enough and with a low enough credit total you can still bring it up to MD territory levels with a good showing these next few seemsters.
 
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