Med Schools interested in graduate classes?

[Endoxifen]

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I may be taking a couple graduate statistics courses in epidemiology and clinical trials. I'm going to take these courses regardless, but I'm curious if schools will be at all interested. It's my understanding that they generally don't pay much attention to the specific courses. Is this the case with graduate classes as well? Thanks!

 

[gyngyn]

We just want A's! Graduate grades will appear in a separate line and are not as important as undergrad gpa at MD schools (with the rare exception). Be aware that even one or two grad classes will get their own special line. A couple of B's won't change your Ugpa, but will stick out like a sore thumb to a casual reviewer giving the appearance of an unfortunate "trend."
The committee members actually do look at the entire record (including classes taken). Screeners are less likely to review an application in that depth, though.

 

[Endoxifen]

We just want A's! Graduate grades will appear in a separate line and are not as important as undergrad gpa at MD schools (with the rare exception).
The committee members actually do look at the entire record (including classes taken). Screeners are less likely to review an application in that depth, though.

Thanks for the quick response! Will graduate grades still appear in a different line if the courses contribute to graduation requirements for the undergraduate degree?

 

[gyngyn]

Thanks for the quick response! Will graduate grades still appear in a different line if the courses contribute to graduation requirements for the undergraduate degree?

If they have a graduate level designation, they are separate.
If your school gives them an undergrad designation (they are credit toward a bachelor's degree), they will not.

 

[Endoxifen]

If they have a graduate level designation, they are separate.

Thanks for the clarification. I'm really just interested in the courses to help me with my thesis research. I'm glad to know how they will stand.

 

[gyngyn]

To re-iterate, AMCAS guidelines indicate the following:

Assign Graduate (GR) status to any professional or graduate-level coursework that
is not applied to an undergraduate degree.
Do not assign Graduate (GR) status to any professional or graduate-level coursework applied to an undergraduate degree. Assign the appropriate undergraduate status (FR, SO, JR, SR) for courses of this type.
https://services.aamc.org/AMCAS2_2014/WebApp/Help/2014_AMCAS_instruction_manual.pdf

 

[Endoxifen]

To re-iterate, AMCAS guidelines indicate the following:

Assign Graduate (GR) status to any professional or graduate-level coursework that
is not applied to an undergraduate degree.
Do not assign Graduate (GR) status to any professional or graduate-level coursework applied to an undergraduate degree. Assign the appropriate undergraduate status (FR, SO, JR, SR) for courses of this type.
https://services.aamc.org/AMCAS2_2014/WebApp/Help/2014_AMCAS_instruction_manual.pdf

Oh, that's more of what I was expecting. Thank you again for your help.

 

[gyngyn]

Here is the latest instruction from AMCAS:

Unusual Circumstances


If you attempted graduate level coursework while formally enrolled in an undergraduate
program, credit for the graduate coursework is counted toward the undergraduate degree requirements.
Do not assign Graduate (GR) status to any professional or graduate level coursework applied to an undergraduate degree.
The graduate level coursework should be listed under the appropriate status (FR, SO, JR SR, PB) at the time the courses were attempted. This coursework should not be listed under the GR status.

https://aamc-orange.global.ssl.fast...278-2edb3998a216/amcas_instruction_manual.pdf

 

[aldol16]

The graduate level coursework should be listed under the appropriate status (FR, SO, JR SR, PB) at the time the courses were attempted. This coursework should not be listed under the GR status.

This is the relevant part here. Grad course taken during, say, senior year will be incorporated into your senior year GPA and calculated as such on AMCAS. It won't appear different at all except in the listing of the actual courses, as you cite from the AAMC.

But in general, grad courses aren't graded as harshly as undergrad courses (with exceptions, of course). In the end, everybody involved in a grad course is incentivized to give students a good grade because grad courses are for grad students, who are cheap sources of labor for PIs but who also must meet certain academic requirements dictated by the graduate school. But the people who decide whether those students meet the criteria are also PIs, so it's not in their best interest to flunk anyone out. And many grad schools have minimum GPAs of around 3.0. Which means that for many grad courses, the lowest grade they'll give out is in that range.

 

[OxToCA]

Thanks for the clarification. I'm really just interested in the courses to help me with my thesis research. I'm glad to know how they will stand.

Just curious... what's your thesis research on and/or what type of MS are you doing?

I'm taking the same courses at a UK university as part of an MSc based on clinical trials, although they don't grade on a 4.0 scale. @aldol16 Since good grades are difficult to earn over here (and I'm not a cheap source of labor for a PI, either; I'm doing research via a pharmaceutical company), let's hope that AdComs know what a 68 means.

 

[Endoxifen]

Just curious... what's your thesis research on and/or what type of MS are you doing?

I'm an undergrad. My thesis is in the neurosurgery department of my university's medical school. My thesis is mostly retrospective chart reviews (neurotoxicity of intra-thecally administered drugs etc). Most of the statistical techniques I'm using are common with the epidemiology and clinical trials, so I want to take the classes.

 

[OxToCA]

I'm an undergrad. My thesis is in the neurosurgery department of my university's medical school. My thesis is mostly retrospective chart reviews (neurotoxicity of intra-thecally administered drugs etc). Most of the statistical techniques I'm using are common with the epidemiology and clinical trials, so I want to take the classes.

Oh, thanks. I thought you were doing a masters thesis