Overall GPA or Science (BCPM) GPA

[Jonnyss]

Do med schools look at your:
overall gpa
your science and bcpm gpa
the gpa of your pre-med courses?
Which one is more important?

and also when they say "3.5 is the borderline GPA" that people talk about which gpa are they talking about?

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[cheechootrain]

Do med schools look at your:
overall gpa
your science and bcpm gpa
the gpa of your pre-med courses?
Which one is more important?

and also when they say "3.5 is the borderline GPA" that people talk about which gpa are they talking about?

They look at everything. It's hard to say which one is important but I feel they all matter.

 

[occams_razor]

they look at everything, so both are important. I've heard they look very closely at the BCPM and if that's too low it's a problem. for example if someone had like a 3.7 cumulative GPA but 3.3 BCPM that might be a concern. a high MCAT could offset this concern, but low grades in science coursework indicate you may not be able to handle the rigors of med school.

 

[occams_razor]

Do med schools look at your:
overall gpa
your science and bcpm gpa
the gpa of your pre-med courses?
Which one is more important?

and also when they say "3.5 is the borderline GPA" that people talk about which gpa are they talking about?

when people say that they usually mean both your BCPM and cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5

 

[theseeker4]

Do med schools look at your:
overall gpa
your science and bcpm gpa
the gpa of your pre-med courses?
Which one is more important?

and also when they say "3.5 is the borderline GPA" that people talk about which gpa are they talking about?

They look at all of them. They are all important, but it is more important to have a good science GPA than a good non-science GPA. Pre reqs are very important because the are the courses that every single applicant has taken, so provide for as strong of an apples-to-apples comparison that is available other than the MCAT. Poor pre-req performance can be made up for, in part, by strong upper-level science courses. While a strong science GPA may trump a very poor non-science GPA, the overall GPA may still keep you out of med school even if you excelled in all of your sciences.

3.5 would be "borderline" across the board, not just for a particular aspect of the GPA. Obviously it is still an estimate and not a hard number, but it isn't like any one of the aspects of the GPA automatically trumps all others.

Bottom line, science GPA is most important, with emphasis placed on the pre-reqs, but overall GPA is looked at and factored in as well.

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

They look at everything. It's hard to say which one is important but I feel they all matter.

This. They look at everything. 😳

 

[stargate16]

I am wondering are pre reqs looked at more, than the whole BCPM? My pre reqs are alot higher than my entire science gpa, so just wishful thinking..

 

[occams_razor]

I am wondering are pre reqs looked at more, than the whole BCPM? My pre reqs are alot higher than my entire science gpa, so just wishful thinking..

not necessarily. Performing well in your pre-reqs but then performing poorly in upper division science coursework doesn't look good. if you didn't do as well in your pre-reqs but have an upward trend and got A's in upper level science classes I think that would look better

your total BCPM GPA is very important and that's what adcoms will see first before they go looking at specific classes.

to get an idea of the numbers and the average BCPM for matriculants vs applicants (this is from AAMC data tables): in 2011 the mean BCPM GPA of All Matriculants was 3.61; for applicants it was 3.43

 

[brianphu53]

.

 

[aspiring20]

my overall GPA is just under a 3.6; my science GPA is around a 3.2.

after i am done with the MCAT, i got to do whatever i can to raise my science GPA, which is going to be hard since it is very difficult to take science courses at CA schools due to the budget problems. any suggestions on where to look? the open university program at Cal States isn't a viable option because of budget cuts, unfortunately.

and since i finished all my pre-reqs (except physics 2), formal postbaccs are out of the question. and because my overall GPA is quite solid, i feel a special masters is unnecessary - this sentiment is shared by my premed adviser who claims that i don't need a formal record-enhancing program

and tips?

 

[stargate16]

My BCPM would be around 3.59 or 3.6 something (cum is 3.71,AO is 4.0) depending if they accept one particular course as a BCPM. I was planning on the Ph.D. route, so was more focused on certain 400 level courses programs like to see, vs taking only what I needed to graduate. The bad thing is my worst semester was my very last,this really dropped my science GPA and it was the first semester I didn't make the deans list. It wasn't earth shatteringly bad (I got my only B -) but not a good way to end. I made bad choices on my class schedule and decided to hurry and graduate vs taking an extra semester. I was considering some post bacc courses,just a few to bring up the science gpa but my pre med advisor told me I didn't need to and just focus on my research,volunteering and MCAT prep during my gap years. Now I am starting to wonder if I should register for a few classes? Could a 36+ MCAT help my situation?

 

[aspiring20]

My BCPM would be around 3.59 or 3.6 something (cum is 3.71,AO is 4.0) depending if they accept one particular course as a BCPM. I was planning on the Ph.D. route, so was more focused on certain 400 level courses programs like to see, vs taking only what I needed to graduate. The bad thing is my worst semester was my very last,this really dropped my science GPA and it was the first semester I didn't make the deans list. It wasn't earth shatteringly bad (I got my only B -) but not a good way to end. I made bad choices on my class schedule and decided to hurry and graduate vs taking an extra semester. I was considering some post bacc courses,just a few to bring up the science gpa but my pre med advisor told me I didn't need to and just focus on my research,volunteering and MCAT prep during my gap years. Now I am starting to wonder if I should register for a few classes? Could a 36+ MCAT help my situation?

3.6 science GPA is absolutely fine. if you want to go to a top place, then exceed expectations in other areas. 3.6 should not raise any eyebrows under any circumstances at any school.

 

[occams_razor]

My BCPM would be around 3.59 or 3.6 something (cum is 3.71,AO is 4.0) depending if they accept one particular course as a BCPM. I was planning on the Ph.D. route, so was more focused on certain 400 level courses programs like to see, vs taking only what I needed to graduate. The bad thing is my worst semester was my very last,this really dropped my science GPA and it was the first semester I didn't make the deans list. It wasn't earth shatteringly bad (I got my only B -) but not a good way to end. I made bad choices on my class schedule and decided to hurry and graduate vs taking an extra semester. I was considering some post bacc courses,just a few to bring up the science gpa but my pre med advisor told me I didn't need to and just focus on my research,volunteering and MCAT prep during my gap years. Now I am starting to wonder if I should register for a few classes? Could a 36+ MCAT help my situation?

a 3.6 science GPA is the average for matriculants, so you are just fine, focus on your MCAT and research/ECs

 

[stargate16]

I am just worried about the last senior semester ending on a down note; the fall senior semester was really good though. I hope taking these gap years, and improving in other areas, will help my chances. Never a good idea to rush through and pile on classes to simply graduate early!