Question about GPA cut-offs

[futureapppsy2]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi all,

This isn't a question about me (unless I totally bomb next year 😉), but I'm curious... I know a lot of programs use GRE cutoffs and most I've seen that state a minimium GPA have it at 3.0 or 3.2, but do many/any programs use informal GPA cutoffs when making the first cut? For example, would someone with a 3.2 GPA (no grad work), good GRE scores, tons of research experience, a publication, etc. risk being "screened out" by programs in the same way someone with a sub-1200 GRE score and excellent everything else might?

 

[JockNerd]

Hi all,

This isn't a question about me (unless I totally bomb next year 😉), but I'm curious... I know a lot of programs use GRE cutoffs and most I've seen that state a minimium GPA have it at 3.0 or 3.2, but do many/any programs use informal GPA cutoffs when making the first cut? For example, would someone with a 3.2 GPA (no grad work), good GRE scores, tons of research experience, a publication, etc. risk being "screened out" by programs in the same way someone with a sub-1200 GRE score and excellent everything else might?

I think 3.0 is a more standard cutoff. That's what it is at my program, anyhow.

I recall from my applications that cutoffs were usually disclosed on program applicant information web sites.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Call each program, as some places have a hard cut off, so there is no sense wasting the app fee.

 

[futureapppsy2]

I know formal cutoffs are usually 3.0's, but my question was more along the line of "what would be a competitive GPA?" For example, a school may have a GRE cut-off at 1000, but may in actuality only seriously consider applicants with 1200 or so. I'm assuming there's similar "unspoken rules" for GPAs out there...

 

[deadmau5]

i'd say those formal cutoffs are to get your application LOOKED at, most of those are 3.0.

for an added competitiveness (purely in terms of marks) i'd say 3.5 and up. I mean you're going to have a better chance if you have a 3.5 vs. 3.3 if the first thing they look at is marks. of course, it's more than just marks, but higher mark + everything else is still going to look better than lower mark + everything else.

 

[summerssun]

I realize this is an older thread, but just found it seaching through the archives. 🙂

What about the "tier" of the undergraduate institution you went to? My GPA is only a 3.4, but I graduated from a top 15 university, known for not inflating grades... my advisor told me that this generally "earns" us about a .2 increase in the eyes of grad schools... is this true?

 

[hamsterpants]

I realize this is an older thread, but just found it seaching through the archives. 🙂

What about the "tier" of the undergraduate institution you went to? My GPA is only a 3.4, but I graduated from a top 15 university, known for not inflating grades... my advisor told me that this generally "earns" us about a .2 increase in the eyes of grad schools... is this true?

One of my schools won't even let me send a transcript of my recent classes- just my undergrad work. grumble.