Science GPA, non-Science GPA, or cumulative GPA... WHICH ONE ALREADY???!!!!

[Mellymel09]

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Ok guys, so I've started thinking about this not too long ago. With regards to the GPA, I was always under the impression that the schools look at the cumulative one but now I'm kinda worried/bothered by the whole issue! Here in Canada, schools will look mostly at cumulative but in the States, I'm not so sure. Can you guys help me with this? Because for me, for instance my science GPA is around 3.44 (which isn't phenomenal because I'm doing somewhat of a difficult degree -- actually it's the toughest one in my school out of all the bioscience programs). However, my non-science GPA is around 3.91. I'm kinda wishing I had something more of in between for both cases but I kinda feel like I'm too extreme in both. Any feedback on this?

 

[SN2ed]

They look at all three. I believe they place the emphasis in this order:

Science GPA > Non-science > Cumulative

I don't think they care too much about cumulative GPA. Additionally, if you have a good science and non-science GPA, by default you'll have a good cumulative. Your GPA goal should be a 3.7 or above in all three categories.

Lastly, schools also take into account GPA trends. For instance, if you bombed your first two years, then found your passion for medicine and did amazing, they look at that.

 

[Mellymel09]

Hmmm I see. That would be awesome if they take into account the last trends. I know some schools in Canada will look at your two latest years if they are significantly higher than the first two for instance, and will consider only those (there's different formulas for each school of course). Is it the same pattern in the States?

 

[phillips101]

I know some schools in Canada will look at your two latest years if they are significantly higher than the first two for instance, and will consider only those (there's different formulas for each school of course). Is it the same pattern in the States?

I would love to get that info about state schools also. I know that info has been mentioned somewhere (at some point) on SDN, but have been unsuccessful in locating it. If anyone would be kind enough to point the way, it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[popskittles]

I'm currently a 3rd year Canadian student with similar questions in my mind too. Firstly, Canadian med schools are few and hence, extremely competitive so they sure do look at grades first and full-course load and such. I, for one, don't have a full course load but am a full time student with a course load of 24-26 credits each year(but not 30 so my chance at a canadian school is quite restricted). Also, if they are looking at best two years then I may have some hope as I have this yr and the next but since, it will the year I do my honor's research I don't really know what all I'll be able to handle in that year, so I'm really interested in med schools in the stated. Plus, I think they may have more varied opportunities there 😎 I wanted to know if the US med schools look at all your science courses throughout the years to calculate the gpa cut-off or just the pre-req's? in that case, i'll have to re-take my pre-req's to refine my scores 😳

Any help by US pre-meds shall be helpful.

P.S: I was going to open a separate topic but the topic starters question and my question are along the same lines so didn't want to waste space creating another topic. Also, I think all of us Canadian pre-meds interested in the states should make a common thread for our cross-country questions. Just my 2 cents. 😀

 

[ksmi117]

Moving to the Pre-Medical Allopathic forum. 🙂 This isn't really an MCAT topic.

 

[armybound]

My opinion/experience would say cumulative > science and that non-science isn't even considered.

I'm sure it depends on the school.

 

[SN2ed]

I'm currently a 3rd year Canadian student with similar questions in my mind too. Firstly, Canadian med schools are few and hence, extremely competitive so they sure do look at grades first and full-course load and such. I, for one, don't have a full course load but am a full time student with a course load of 24-26 credits each year(but not 30 so my chance at a canadian school is quite restricted). Also, if they are looking at best two years then I may have some hope as I have this yr and the next but since, it will the year I do my honor's research I don't really know what all I'll be able to handle in that year, so I'm really interested in med schools in the stated. Plus, I think they may have more varied opportunities there 😎 I wanted to know if the US med schools look at all your science courses throughout the years to calculate the gpa cut-off or just the pre-req's? in that case, i'll have to re-take my pre-req's to refine my scores 😳

Any help by US pre-meds shall be helpful.

P.S: I was going to open a separate topic but the topic starters question and my question are along the same lines so didn't want to waste space creating another topic. Also, I think all of us Canadian pre-meds interested in the states should make a common thread for our cross-country questions. Just my 2 cents. 😀

Your question is very different from the OP. Yes, medical schools take all of your science classes into account when calculating your science GPA.

 

[popskittles]

^Sorry, I didn't want my topic to be closed down and since, the topic starter's Canadian too..I though, I could add my question here.

Anyways, thanks for answering my question. I have another one: How are pre-req's graded against higher level courses? Say if u have low scores on the pre-req's but higher scores on the higher level bio's..is it going to matter at all? do they think an improvement is credible for admission purposes?? 🙂

 

[greatnt249]

^Sorry, I didn't want my topic to be closed down and since, the topic starter's Canadian too..I though, I could add my question here.

Anyways, thanks for answering my question. I have another one: How are pre-req's graded against higher level courses? Say if u have low scores on the pre-req's but higher scores on the higher level bio's..is it going to matter at all? do they think an improvement is credible for admission purposes?? 🙂

Strong upward trends are always a good thing.

 

[apumic]

They look at all three. I believe they place the emphasis in this order:

Science GPA > Non-science > Cumulative

I don't think they care too much about cumulative GPA. Additionally, if you have a good science and non-science GPA, by default you'll have a good cumulative. Your GPA goal should be a 3.7 or above in all three categories.

Lastly, schools also take into account GPA trends. For instance, if you bombed your first two years, then found your passion for medicine and did amazing, they look at that.

According to the survey by AAMC, it's actually Cumulative>Science>Non-science. Essentially, science courses are given preference insofar as science courses count as both cGPA and sGPA components.