Should I explain my downward GPA trend in my LOI?

[qmcat]

So, I got a pre-interview hold at one of my top choice schools. I'm thinking about writing a letter of interest, and I'm going through my application to look for red flags or things I should address. The only thing I could find that was bad was a slightly downward GPA trend.

BCPM: 4.0 (freshman) -> 3.70 (sophomore) -> 3.53 (junior)
Overall GPA: 3.97 (freshman) -> 3.72 (sophomore) -> 3.66 (junior)

Cumulative GPA: 3.78 total, 3.69 science

I'm just wondering if I should address it at all in my letter? Junior year was hard because I was taking a year of quantum mechanics, publishing for research, and I was also trying to establish a free clinic in my city (along with a medical student friend of mine).

I got one B each quarter, but I don't regret it at all, since I was able to get a lot of things done (non-academically).

Do you guys think I should just forget about mentioning the downward trend and concentrate on writing about my fit for the school?

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[skiqueen]

So, I got a pre-interview hold at one of my top choice schools. I'm thinking about writing a letter of interest, and I'm going through my application to look for red flags or things I should address. The only thing I could find that was bad was a slightly downward GPA trend.

BCPM: 4.0 (freshman) -> 3.70 (sophomore) -> 3.53 (junior)
Overall GPA: 3.97 (freshman) -> 3.72 (sophomore) -> 3.66 (junior)

I'm just wondering if I should address it at all in my letter? Junior year was hard because I was taking a year of quantum mechanics, publishing for research, and I was also trying to establish a free clinic in my city (along with a medical student friend of mine).

I got one B each quarter, but I don't regret it at all, since I was able to get a lot of things done (non-academically).

Do you guys think I should just forget about mentioning the downward trend and concentrate on writing about my fit for the school?

I definitely wouldn't mention the downward trend. Its really not too downward, and your overall GPA is still good, so I wouldn't point it out to them. Instead I would write about what you've been doing recently and why you're a good fit. Good luck!

 

[qmcat]

I definitely wouldn't mention the downward trend. Its really not too downward, and your overall GPA is still good, so I wouldn't point it out to them. Instead I would write about what you've been doing recently and why you're a good fit. Good luck!

Thank you! Here goes the rest of my weekend writing this thing hehe.

 

[sylvanthus]

I wouldn't worry about it either. You didn't drop to a 3.0 or lower; you are fine.

 

[stixx]

I had always assumed downward trends would be the rule not the exception. I mean, your classes should be getting more difficult as you progress through your major, right?

 

[GoSpursGo]

I had always assumed downward trends would be the rule not the exception. I mean, your classes should be getting more difficult as you progress through your major, right?

Agree. The whole job of a premed in their first year is to build up a "buffer GPA" that can stand up when you advance to harder classes; take advantage of the easy A's while you're in intro bio and intro chem with hundreds of "pseudo-premeds" who wind up bringing the curve up. By nature when these guys drop out of the premed classes, the grades will get harder to obtain, and most peoples' GPAs go down.

 

[MrAgreeable]

So, I got a pre-interview hold at one of my top choice schools. I'm thinking about writing a letter of interest, and I'm going through my application to look for red flags or things I should address. The only thing I could find that was bad was a slightly downward GPA trend.

BCPM: 4.0 (freshman) -> 3.70 (sophomore) -> 3.53 (junior)
Overall GPA: 3.97 (freshman) -> 3.72 (sophomore) -> 3.66 (junior)

Cumulative GPA: 3.78 total, 3.69 science

I'm just wondering if I should address it at all in my letter? Junior year was hard because I was taking a year of quantum mechanics, publishing for research, and I was also trying to establish a free clinic in my city (along with a medical student friend of mine).

I got one B each quarter, but I don't regret it at all, since I was able to get a lot of things done (non-academically).

Do you guys think I should just forget about mentioning the downward trend and concentrate on writing about my fit for the school?

Those seem like pretty legit reasons for a downward trend. Your GPA is still really good. But I don't see an explaination in a LOI hurting you. IMHO.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Those seem like pretty legit reasons for a downward trend. Your GPA is still really good. But I don't see an explaination in a LOI hurting you. IMHO.

It almost certainly won't help, though. Focusing on his GPA when it's really not even bad can come off badly in that it can make the school think he's overly concerned with the "numbers part" of his application.

 

[mterp45]

Do you guys think i should just forget about mentioning the downward trend and concentrate on writing about my fit for the school?

yes

 

[MrAgreeable]

It almost certainly won't help, though. Focusing on his GPA when it's really not even bad can come off badly in that it can make the school think he's overly concerned with the "numbers part" of his application.

Yeah, your right. I guess that talking about his reasons for the downward trend without mentioning grades. IE just highlighting the things he talked aboot, would be useful b/c it shows his dedication to service and to medicine.

 

[Mei]

I wouldn't mention it either...Use the LOI to highlight something positive that you are doing right now that wasn't included in your PS and secondary essays (i.e. great fall grades, new volunteer position, research abstract acceptance, etc..)

I'm sort of in the same position as you. Started out very very strongly my freshman year, gpa dipped in sophomore and junior and made a small climb back up senior year. I think that if you start with having a really high gpa (3.9+), there is really nowhere to go but down, especially if you are taking really hard classes as an upperclassman. As a junior (and senior), I took classes that are offered in the biochem graduate program of my school and those highly contributed to the dip, but since I started out really strong and my gpa is still competitive, my advisor told me not to worry about it.