Small Engineering School - Grade Deflation- Opinions?

[bullshark0]

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Hello All,

I'm applying MD-PhD from a small engineering school (The Cooper Union, if anyone is familiar). Both my science and overall GPAs are a 3.6, and while these are only decent GPAs in general, in my school they are considered very good. There is a fair amount of grade deflation in my school, as the average engineer has a ~2.8 GPA, and that is after all the students with below a 2.0 have been kicked out (roughly 25%). My MCATs are a 14 physical, 13 verbal, 11 biological and S on the writing (38S). I could have done better on the bio but I didn't study much, as I was more preoccupied with doing well during the semester. Another concern of mine is I have a C in my calculus II class (placed out of calc I so I took it my first semester and I shouldn't have) and C in my orgo I class, although I did improve to an A in calc III and an A in diff eq, and a B in orgo II and an A in orgo lab.
If anyone could shed some light on my situation and what medical schools, and specifically MD - PhD programs think about grade deflation it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MedAdComMD]

Hello All,

I'm applying MD-PhD from a small engineering school (The Cooper Union, if anyone is familiar). Both my science and overall GPAs are a 3.6, and while these are only decent GPAs in general, in my school they are considered very good. There is a fair amount of grade deflation in my school, as the average engineer has a ~2.8 GPA, and that is after all the students with below a 2.0 have been kicked out (roughly 25%). My MCATs are a 14 physical, 13 verbal, 11 biological and S on the writing (38S). I could have done better on the bio but I didn't study much, as I was more preoccupied with doing well during the semester. Another concern of mine is I have a C in my calculus II class (placed out of calc I so I took it my first semester and I shouldn't have) and C in my orgo I class, although I did improve to an A in calc III and an A in diff eq, and a B in orgo II and an A in orgo lab.
If anyone could shed some light on my situation and what medical schools, and specifically MD - PhD programs think about grade deflation it would be greatly appreciated.

In your case we don't make any adjustments. Grade inflation/deflation are hardly ever considered in admissions.

You have excellent stats and should have no problem gaining acceptance from a MD school.

 

[Stratego]

The Cs you earned are overshadowed by the fact that you got better grades in later courses of the series. They aren't an issue.

Any adjustment made due to a school's reputation for grade deflation isn't significant when it (rarely) occurs. You don't need to worry about that either as your excellent MCAT score more than compensates for the GPA. Assuming you have a substantive research background, IMO you should have a shot at just about any program you care to apply to.

 

[bullshark0]

The Cs you earned are overshadowed by the fact that you got better grades in later courses of the series. They aren't an issue.

Any adjustment made due to a school's reputation for grade deflation isn't significant when it (rarely) occurs. You don't need to worry about that either as your excellent MCAT score more than compensates for the GPA. Assuming you have a substantive research background, IMO you should have a shot at just about any program you care to apply to.

Thanks, I actually do have a fair amount of research experience. I worked in a lab the summer after my freshman year, and have pretty much been working in a lab continuously since, although not the same lab. What kind of weight is given to LORs and the personal statement for MD-PhD programs?

 

[MedAdComMD]

Thanks, I actually do have a fair amount of research experience. I worked in a lab the summer after my freshman year, and have pretty much been working in a lab continuously since, although not the same lab. What kind of weight is given to LORs and the personal statement for MD-PhD programs?

Weight of LOR and personal statement varies by school.

At my school, we screen LORs for red flags, meaning we categorize you as a pass/fail in that regard.

Personal statement is the wild card out there. If you write a mediocre statement, but have decent stats, we still invite you for interview. If you have poor stats but have exceptional personal statement, we will take a closer look and will consider you for an interview.

 

[camaras2480]

Thanks, I actually do have a fair amount of research experience. I worked in a lab the summer after my freshman year, and have pretty much been working in a lab continuously since, although not the same lab. What kind of weight is given to LORs and the personal statement for MD-PhD programs?

LORs carry heavy weight, particularly from whoever you have a publication with (assuming you do, when you say 'fair amount of research'). Like Stratego said, your numbers are solid (a 3.6 is perfectly fine for MD-PhD). It is extremely unlikely any consideration will be given to the idea that the 3.6 was due to deflation. You are a good PS and interview away from MD-PhD.