To send update or not?

[kickster]

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I think that this is a unique situation, and I'm not sure whether to send an update. I know the rule of thumb is send an update if grades for the past semester are higher than your gpa but here's my situation:

sGPA ~3.4, cGPA ~3.6

Took 12 credits (3 science): sGPA 3.00, cGPA 3.75. So my question is should I send an update since my sGPA went down and my cGPA went up? I also have some minor activity updates. Haven't sent one since submitted my secondaries in July/August.

 

[Ismet]

I wouldn't.

EDIT: sGPA matters more than cGPA, so updating that you did better in non-science and worse in science this semester is probably not in your best interest. Updates shouldn't be negative.

 

[Juan Solo]

Hmm this is a tough one but I think if you have other things to update on such as activities and you feel that you can convey some personal growth as a result of these activities in the letter then I think that I would go for it. Is this for a school in which you are currently in the pre-inteview state?

 

[MiracleforMD]

I wouldn't.

EDIT: sGPA matters more than cGPA, so updating that you did better in non-science and worse in science this semester is probably not in your best interest. Updates shouldn't be negative.

My god. I don't necessarily disagree with you, but what the hell is your source that sGPA is more important than cGPA. Such a ridiculous generalization to make.

 

[yaytiffanyrae]

I personally wouldn't send it based on the GPA alone, but I'm not saying that you shouldn't.

However, what are your "minor" activity updates? That might be something that you could focus more on, if you could talk about personal changes, not just title changes or a new but similar experience, as cg2818 said.

 

[Ichiban88]

Do it if it is pre-interview. but don't for post-interview. you don't want to be taking unnecessary risks.

 

[Ismet]

My god. I don't necessarily disagree with you, but what the hell is your source that sGPA is more important than cGPA. Such a ridiculous generalization to make.

From someone who sits on an admissions committee at a top school. Their reasoning was that medical school courses are mostly science, so they want to see that you have done well in your science courses in addition to the rest of your courses. There's a reason why your BCPM GPA is separated from your total and AO GPA.

I've heard the opposite (cGPA > sGPA) as well, so maybe it just depends on the school and what they're looking for. Both GPAs are very important, and you don't want either one to be lacking, but a decrease in sGPA is not a positive addition to OP's file. A decrease in cGPA would also not be a positive addition to OP's file. Also, a sizable difference between cGPA and sGPA can be a red flag, but I don't think OP is at that point with just this semester.

 

[BigBlueBear]

My god. I don't necessarily disagree with you, but what the hell is your source that sGPA is more important than cGPA. Such a ridiculous generalization to make.

On that survey that was going around earlier (can't find it) it ranked sGPA > cGPA > MCAT as the top 3 factors pre-interview.