Transfer student GPA?

[GR114228]

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hello, I am a 23 year old non trad, currently in my sophomore year of my undergrad. Right after high school I finished about a years worth of college at a local state college, and my GPA there was 3.47. I regret not taking school more seriously. Now I just completed my first class at my new university and have a 4.0, but that’s only one class. My academic advisor told me that med schools will look at the GPA of all schools I attended, and now I’m extremely worried that my 3.47 will be detrimental. If I do stellar and get a 3.7-3.9 at my new university upon completing my undergrad degree, do you think that would help? I was always under the impression that my former schools grade would average in with my new school.

 

[MusicDOc124]

Yes, all of your course work from all schools at any point are calculated into your GPA, not just your current institutional GPA. People have been in the 2.XX GPA range and brought up their GPA and been successful, and people have gotten into med school with as low as around a 2.9-3.1 range depending on background and other aspects of the application, though that is not the norm. Many people get in with a 3.4/3.5, so just keep your grades up. You're also very early on and have a lot of time with a lot of other factors that matter, too, such as MCAT as an example.

 

[GR114228]

Yes, all of your course work from all schools at any point are calculated into your GPA, not just your current institutional GPA. People have been in the 2.XX GPA range and brought up their GPA and been successful, and people have gotten into med school with as low as around a 2.9-3.1 range depending on background and other aspects of the application, though that is not the norm. Many people get in with a 3.4/3.5, so just keep your grades up. You're also very early on and have a lot of time with a lot of other factors that matter, too, such as MCAT as an example.

Thank you! Now, later on down the road when I get closer to applying and take the MCAT, would I be able to calculate my lizzy m score even though I would have 2 different GPAs?
I like the idea of knowing my average GPA of both schools combined, but I’m not sure if med schools will average the two together? Or if they look at one and the other separately

 

[DSM_302.0]

The gpas aren't averaged, they're just straight cumulative. Your grades from your previous school still count. GPAs are calculated the same way wether you attend one school or six.

You're in fine shape - keep those grades up! So important.

 

[MusicDOc124]

^ what was just said. To reiterate; for medical school purposes (and anything with a common app system such as medical, dental, PA, or pharmacy schools), you only have 1 GPA made up of every course you taken at all institutions. If you have a 2.0 somewhere, that gets factored in. If you have a 4.0: factored in, a 0:factored in.

 

[DSM_302.0]

^ what was just said. To reiterate; for medical school purposes (and anything with a common app system such as medical, dental, PA, or pharmacy schools), you only have 1 GPA made up of every course you taken at all institutions. If you have a 2.0 somewhere, that gets factored in. If you have a 4.0: factored in, a 0:factored in.

Yup! I wanted to clarify because OP again said something about being avergaed, which they are not. A 2.0 from your first school and a 4.0 from your second school does not simply average to 3.0
(2 + 4) / 2 =/= 3
because you need to take into consideration all the weighted units of every class at both/all insitutions.

I trust we're all on the same page now.

 

[GR114228]

Great, I think I get it now. Thank you both!