Truth About Averages

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frankcfromny

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Does anyone know the truth/have a good guess about the reported averages of matriculated students at podiatry schools? In other words, why does it seem like only students with stats above the averages get in yet the average seems to suggest otherwise?

I hope this doesn't turn into one of those threads saying people with low stats get in, but won't make it through. That is a whole other issue.

The reason I ask is because the general thought on here is that students with stats just slightly below the averages will have a hard time gaining an acceptance, and most individuals who post on this website that have been granted offers of admission seem to have really impressive GPAs and other credentials.

The pod advisor at my school keeps telling me that he has no doubt whatsoever that I will get into every pod school besides DMU with a 3.0 sGPA, 3.17 cGPA and a MCAT score >22. I just don't see it happening. The basis for his argument is that he's seen students from my institution get accepted with a GPA of between a 2.6 and 3.0, there are just about the same amount of applicants to pod school as there are seats available, and tons of DO applicants apply to pod school as a back up plan. He also said "It's an average. Without getting into statistics, people well above the average get in, people at the average get in and people just below the average get in". :laugh:

He's a bio professor and I'm a chem major so its not like he knows me and is just trying to make me feel better. I've met with him once.
 
Perhaps there's a correlation between SDN and higher averages 😀 But if I had to make a generalization, I would say that people who are serious and dedicated to podiatry are often the ones who use SDN as a resource. Those same students probably worked hard in college and will in professional school as well. Also, averages work funny. I got into every school I applied. My MCAT is way above pod average, but my GPA is WAYYYY below average 😱 I love these emoticons 🙄
 
Does anyone know the truth/have a good guess about the reported averages of matriculated students at podiatry schools? In other words, why does it seem like only students with stats above the averages get in yet the average seems to suggest otherwise?
This forum isn't actually representative of the podiatry applicant population. There are what ..800(?) new students a year and I suspect less than 50 people have signed onto the 2016 acceptance thread. These forums are enjoyable, but their member population represents an insignificant fraction of the applicants, students, residents, and podiatrists out there.

I hope this doesn't turn into one of those threads saying people with low stats get in, but won't make it through. That is a whole other issue.

The reason I ask is because the general thought on here is that students with stats just slightly below the averages will have a hard time gaining an acceptance, and most individuals who post on this website that have been granted offers of admission seem to have really impressive GPAs and other credentials.
There are also people on here who are quite honest about how non-competitive the process is. Until more detailed statistics are provided the averages are the best you have to go on. Anything else is just an anecdote.
Best of luck. I'm sure you've seen it already, but I'll point towards the statistics page 1 more time just because it doesn't really seem to be common knowledge (note that applicant/matriculant GPA/MCAT pages are available.)
http://www.aacpm.org/html/statistics/stats_mar.asp
 
Just to throw this out there, but since this is an anonymous forum, who's to say that the GPAs people are stating are accurate? I remember back in junior high I got into a "fight" with some anonymous guy online, both of us spouting off how big we were and how strong we were and how talented at martial arts we were. Not to say that I was lying when I said that I was 6'4, 250 lbs, 4 % bodyfat, bench pressing 550 lbs, and a National Kickboxing champion...😀

I would just guess that people with higher GPAs tend to post their GPA more often than those with a lower GPA.
 
ldsrmdude, I totally could beat you up! I bench 750 and do Brazilian jujitsu. You better watch yoself! 😀
 
ldsrmdude, I totally could beat you up! I bench 750 and do Brazilian jujitsu. You better watch yoself! 😀
Bring it on!:laugh:

To the OP, I would go by what the AACPM has on their website as far as the average for the schools. You're advisor is right, people with grades above and below the average have to be accepted. I think people who are below the average just keep their mouths shut and don't tell their GPAs.
 
Just to throw this out there, but since this is an anonymous forum, who's to say that the GPAs people are stating are accurate? I remember back in junior high I got into a "fight" with some anonymous guy online, both of us spouting off how big we were and how strong we were and how talented at martial arts we were. Not to say that I was lying when I said that I was 6'4, 250 lbs, 4 % bodyfat, bench pressing 550 lbs, and a National Kickboxing champion...😀

I would just guess that people with higher GPAs tend to post their GPA more often than those with a lower GPA.

weak :laugh:

You gotta be at least repping 585 shirtless to be even considered on this forum!! 😛
 
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