Using state school classes to pad gpa

[duke12]

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im trying to bring up my gpa at a private university. I've had an upward trend and am going to try to get mostly A's for the next two years (junior and senior year) but i think even after that I'll only have a 3.64. is it ok to pad my gpa with a bunch of state school classes (like 5 or 6) if i demonstrate that I can still do well at my own school but neetd the state school classes to put me in a more competitive zone? thanks! I don't plan on transferring the credits bc my school is very greedy and only take 2 transfer credits/doesn't record the grades for them. so I plan on sending in 2 transcripts to AMCAS. will this work? i just the state classes to push me to 3.7

 

[sustentacular]

Why don't you just take some easier classes at your current school? I think it might look weird if you're randomly taking classes at another university simultaneously with classes at your school especially if they're not from some special program or something that's not offered at your current school.

 

[duke12]

i need more classes! lol. i can only take up to 5 per semester, and my school is pretty rigourous so i only plan on doing this a couple of times.

 

[sustentacular]

And you can't over load your schedule at your current school? What about taking a bunch of summer classes?

 

[sphun65]

Private universities have a reputation of padding your GPA, not state schools. There was some research done on this subject. I remember reading that a person will experience a 0.3 GPA padding in a private school compared to a public school. This is after taking out all other factors, so as to equalize for comparison.

In short, your logic is false. You would be better off studying harder to get better grades where you are currently.

 

[NickNaylor]

Doesn't seem like a good idea. I would just take summer classes at your current institution if you feel so inclined.

 

[Avoidthetiger]

I went home every summer and took summer courses at a private university. Med schools may not like it -- but I enjoyed it. I like keeping busy even in the summer. And if medical schools ask why i didn't just stay at my home university, I can explain it.

 

[phonyreal98]

Usually state school classes are curved harsher than private school classes. But what do I know? I'm just a lowly state school student.

 

[SirGecko]

If you mean to do this in the summer then I cannot see it really hurting you. (As long as you aren't taking all your prereqs this way and you actually do get A's) Just make sure you are still getting your clinical experience in and take classes that make sense. If you are trying to do this during the year I would say you would be a fool to spread yourself so thin.

I am not going to get into the grade inflation debate. If some people want to believe that it is easier to get good grades a higher ranked institutions (or vice versa) only personal experience will change their minds or vindicate their beliefs.

edit: thought your school sounded a lot like Duke and then I noticed your location/name. Yeah definitely don't take classes at another school during the year. (this would be suicide) If you want to fly home during the summer and take classes there then again I don't see it hurting you. (5 or 6 classes would be a stretch though, I'd say 2 is more realistic) The mere finances of the move are enough to justify it though. (summer school at state school is usually less expensive) I would warn you though that I don't know how much this would help you. Your number one goal should be to do well at Duke, not spread yourself too thin across other universities.

edit: so upon review of your second post it really does look like you are planning on trying this scheme during the year. That would be the dumbest thing you could do. There is a reason you cannot take more than five classes without special permission from the dean and it isn't because the school is super greedy. They are trying to protect you from idiotic ideas like this. (also I think there may be some sort of rule preventing you from doing this, look into it) Focus on your classes. If you are able to bring your GPA to a 3.64 you will be in good shape. (I would also remind you though that "trying to get A's" is not the same thing as "getting A's", focus on your classes)

 

[Trexate]

im trying to bring up my gpa at a private university. I've had an upward trend and am going to try to get mostly A's for the next two years (junior and senior year) but i think even after that I'll only have a 3.64. is it ok to pad my gpa with a bunch of state school classes (like 5 or 6) if i demonstrate that I can still do well at my own school but neetd the state school classes to put me in a more competitive zone? thanks! I don't plan on transferring the credits bc my school is very greedy and only take 2 transfer credits/doesn't record the grades for them. so I plan on sending in 2 transcripts to AMCAS. will this work? i just the state classes to push me to 3.7

👍

Maybe the worst idea since BP decided the world needed more black pelicans.

 

[chman]

Private universities have a reputation of padding your GPA, not state schools. There was some research done on this subject. I remember reading that a person will experience a 0.3 GPA padding in a private school compared to a public school. This is after taking out all other factors, so as to equalize for comparison.

In short, your logic is false. You would be better off studying harder to get better grades where you are currently.

This. Good luck with that OP. Here is a crazy idea, work hard for your grade at your current school. Sorry, but I am sick of seeing these threads with people trying to take the easy way. If you can't handle working hard for you GPA, well, you are most likely not going to make it.

 

[echolalia16]

A 3.64 isn't exactly a weak gpa. Sure its not elite, but its definitely competitive. Actually I think the average gpa for matriculated students is around that, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[Go Ducks]

I have found that the deciding factor on how difficult a class is (in terms of grading) is the teacher. Once you get past the introductory courses into the 300 or 400 level, I think your classmates at a state school will be more or less on the same footing as your classmates at a private school. Therefore I'd suggest that you ask around to find an easier teacher at Duke, rather than take a grab-bag teacher at the state school.

If you want to pad your grades, take grad-level courses. Those are usually hard classes, but the grade inflation is outrageous. My experience has been that they don't honor the bell curve at all--they often don't even really worry about grades, and just hand out As in the end. (Except math grad classes--those are a b*tch.) Ask the grad students at Duke about it to see how things work there.

 

[duke12]

thanks for all the responses. some really made me laugh, i wasn't trying to make it sound dumb. I merely meant that even if i get straight A's at Duke for the rest of my career my gpa wont be high enough to get me into top medical schools, therefore i wanted to use my summers to take humanities/writing/speech/other useful skills type classes at a local school to give me the boost I need.

 

[duke12]

i have to argue though that duke is f***g tough. i've made a few A's there while working my butt off. and have made A's at my state school without going to class (not intentionally skipping class, i had to stay at duke to finish my 1st summer classes which alwyas ended a bit after the state summer class had started). so yeah, idk know if maybe that's just a humaties thing but even humanities at duke have been much harder.

 

[Frazier]

👍

Maybe the worst idea since BP decided the world needed more black pelicans.

 

[Go Ducks]

idk know if maybe that's just a humaties thing but even humanities at duke have been much harder.

It might be a lower-classman-thing. Lower-level classes are often easier at state schools because your competition isn't fierce yet. Weed out the slackers and give the hard-workers who came from crappy high schools a chance to catch up... then things get interesting. This especially goes for any classes that involve writing. You'd be surprised how handicapped in writing some people are when they enter college. These people usually go to state schools because (1) they went to bad high schools and (2) they can't write good entrance essays.

Also, I thought you were talking about your jr. and sr. level science courses, not humanities. I think that the admins will sniff out humanity buffer classes.

 

[eablackwell]

i have to argue though that duke is f***g tough. i've made a few A's there while working my butt off. and have made A's at my state school without going to class (not intentionally skipping class, i had to stay at duke to finish my 1st summer classes which alwyas ended a bit after the state summer class had started). so yeah, idk know if maybe that's just a humaties thing but even humanities at duke have been much harder.

I agree. My first year or so in Pratt was a frickin' nightmare!

 

[uncleruckus]

i feel your pain blackwell! (lived there freshmen year btw lol)