Weights of GPA's

[pyropig]

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Do adcomms REALLY care that much about your non-science gpa? I mean, when all is said and done I'm looking at a 3.7ish in science (which means my cumulative won't be too shabby either, however I'm a non-science major) but my non-science gpa is going to be.......embarrassing, like a 2.8 🙁......ish. Anywho I really don't want to retake friggin accounting and other dumb classes I effed up when I was 18 and 19 years old if I really don't need too. My upper division economics courses are all A's and B's but my low low divisions 100 level accounting, pre-calculus, InfoSystems classes......not quite so impressive.

 

[NPHisyourLord]

Unfortunately, they care about both. If I can make a recommendation, I wouldn't let that stop you however, many people get into med schools with around 3.0 GPAs but they usually have a decent MCAT or other factors.

What did you get on the MCAT? Do you have research experience? Are you an URM?

NPH

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I would say they care more about your Cumgpa then SGPA.
So i'd start getting your AO up and quick.

 

[megathunder]

Since you're a non-science major shouldn't it be the other way around?

 

[christina30]

if you're a non-science major with a poor non-science GPA, that may reflect pretty poorly on you as an applicant.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

That's part of the subjectivity of medical school admissions that irritates me. A lot of people go to college because it's simply the thing to do in their peer group. However, they get there and have no ambition because they don't know what to do in life, or they get sidetracked by immaturity. As a result, their grades are not what they could have been if they had put forth effort. Later, on after growing up some and realizing what they want to do they put in the effort and do well. I think some medical schools take that into account, and to me it says more about the appicant than some fresh faced kid who goes, studies life away, and makes 4.0 or near it.

Again, these are just my opinions, and, like anyone else's, they're not worth anything.

 

[christina30]

That's part of the subjectivity of medical school admissions that irritates me. A lot of people go to college because it's simply the thing to do in their peer group. However, they get there and have no ambition because they don't know what to do in life, or they get sidetracked by immaturity. As a result, their grades are not what they could have been if they had put forth effort. Later, on after growing up some and realizing what they want to do they put in the effort and do well. I think some medical schools take that into account, and to me it says more about the appicant than some fresh faced kid who goes, studies life away, and makes 4.0 or near it.

Again, these are just my opinions, and, like anyone else's, they're not worth anything.

Of course what you say is true - I don't think the kid with the 4.0 is going to be the best applicant, since they often have zero social skills (a huge part of medicine is social!). But if I were on an ADCOM and saw someone who wasn't a science major, and their GPA in said major courses was very poor, I'd be kind of disappointed/questioning said applicant. It just doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

 

[pyropig]

if you're a non-science major with a poor non-science GPA, that may reflect pretty poorly on you as an applicant.

Since you're a non-science major shouldn't it be the other way around?

That's where I hope that trends come into play. All of my upper division coursework is very good, which mean my great trend is very steep. All my screw-ups are from my early college days in super stupid freshman classes. Accounting, Pre-calculus, etc. Do you think they really want me to go backwords and show I can get an A instead of a C in econ 102 when Ive gotten A's in all my 300 and 400 level coursework? I mean I'll do what I have to do but retaking some classes seems like it would be viewed as me wasting my time when it could be used furthering my knowledge in the sciences as I was an econ major.

 

[Skippygonenuts]

Don't retake any classes. 3.7 science gpa and somewhere close to there for ur cum gpa combined with a good mcat will get u a few interviews.

If I were in ur situation I would work on my personal statement to explain how matured thro the years and if the issue comes up during interciews, explain it honestly to them. As long as u have a good trend of high grades in the past 4 semesters or so, then u won't have to worry about ur nonscience gpa.

Since ur a nonscience major, the big deal for med schools is to make sure that u have high grades in ur prereqs and science classes. It seems like uv done just that. Dot waste ur time retaking. If you have taken the mcat, use ur time to study for that and get a good score...I think you have an excellent chance.

Keep us updated.

 

[Skippygonenuts]

Don't retake any classes. 3.7 science gpa and somewhere close to there for ur cum gpa combined with a good mcat will get u a few interviews.

If I were in ur situation I would work on my personal statement to explain how matured thro the years and if the issue comes up during interciews, explain it honestly to them. As long as u have a good trend of high grades in the past 4 semesters or so, then u won't have to worry about ur nonscience gpa.

Since ur a nonscience major, the big deal for med schools is to make sure that u have high grades in ur prereqs and science classes. It seems like uv done just that. Dot waste ur time retaking. If you have taken the mcat, use ur time to study for that and get a good score...I think you have an excellent chance.

Keep us updated.

 

[pyropig]

Don't retake any classes. 3.7 science gpa and somewhere close to there for ur cum gpa combined with a good mcat will get u a few interviews.

If I were in ur situation I would work on my personal statement to explain how matured thro the years and if the issue comes up during interciews, explain it honestly to them. As long as u have a good trend of high grades in the past 4 semesters or so, then u won't have to worry about ur nonscience gpa.

Since ur a nonscience major, the big deal for med schools is to make sure that u have high grades in ur prereqs and science classes. It seems like uv done just that. Dot waste ur time retaking. If you have taken the mcat, use ur time to study for that and get a good score...I think you have an excellent chance.

Keep us updated.

That's what I'm hoping. I mean I think I'm going to retake the two classes I failed as a youngin (damn you captain morgan). However I have a hard time believing that my C's and D's in a couple pre-business courses will somehow wreck my chances at getting in and negate all my hard work in the sciences and my upper division economics courses.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Retaking 2 F's will raise your grade's. From what I remember you need to have 4 A's to make up for 1 F. So it'll majorly salvage your gpa.
But your understanding of medicine as caring about your science grades is so wrong. The science you learn in undergrad is just a foundation, its not actually that highly considered. They care really more about your CumGpa ( this has been stated by medical schools repetitively).
Remember, medicine is a service field. Not a science fair.

However your upward trend is very good and will help you. Remember, the last 2 years are looked upon strongly so upward trends will be noticed and get you some brownie points.

 

[pyropig]

Retaking 2 F's will raise your grade's. From what I remember you need to have 4 A's to make up for 1 F. So it'll majorly salvage your gpa.
But your understanding of medicine as caring about your science grades is so wrong. The science you learn in undergrad is just a foundation, its not actually that highly considered. They care really more about your CumGpa ( this has been stated by medical schools repetitively).
Remember, medicine is a service field. Not a science fair.

However your upward trend is very good and will help you. Remember, the last 2 years are looked upon strongly so upward trends will be noticed and get you some brownie points.

LOL, I'm not a library rat. I've been a pharmacy tech for 4 years, a medical assistant for 1 and I'm working on a research project on Ortho-Trauma PA's positive effect on speed and quality of care. Along with that I've been an EMT and a CPR instructor. I understand that it's not a "science fair" but after watching my two best friends go through 1st year at an allopathic school this year it has become quite clear that anything but a very clear understanding of the basic sciences exponentially increases your chances of failing out.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Well, if I make A's in the prereqs I'm going back to take then my science GPA will be pretty good; 3.7-3.8. However, my cummulative GPA, in non-science, will also be lower due largely to an unwise and ill-informed decision to go back three years after college graduation for that second accounting degree that I gave up on after a semester, lol. Those were some bad, bad grades that really brought my overall down. Oh, well, I'm not retaking them though.