Hi, so, I’m a student who has applied to BU, and I have a few questions about the grade deflation. I chose to apply to BU over some very prestigious universities and small liberal arts colleges because of a specific program at BU that I am really interested in. After reading about BU post ED2 application, I have become really scared of the grade deflation. I plan to go to med school after BU and will need to keep a high gpa, so I was wondering if it’s worth withdrawing my application, because if I get in I’ll have to go. I currently go to one of the top high schools in the country where most kids go to some of the best colleges and have done well in high school, so I think I might be able to do well at BU. Still though, is the grade deflation really that bad and will it be too hard if I am playing a varsity sport as well?
Those are some good questions. For medical school you usually need to maintain a 3.5 which is an A- at most colleges. It sucks that medical schools don’t bother to look at college rigor and recalculate the GPA based on the college you graduate from. I did not know about grade deflation at BU. What type of scores do you have on the ACT or SAT? I’m asking because if you are in the top % then you will probably be able to stay on top in your college classes despite grade deflation - they still have to give out A’s to the top students.
My ACT is mid 30’s and I didn’t take the SAT, so I feel like I could be one of the students who comes out with an A.
That would put you about the 97-99%. My son is at a very competitive college and it’s very difficult to get an A because most classes are graded on a curve and he’s with some of the brightest students in the country. So if you are at BU and you are one of those brightest you should be one of the people getting that A in the class. Additionally since you are looking at a pre-med program you will probably be taking a lot of classes that don’t have much subjective grading. Do you know if this grade deflation is a sure thing or is it more of a rumor?
Grade deflation is a legitimate concern. You’ve likely read my posts on it on here. Good news and bad news. Good news: if you matriculate at BU and work your butt off, you’ll get a rigorous pre-med education that will prepare you for med school very well. If you have your nose to the grindstone from day one and are diligent, you can get good grades–but it won’t be a 4.0 like it might be at some “easier” schools. From what I’ve heard med schools DO take into account where you go for undergraduate, and I’m sure plenty of them know about BU’s rigor. And I’m sure they know who inflates grades, too. I mean, if most BU kids were completely shut out of med school, I’m pretty sure we’d hear about it. They’re clearly not. I don’t think your app is dead if you get a 3.5 or under…especially if you graduate with honors. Every year it’s different, but my year I was magna cum laude at a 3.47. Summa I believe was 3.6+.
If you’re really worried, ask BU. Ask them if they have data on where their pre-med students get admitted to medical school (or what percentage) and what the GPAs are. The top students at any given school, who make it through their pre-med program and do well on the MCAT will end up at medical school. It sounds like you’re a smart cookie with work ethic (if you go to such a tough high school), so you’ll likely be fine. I mean, personally? I say if you want easier As, withdraw and go somewhere else. I’ve given that advice to others: students used to being the brightest crayon in the box who have panic–or rage–attacks if they don’t get straight As shouldn’t go to BU. It’s a place to test your mettle, and it’s not easy to come out on top. But if you want to go through the UG program and KNOW coming out of it that you learned a sh*t ton and are bloody well prepared to be a doctor? Go to BU.
The reality of grade deflation: what it REALLY is is normal grading, ie: how rigorous grading used to work in academics across the board (and really should work). When you take a bunch of smart, successful people and stick them in a room, they’re going to perform on a curve, generally speaking. Some will be “better” at the work than others, and thus BU grades accordingly. BU doesn’t inflate grades like other schools, including some Ivies, are notorious for doing.
I don’t think an application is dead under a 3.5 either but it is close to the cutoff for most medical schools. I believe I might have seen one medical school list the cut off as 3.3 and another at 3.4.