Maintaining a 3.5?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
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<p>I am a senior in high-school and I received pre-acceptance to a medical school for the 2014 entering class. The requirement is that I maintain a 3.5 overall and science GPA while in college and complete all prereqs required by the end of sophomore year. I do not have to take the MCAT .</p>

<p>My required prereqs are:
1 English
1 General Chemistry
1 Organic Chemistry
1 General Biology
1 Physics</p>

<p>I will be receiving AP Credit for two english courses and satisfy that requirement. I checked with the medical school and AP credit is acceptable, as long as it appears on my transcript (which it will).</p>

<p>My question: How hard is it going to be to maintain a 3.5 overall and science GPA? This is like getting an A and B for every other class, nothing lower. I plan to major in Environmental Health, if that makes any difference.</p>

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<p>since you don’t have to worry about spacing out your requirements for the MCAT and applying, you can play with your time. you can take 1 science each year to lighten your load, which should help you out with those grades and to give you more time to study.</p>

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<p>Just be very aware that it is not just 1 A for every B, it also depends on the # of units per course, so an A in a 2/3 unit course does not make up for a B in a 4/5 unit class (like a science plus lab) AND be aware that an A- or B+ is also usually something that can drag down your overall GPA.</p>

<p>Is that 3.5 something that has to be your GPA by the time you graduate or all the way along?</p>

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<p>At some schools and with some teachers maintaining a 3.5 might be very hard. A quick look at “rate my professor” will bring up a large amount of teachers that “never give an A”… </p>

<p>Scholarships based on maintaining a 3.5 GPA (or other high GPA) are sometimes considered a teaser scholarship to get good students committed to the school.</p>

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<p>At some schools and with some teachers maintaining a 3.5 might be very hard. A quick look at “rate my professor” will bring up a large amount of teachers that “never give an A”… </p>

<p>Scholarships based on maintaining a 3.5 GPA (or other high GPA) are sometimes considered a teaser scholarship to get good students committed to the school.</p>

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<p>I don’t think ratemyprofs is a good source to determine how hard a class is, there’s selection bias as the only people who post are those who are either extremely satisfied or extremely dissatisfied. If the school in question has a comprehensive student course reviews like my school does (professors give grade bonuses to encourage the entire class to fill them out) that might be a better option.</p>

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<p>Rate my professor has nothing to do with how hard a class is, but it might give you an opinion about the grading policy of the professor. And I would not advise that you select your classes or professors based on the grade you might get. I just wanted to point out how crazy keeping a 3.5 might be… It would be possible for some students at some schools and totally impossible at others…</p>

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<p>Every prof gives As. It’s all selection bias. There are a lot of complainers and whiners in this world!</p>

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<p>Mind saying which med school? I didn’t realize this was possible</p>

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<p>I think we are talking undergrad not med school</p>

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<p>I actually think he’s referring to Med School though, since he clearly mentions bypassing the MCAT.</p>

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<p>It’s a BS/MD program it sounds like or a similar type of linkage program. The OP is still speaking of UG in terms of GPA though. I’m really not sure what Sean’s question actually refers to – bypassing the MCAT, maybe?</p>

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<p>JamesJr,
It is very reasonable. My D’s GPA=4.0., she is senior next year, has taken lots of very challenging classes and has 2 minors, never took summer classes. You will need work hard, there are pre-med classes that are designed as weed out killers and some people give up. D. is also in combined program, but she did not want accelerated, hers is 4+4 and reguire average MCAT score and also allow to apply out. So, taking MCAT is a plus in her case, since if she gets it high enough, she will apply out.
Good luck, 3.5 is very reasonable, aim at higher.</p>

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<p>MiamiDAP, thanks so much! Your post was really reassuring. I suppose I can still take the MCAT, and I can certainly apply to other medical schools, but I highly doubt that I will since I am satisfied with the medical school that I have been pre-accepted into. The program is also 4+4, not accelerated.</p>

<p>Apumic, I believe you are correct. It can be a BS/MD program, but I suppose you could get a BA, it is not specifically stated. </p>

<p>Sean, you have been PMed.</p>

<p>I do plan on using professor rating websites in selection of classes, thanks for the tips!</p>