Science GPA over Cumulative GPA?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>I can't get a straight answer from anybody regarding whats more important (obviously both are important).</p>

<p>My advisor tells me that the cumulative GPA is most important, but the science GPA is still a heavy factor in the decision process.</p>

<p>My pre-med advisor tells me that the science GPA is a lot more important than the cumulative GPA.</p>

<p>My primary physician tells me that the cumulative GPA is more important.</p>

<p>Who's right, if any? I really hope its cumulative because right now after my freshman year my science GPA is a 3.2 and my cumulative GPA is a 3.5. I really messed up with bio (I got a B- both semesters).</p>

<p>I don't really see my science GPA improving next year due to orgo and physics.</p>

<p>So do I still have a shot with a low science GPA, but high cumulative? Or should I retake Bio? Ahhhhh.</p>

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<p>They are both important, but it is the cumulative is the one that is used in ranking calculations. It isn’t a one or the other deal. You need both to be competitive. A 3.5 cumulative is a feasible GPA, a 3.2 science is a deal breaker.</p>

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<p>They are both equally important and if you look at data on med school matriculants, they’re usually very close to each other (within 0.05 or so). If there is a huge gap b/w the two, that’s a red flag.</p>

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<p>Try to get it higher. Yes, work very hard in Orgo. class, prepare to spend at least about 30 hours for each exam. I would decide after Orgo.</p>

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<p>You’re going to have to study a lot for orgo and physics. It’s not easy to get an A, but if you study appropriately it’s not impossible either. It also depends on your school/professor. My orgo professor somehow makes the class fun, and his exams are not that hard compared to some other professors that teach the course.</p>

<p>Don’t retake bio. You’d be better off just taking other higher level science courses to buffer your science GPA.</p>

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<p>What if you had ~3.9 Science GPA and the 3.45 Overall GPA or something of the opposite from the OP?</p>

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<p>Approach to Orgo vs Physics: there is no other way to be successful in Orgo but study very hard, spend ton of time. It is essential to understand every concept in Physics and seek help if it is not clear.</p>

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<p>I’d rather have the higher science overall but a 3.45 is going to drag you down regardless.</p>

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<p>

I’d have to see that transcript. There might be some real doozies in the AO to have that much disparity.</p>

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<p>It could also indicate that the applicant got their degree in a non science and took science classes later or only took the pre-req sciences. That is typically how I have seen such disparities like this present.</p>

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<p>I think overall science gpa matters more…but if you simply pull up your classes then you should be okay. My pre-med adviser puts more emphasis on science gpa.</p>

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<p>Quoting this for emphasis and reiteration:

</p>

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<p>Well, the reason for that much disparity (3.9 science GPA and 3.45 Overall) is because I actually got a C- in my required Diversity/culture course that was worth 50% more credits than any other course at my undergrad, haha. It seems to have really put a gash in my GPA and sticks out like a sore thumb in my transcript. </p>

<p>How exactly will Medical schools see this? I’m just curious :).</p>

<p>(I greatly apologize for hijacking the thread.)</p>

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<p>Are you referring to your 4 year GPA or are you just concerned about one semester/year?</p>

15

<p>

</p>

<p>There is a so called Academic Index (AI) that some top schools use to screen med school applicants:</p>

<p>Overall GPA + Science GPA + MCAT/3 = 4.0 + 4.0 + 15<br>
Perfect AI = 23</p>

<p>If you look at the formula, Science courses are definitely MORE important because they end up counting TWICE: As part of the total GPA and as part of the Science GPA.</p>

<p>Most successful medical school applicants have an AI over 16, btw. For top schools (ivies and top 10) you usually need over a 20.</p>

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<p>An alternative scoring system is the SDN “LizzieM score” which is basically GPA x 10 + MCAT.</p>