<p>Does anyone know the average GPA of undergraduate students in the Physiology and Neuroscience major? I am planning on applying to med school and GPA is one of the most important factors, so I want to know how difficult it is to maintain a high GPA.</p>
<p>I don’t think information that specific is available. However, apparently about 20-25% of SD bio majors have 3.5’s and above. </p>
<p><a href=“Undergraduate Statistics”>Undergraduate Statistics;
<p>Keep in mind that I found this lone table online and this probably describes the entire undergrad population. A freshman’s GPA is likely much higher than a senior’s GPA. Therefore, upon graduation the average bio major’s GPA is probably lower.</p>
<p>Thanks “justmyview”.</p>
<p>I would disagree a bit with justmyview. A freshman’s GPA is likely lower than a seniors actually.</p>
<p>Something cool to look at.
[National</a> Trends in Grade Inflation, American Colleges and Universities](<a href=“http://www.gradeinflation.com/]National”>http://www.gradeinflation.com/)</p>
<p>It really depends on the person on a case-by-case basis. No bio major undergraduate student is the same. I will just have to say that as a biology major, the classes become incredibly harder after your freshman year (I took the gen chem and the physics series my 1st year). Now I’m taking Ochem and upper div biology. Classes will just get harder, as tests are more rigorous and percentages of A’s in the class decline.
<a href=“http://career.ucsd.edu/_files/ucsd-admits-2008-10.pdf[/url]”>http://career.ucsd.edu/_files/ucsd-admits-2008-10.pdf</a>
Stats for UCSD admits from 2008 to 2010. Stats will be higher when you start applying for med school just based on the increasing popularity of attending med school and being a doctor. I feel that 3.8 is definitely doable, and 3.9 and above is the top 2% of UCSD (1% as a biology major). GPA of 3.8+ is highly recommended if you want to be competitive.</p>
<p>Yes, classes do get harder, but students also become better students. (Easier to live on their own, understand the effort required for classes, etc)</p>
<p>Something i found.</p>
<p>UCSD Facts and Figures (as of fall 2007)</p>
<p>On-campus student enrollment</p>
<p>Undergraduate 22,048
Revelle 3,792
John Muir 4,194
Thurgood Marshall 3,725
Earl Warren 4,132
Eleanor Roosevelt 3,422
Sixth 2,783</p>
<p>Graduate 3,952
School of Medicine and School of Pharmacy
and Pharmaceutical Sciences 1,682</p>
<p>Total 27,682</p>
<p>Grade-point averages</p>
<p>Freshman 2.92
Sophomore 3.00
Junior 3.00
Senior 3.05</p>
<p>Number of undergraduates in most populous departments</p>
<p>Biology 4,776
Economics 2,155
Psychology 1,288
Political Science 1,183
Chemistry 1,179
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) 1,056
Bioengineering 878
International Studies 859
Communications 783
Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) 598 </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-san-diego/625043-average-gpa-freshman-students-ucsd.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-san-diego/625043-average-gpa-freshman-students-ucsd.html</a></p>
<p>@premed1234</p>
<p>You’re in a for a pleasant surprise. Bio classes at UCSD get **** easy as you hit the upper divs.</p>
<p>I know… A and A+ in all of upper div bio classes.</p>
<p>Is there any point to maintaining a very high (above a 3.9GPA) for med school, though? Or do you end up getting diminishing returns, investing more time in studying than extracurriculars only to have an adcom shrug and say, “A 3.95 carries the same weight as a 3.85, so no extra points for you.”</p>
<p>I think AndrewL has it right, on the avg GPA debate. There is a theory that GPA trends plot as a J curve, where the grades take a dip when you take upper divs for the first time, then gpa steadily rises till graduation. I have no supporting evidence for this so it just remains as speculation :P</p>
<p>It’s a gradient, and it depends on the school you’re looking at. Although all schools put a heavy emphasis on MCATs, GPA, and ECs, the ratio by which they weigh them can vary from school to school, and even within the same school because adcoms are people too, and that leaves huge room for bias.</p>
<p>With that said, all schools <em>will</em> see a 3.95 as more impressive than a 3.85. At some schools this will face diminishing returns, at some schools it will not, and perhaps at some schools it will face <em>increasing</em> returns. </p>
<p>Your best bet is to shoot for a 4.0, shoot for a 45T MCAT, and shoot for a thousand hours of community service. You won’t get any of those three, but might as well shoot for the best!</p>