<p>So...I'm taking all sciences and all my pre-med requirements basically at the same time right now...and because of that I dont think I'm going to be getting a particullarly high GPA. My roomate is only taking one pre-med class a semester and is probably going to be getting a high GPA. [I actually don't see her finishing a lot of the higher level sciences before the MCAT, but that's another issue). </p>
<p>Basically, is it better to take all your pre-med classes at the same time (showing Med. schools you can handle the stress) and getting a not-so-high GPA? or is it better to just take everything one at a time? Do Med schools even look at your courseload per semeter? Also, is only your science GPA evaluated or do Med schools look at your overall GPA?</p>
<p>Sorry for so many questions, thanks sooo much!!</p>
<p>Unfortunately Med School is a complete numbers game. Your roomate prob has the right idea. All they look at is GPA. However, I refuse to play the Med School game and this semester took Physics, Organic, Bio, and Math. If your GPA really isn't high enough and you're completely set on med school, you still have time to alter your schedule and start taking fewer science courses at a time.</p>
<p>yeah it seems med school admisisons is different from undergrad admissions, gpa really is what matters, so don't do anything to sabotage your gpa, or try to fix it up nowif you can</p>
<p>Can't you take less? Say, math and bio one year, and orgo and physics the next? Just curious</p>
<p>Med schools are VERY GPA-oriented. They look at your science GPA and your overall GPA, with a particular emphasis on your science GPA, of course. You need to work your a** off in your science courses! If you can't manage the workload right now, find a way to spread your courses out! If you can't change anything, and are stuck with a less than desirable science GPA, study like hell for the MCAT...a stellar MCAT score could, theoretically, make up for your GPA, but it would be advisable to do what you can now to fix that GPA!</p>
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many say that 3.5 is a minimum. to be competitive you probably want higher.
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<p>whoever says that is an idiot. They only have to look at med school admission statistics to see that 3.5 is the mean GPA for accepted applicants. (i.e. basically half of people accepted to med school have lower GPAs)</p>
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whoever says that is an idiot. They only have to look at med school admission statistics to see that 3.5 is the mean GPA for accepted applicants. (i.e. basically half of people accepted to med school have lower GPAs)
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I'm not going to claim to be an expert on med school admissions, but honestly, a 3.5 is probably minimum to be competitive anywhere. I mean, if you're lower than the mean, you're not going to stand nearly as good a chance as someone with a higher GPA.
Also, med schools don't have a lot of people accepted in the first place. Most schools have a tiny number of spots, so the "mean GPA" may very well be what everybody in the accepted class got, with a couple above the mean but most at the mean.</p>
<p>it is a widely accepted fact that a 3.6 is the average gpa for med school matriculants. like Icarus said, there are tons of people who get in that are lower, and tons of people who get in that are higher. As to the OP's question, no one is gonna care how many science courses you can handle. When it comes to classes, majors, work loads, honors etc., the number one thing is what your gpa is. If you can get a high gpa with a tough load, more power to you. but getting a mediocre gpa with a tough load is far worse than getting a high gpa with an easy load.</p>
<p>No offense to anyone above who posted, but this is a great example of why pre-med questions should not be asked outside of that forum. Some of the answers here are completely off base.</p>
<p>"When it comes to classes, majors, work loads, honors etc., the number one thing is what your gpa is." --> that's really disheartening, what ever happened to a lovely thing called learning and challenging yourself?</p>
<p>The line you just quoted is what's off base. </p>
<p>Do you need a solid gpa, sure, but it is certainly not the end all, be all if you have a GPA below 3.5...</p>
<p>If you have a GPA below 3.3, are you a great candidate? no, but certainly, if you have other redeeming qualities to your application, then your GPA becomes slightly less important. </p>
<p>If you get below a 3.0 are you very likely to get accepted? no, but if you were that deficient in some other area (MCAT, clinical experience, involvement) you're not likely to get accepted either.</p>
<p>Does having a 4.0 and a 37 on the MCAT make you an automatic shoo-in? Absolutely not. Especially if those marks came at the expense of the other necessities...</p>
<p>The fact of the matter is that compared to most other grad schools (especially compared to Law), medical school admissions is far more holistic than any other admissions process - you have to have the campus involvement, the volunteering and the clinical experience or you won't make it. Some places practically require research experience. And even if you have all those things, but bomb your interview - you'll still get rejected...</p>
<p>Posting pre-med questions specific to admissions on this portion of the board opens up your question to a lot of people who only hear about admissions but have no familiarity and you end up with remarks like "the number one thing is your GPA"</p>
<p>dude, you misread my post. i didn't mean gpa is all you need. i said that in the academic sector of your application (classes, majors etc.) your gpa is the most important thing. YES , of course you need ECs (clinical work, volunteering etc.).</p>
<p>bruinboy - I didn't look at who made that quote, sorry. When put in context you're right.</p>
<p>That doesn't mean that this thread is entirely devoid of **** poor replies though - specifically posts: 2, 4, and the first part of 6 are all really, really bad. There are some other parts spread throughout that leave something to be desired.</p>
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No offense to anyone above who posted, but this is a great example of why pre-med questions should not be asked outside of that forum. Some of the answers here are completely off base.
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<p>yeah, because only people who are knowledgable about med school admissions can post there :rolleyes:</p>