Is taking an extra class to raise my low science GPA by 0.1 even worth it?

[LadyNichiavelli]

I graduated my undergrad institution with a bachelor's in English and Spanish and pretty low overall (~3.1) and science (2.5) GPA. I was very unsure of myself as a pre-med student (having doubts about if it was really the path I wanted to take) and made my involvement in organizations and volunteering my priority. Once I found out about the PA profession upon getting a job as a physical therapy aide, I became motivated again and there was an upward trend in my grades. I made Dean's List in my final year, but still had poor grades to show for my 4 years at the institution. I kept my job and enrolled in 35 community college credit courses (8 sciences and 1 math).

 

I've gotten all A's thus far, but it is looking like I'm about to get my first B in one of my science courses (my instructor dropped halfway through and the new instructor implemented a different grading policy that set all of us back). I am still trying to get that A, but I'm also facing the very real possibility that I will leave the class with a B. That being said, my cumulative GPA would come out to a 3.34, and my science would come out to a 3.11.

 

This hurts, because if I manage to get an A and enroll in an extra Maymester class (and get an additional A), my science GPA would have risen to a 3.2, though my cumulative would've stayed around a 3.39. With a B, my science GPA wouldn't break the 3.1's, even with the extra Maymester course.

 

My question is, does the 0.1 raise even make that much of a difference in the grand scheme of things? It's still pretty low overall (I know), and I really am banking on my PCE, HCE, letters of rec, volunteering, and personal statement to plead my case. I want to know, because if I don't pay for the Maymester class that I registered for by next week, I will be dropped from it and the spaces may fill up by the time that I get a better idea of what my GPA would be. Do I just save my time and forget about the class in order to apply to programs a month earlier (in May)?

[Guest HanSolo]

I'd try really hard to get an A instead of a B. That's more important than taking another course. 

[MT2PA]

If you're applying this cycle I'd say a 3.1 isn't all that different from a 3.2 and don't bother.

 

However, if you are realistic with yourself and understand that everyone does NOT get in their first time applying you may want to consider taking the course (and more!) so that IF you have to apply next year in theory several courses with A grades could boost your science GPA up further than a 3.2 and improve your chances next year, should you need that.

[Timon]

I think you're asking the wrong question.

 

What you should be asking is do I meet the minimum requirements to apply?

 

How far away am I from that programs accepted student stats?

 

Am I improving all aspects of my application while taking additional courses?

 

Is my application well rounded?

 

3.1.. or 3.2.. you need to be improving and padding all of your stats which include c/sGPA, community service / volunteering, direct paid HCE, shadowing, healthcare certifications / increasing scope of practice, and leadership / awards.

 

You should always be improving even after you've submitted your CASPA, and then update the programs every several weeks in an email letting them know of your increases / improvements. This will show motivation, commitment, improvement and the drive that's needed to be suction PA school, which is what the adcom cares about.

 

Best of luck!

[Ollivander]

I think I'm going to raise my overall GPA by 0.05 and my science GPA by 0.11 this semester and I definitely think it was worth it. Every 0.1 you can raise it will make more headway with admissions committees little by little in my opinion. I'd do it, but only if you feel really good about making an A.

 

It's not just about the rise of your GPA. It's also about screening over your transcript over the last 4 semesters or so and seeing more A's than anything else. That matters too.

[GeorgeA]

Every little bit helps!

 

Have you spoken with the department chair about the change made to the grading system? Once a course syllabus is posted, the instrcutors are really not supposed to change it. The new person should have stuck with the old system.

[LadyNichiavelli]

Thank you all for your responses. After reading all of this, I'm just going to keep on aiming for an A, and continue to build on the rest of my application whether or not I get that A. I would say that the rest of my application is pretty solid in terms of PCE, HCE, volunteering, and leadership (though I'm on my fifth month of personal statement revisions to make sure everything's as perfect as possible). But who knows what will happen? I've picked a decent number of reasonable schools, as well as 3 "wishful thinking, but who knows" schools. All I can do at this point is my very best.

 

And also, I never thought to contact the department chair. I will definitely do that today.

Thanks again everyone.

[Ollivander]

Thank you all for your responses. After reading all of this, I'm just going to keep on aiming for an A, and continue to build on the rest of my application whether or not I get that A. I would say that the rest of my application is pretty solid in terms of PCE, HCE, volunteering, and leadership (though I'm on my fifth month of personal statement revisions to make sure everything's as perfect as possible). But who knows what will happen? I've picked a decent number of reasonable schools, as well as 3 "wishful thinking, but who knows" schools. All I can do at this point is my very best.

 

And also, I never thought to contact the department chair. I will definitely do that today.

Thanks again everyone.

Did you seek out members on this forum to read through your personal statement, or did you get someone else to? I'm about to start revising mine so I was just curious.

[LadyNichiavelli]

I'm really paranoid about putting my personal statement on a public format, so I had a physical therapist at my job who helped his son get into NP school and one of my good friends to help me with the initial edits. After I edited it until I was pretty sure it was perfect, I sent it to a PA personal statement revising service. I was very skeptical at first ($100? Really?), but after reading nothing but positive reviews around the internet and reading up on who would be reading my paper, I decided to go for it. I definitely don't regret it, because they caught and suggested key things that I didn't even consider. I could message you the website if you're interested. (I don't want to advertise on here.)

[Ollivander]

I'm really paranoid about putting my personal statement on a public format, so I had a physical therapist at my job who helped his son get into NP school and one of my good friends to help me with the initial edits. After I edited it until I was pretty sure it was perfect, I sent it to a PA personal statement revising service. I was very skeptical at first ($100? Really?), but after reading nothing but positive reviews around the internet and reading up on who would be reading my paper, I decided to go for it. I definitely don't regret it, because they caught and suggested key things that I didn't even consider. I could message you the website if you're interested. (I don't want to advertise on here.)

I'm absolutely interested in the website. If you don't mind, send it over! Thanks!