<p>Will a 3.3-3.4 from a most selective college (over 1/3 of class were vals/sals and 1/3 NM SF or Scholars), where grade deflation is the norm, ruin chances for acceptance at top biomedical engineering PhD programs, if LOR’s, research experience plus awards, and GREs are excellent? This is the average graduating GPA at this institution. The lower grades happened during the first year and a half of a rigorous core curriculum, in tough courses unrelated to interest area. Upper level grades have been excellent. Are GPAs considered in the context of the UG program’s average GPAs? Should a couple of low sophomore grades be explained in application? This 3.3-3.4 GPA is below the accepted average GPAs (3.8 or so) posted for top 10-20 programs. Now wondering how many safer programs to apply to, or whether to anticipate an unfunded master’s…not sure how aware grad schools are about this institution’s grade deflation.</p>
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<p>And you pretty much answered your own question there. Adcoms definitely will consider where you completed your undergrad and if it’s common for GPA to be deflated there, chances are everybody’s GPA coming out of there will be low too. What’s more is if adcoms are familiar with that school, they’ll know how tough it is. But you should cast your net wide, just as a general rule of advice. I definitely don’t think you need to worry about considering a masters though.</p>