<p>Hi.
I am 100% confident that I will be on the pre-med route, and I’m super, * super * interested in Duke. However, I know that if I go to a top university my grades might be lower compared to grades at a state school. How difficult would it be to maintain at least a 3.6 GPA if I am simply an average candidate? Average meaning I am in the middle of the test score range and probably average smart-wise… but obviously I don’t know for sure.</p>
<p>Basically: how hard would it be for someone in the middle of the test-score range who is pretty smart but nowhere near “genius” to maintain a 3.6 GPA?</p>
<p>Please help. Thanks.</p>
<p>For Trinity, the cutoff for Cum Laude is 3.676, which is also about the 25% range of GPA. [Academic</a> Honors - Office of the University Registrar, Duke University](<a href=“http://registrar.duke.edu/registrar/studentpages/student/academichonors.html]Academic”>http://registrar.duke.edu/registrar/studentpages/student/academichonors.html)
What this means is that about 25% of Trinity students had a GPA equal to or higher than 3.676. To take a wild guess, I’d say a 3.6 is around 30-35%, so you need to be in the top third.</p>
<p>You should note that medical schools do account for undergraduate difficulty, and a 3.6 from Duke is likely to be worth more than a 3.6 from a less rigorous school. You must also take into account the additional opportunities Duke can offer you, namely the work and volunteer experience in the Hospital on campus (and by on campus, I mean next to the library). There’s also lots of research experience available.</p>
<p>Thanks. And yeah, all of the opportunities and amazing community is what really draws me to Duke. But, just out of curiosity, let’s say the ACT Range is 31-34… would that 25% MOST LIKELY be made up of the 25% of admitted applicants with a 34+? I mean I know that test scores obviously don’t mean everything and there could be a kid with a 31 who’s smarter than a kid with a 34, but if you had to guess… would the * majority * of that 25% of students w/a 3.67 include the 25% of students w/a 34+?</p>
<p>Those test scores are absolutely not an indicator or predictor of future success, in my opinion. No one talks about their high school test scores, of course, so I can’t be concrete about it. Getting a good GPA is a marathon event lasting over four years, not a sprint that takes about 3 hours on a Saturday. They’re totally different things.</p>
<p>You say you know that test scores don’t mean everything. I’ll say that, at this level, tests scores mean nothing. A 31 is the same as a 34, the only difference being anything ranging from nervousness, exhaustions, mood, hunger, etc. rather than anything to do with intelligence. And don’t forget that some people had tutors and coaches and expensive classes to get that score up, but they obviously won’t have any of that while they’re here.</p>
<p>Completely agree with Ouroboros, ACT has nothing to do with GPA. I got an 800 on my Math (and Math II) subsect and I was still always under the curve in my Calc 2 class. I just didn’t put in as much effort as some people and others were so brilliant that it was impossible to compete.</p>
<p>However, for the original question. It is totally possible. And I would argue easier here than at StateU since curves at Duke are so generous (grade inflation) overall. Yes you will have Bs and a C or two, but at state Us you could get a C in every chem class you take (some profs at the state schools in MO refuse to give out As).</p>
<p>Do not worry about your GPA when coming to Duke. If you put the time and energy into it you can definitely pulloff a 3.6. Good luck! Be a devil ;)</p>
<p>About how many pre-meds, percentage wise, have a 3.6+? Anyone know?</p>
<p>85% of Duke Pre-Meds get into med school. The national average is 50%.</p>
<p>If you come to Duke and work hard you will get into med school.</p>
<p>You have to take that number with a grain of salt. A lot of people don’t make it through all four years as a pre-med and get to apply to med school. The school can maintain such high numbers by internally weeding out students through difficult courses. If you can get through, however, you’ll be a very strong applicant senior year.</p>
<p>what percent of pre-meds will stay all 4 years?</p>
<p>1/3 of all pre-meds stay the course. Ouroboros is right. That number is only so high because only the best survive. </p>
<p>If you are truly committed to pre-med (most just like the idea of being a doctor and thought science was interesting/easy in HS) you’ll stick it out. Everyone that I’ve talked to who has switched doesn’t regret it (ie they aren’t that distressed about no longer being a pre-med).</p>
<p>Duke is one of the best pre-med schools in the country. It’s honestly one of our hallmarks.</p>
<p>thanks. and i ** know ** that i want to become a doctor… like 110%… nothing i want more haha</p>
<p>^that’s what they all say…</p>
<p>…until they realize that being a doctor isn’t like the TV shows portray. Haha. I want to be a doctor, too–just be open to different career choices if pre-med doesn’t work out like you hoped it would.</p>