This post will be the first of many about Grade Point Averages (GPAs).  There are many aspects of GPA I wish I could explain within this post. The problem is that I have a cap for how long these posts can be and as a result, I am restricted from how much I can elaborate.  To remedy this, I will have posts that are dedicated to a specific topic regarding GPA.  This will allow me to clarify and expand my opinions and perspective on the topic.  But for now, this post is meant to touch base on several aspects of GPA that will be covered deeper in future posts. 

What GPA is:  GPA is meant as an indicator of what a student is capable of accomplishing.  For medical school, alongside the Medical College Acceptance Test (MCAT), a pre-med student’s GPA is generally the most important factor in determining whether or not he or she will be admitted. 

What many may not realize is that achieving an impressive GPA is more than simply studying to no end; working hard does not simply mean studying hard.  Consider these obstacles students can face when it comes to earning perfect grades.  First, students need to overcome classes where the subjects are not their strong suit.  Second, students face the dilemma of having to take courses with the intolerable professors.  Third, they cannot falter on studies during times of poor health.  Fourth, they need to stay focused and determined on school despite what occurs outside of class:  whether it involves family, friends, a relationship, extracurricular activities, a favorite hobby, etc.  These are nothing more than a small handful of obstacles that many students will have to overcome for a GPA fit for medical school.      

It can prove excruciatingly difficult to meet these expectations.  There’s a pretty funny saying in regards to college students that they only have time for two of these three things:  good grades, a social life, and sleep.  Sadly, there can be moments when students feel forced to surrender both, sleep and their social lives, to keep their grades where they want them. 

Many people probably realize or after having read what I have written above that possessing a high GPA takes tremendous amounts of work and intelligence; however, despite this, these same people may not agree that a person’s GPA can indicate someone’s potential of becoming a good doctor, especially by the score itself.  Medical schools acknowledge this.  If they did not, the application would consist of filling out your personal information and then inserting your GPA at the end.  One of the problems with GPA is that there are easier ways than others to achieve an outstanding GPA.   These easier methods weaken the correlation between a student’s work ethic in school and their GPA.  It is when a student’s GPA is complimented with his or her MCAT score and extracurricular activities (including research and community service), that an admissions committee will be able to picture the individual behind the application.