Grades
Health professions schools give by far the greatest weight to grades earned in the required science courses. A good cumulative average won't get you an acceptance if your record consists of "C's" in the sciences and "A's" in the humanities and social sciences.
Note that the general figures listed below are generalized. They are neither minimums nor thresholds for guaranteed success. Consult admissions criteria for the individual programs you are interested in, and consider that data for recent UR applicants may be different from national averages.
- Allopathic medical schools. In 2009 the average GPA for matriculates to medical school in the U.S. was 3.66, and the science GPA was 3.60. Medical School Application Results (Summary) 2005-2009 (PDF).
- Osteopathic medical schools. Successful osteopathy applicants usually have GPA's that are just a notch lower than those of successful medical school applicants. According to AACOM, the average overall GPA for students who matriculated at osteopathic medical schools in 2007 was 3.45.
- Veterinary schools. To be competitive for veterinary school, you will need about the same grades you would need for medical school. The average GPA for accepted students in 2008 was 3.57.
- Dental Schools. According to the ADEA, which administers the online dental school application, the mean GPA for students who enrolled in dental school in 2008 was 3.50. The mean science GPA was also 3.50.