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It explains how GPA influences applications, highlighting typical accepted-student GPA ranges for multiple professional programs. It details testing pathways by field, including MCAT, GRE, OAT, and DAT, with guidance on whether required exams apply, recommended study timelines, test structure, scoring targets, and how to avoid retaking exams or using tests only as practice.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/how-to-get-into-professional-school-a-starting-point-for-research-gpa-and-testing/290064/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/how-to-get-into-professional-school-a-starting-point-for-research-gpa-and-testing/290064.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Aurelia","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-25","2026-09-17",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":39},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"Why is GPA important for professional school applications?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"GPA is a very important factor in applications, so students should focus on grades and keep GPA as high as possible. 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This guide also tries to draw attention to opportunities at West Chester that would increase your chances of admission into professional school. However, this should be a starting point in your research of professional schools. You should make sure to check with school websites to make sure that requirements have not changed to give yourself the best chance of being accepted. |  |\n\n|  | General\u003Cbr>GPA:\u003Cbr>Your GPA is a very important factor of your application. So no matter what year you are it’s very important to focus on your grades and keep your GPA as high as possible to make yourself a competitive applicant. Make sure to study hard freshman year and keep your grades up; you can wait on getting involved until you are acclimated to the demands of college. The GPA requirement for each school varies. While researching schools that you are interested in; you will want to check each school’s GPA requirement to see where you fall.\u003Cbr>Medical School\u003Cbr>The national average GPA of accepted students for a MD school is 3.7 and the national average GPA of accepted students for a DO school is 3.5 to 3.6.\u003Cbr>Dental School\u003Cbr>The national average GPA of accepted students for dental schools is generally between 3.5 and 3.6.\u003Cbr>Veterinary School\u003Cbr>The national average GPA of accepted students is 3.5 to 3.6.\u003Cbr>Physician’s Assistant School\u003Cbr>The national average GPA for PA schools is 3.3 to 3.5. |\n| --- | --- |\n|  |  |\n\n|  |  |\n| --- | --- |\n|  | Optometry School\u003Cbr>The national average GPA of accepted students is between a 3.2 and 3.3.\u003Cbr>Podiatry School\u003Cbr>The national average GPA of accepted students is 3.2 to 3.3.\u003Cbr>TESTING:\u003Cbr>MCAT\u003Cbr>If you are looking to go to medical, podiatry, or (some) PA school then you want to take the MCAT. However, before you start to study and take the test make sure to check with the schools you are going to be applying to and check to see if they require the MCAT.\u003Cbr>There is a new MCAT. It has four sections which are: chemical and physical foundations of biological systems; critical analysis and reasoning; biological and biochemical foundations of living systems, and psychological, social and biological foundations of behavior. Each section is worth 132 points; therefore, the total test is worth 528 points.\u003Cbr>You will want to dedicate around 6 months to study for the MCAT. This can be done while taking classes if you plan properly. Also you want to make sure to take the MCAT during or after your junior year. If you take it after you apply to medical school, realize it will take a month to get your scores and a month to verify them. |\n\n| Make sure that you have taken all the classes you need to do well on the MCAT, |  |\n| --- | --- |\n| and have had ample time to prep for the test. You do not want to have to take the |  |\n| MCAT more than once. Some schools will average your scores; so do not take the |  |\n| MCAT one time as a “practice” to see how you do, because it could affect your |  |\n| chances of getting accepted to medical school. When taking practice exams make |  |\n| sure to simulate the testing environment; practice taking the full seven hour test all |  |\n| at once. There are free practice tests available through the AAMC website. You can |  |\n| also take prep classes or study from prep books; there are books available to |  |\n| borrow from the Pre-Medical Office. |  |\n| GRE |  |\n| If you are looking to apply to veterinary or (some) PA schools you want to |  |\n| take the GRE. However, before you start to study or take the test make sure that |  |\n| the schools you are applying to require the test. |  |\n| The GRE has three sections: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and |  |\n| analytical writing. You want to make sure to g","cbCaid0ht6GJKra2","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaid0ht6GJKra2","pdf",324632,"English","# GPA\n## Medical School\n## Dental School\n## Veterinary School\n## Physician’s Assistant School\n## Optometry School\n## Podiatry School\n# Testing\n## MCAT\n## GRE\n## OAT\n## DAT","[{\"question\":\"Why is GPA important for professional school applications?\",\"answer\":\"GPA is a very important factor in applications, so students should focus on grades and keep GPA as high as possible. Different schools have different GPA requirements, so applicants should check each program’s stated range.\"},{\"question\":\"What exam should you consider for medical, podiatry, or some PA schools?\",\"answer\":\"The guide states that MCAT is used for medical, podiatry, or some PA school applicants. It also advises confirming with target schools whether the MCAT is required.\"},{\"question\":\"How long should you plan to study for the MCAT?\",\"answer\":\"The guide recommends dedicating around 6 months to study for the MCAT and taking it during or after junior year. It also notes that taking scores verification can take time if taken after applying.\"}]","How to Get into Professional School - A Starting Point for Research - GPA and Testing | PDF",76]