Major GPA vs Total GPA: Grad School Considerations

[DukeofDuke]

Do grad schools weight your major gpa more than your total gpa? Or are they considered about equal?
I read through a couple hundred profiles on physicsgre.com, people post their stats and where they got in. I noticed that almost everyone had a higher physics gpa than general gpa.
What would schools think of a person who's general gpa is higher than their physics gpa? At my school the physics and math courses are a LOT harder than the more interesting gen. req. fulfilling electives, and I'm probably better at humanities than I am at physics (though physics is way more fun) so I'll probably end up with a significantly higher general gpa than a physics gpa. This is different than the trend I saw...will grad schools look at it negatively?

 

[f1b1o2]

I had a good general GPA and a good, but not awesome, physics GPA. The physics GRE and research experience are what you should try to get down. Combine this with a good statement and good rec letters and you should be fine. But, probably the single most important aspect of your background is your physics GRE. You do really well on that and you'll get into good schools. Now, you probably have to have some research experience and you can't have bad rec letters or a bad GPA, but if everything is pretty average/good and you have a really good Physics GRE score, then you should be great for some really good schools.

 

[Mene]

I can say that grad schools typically consider both the major GPA and the total GPA during the admissions process. However, the weight placed on each may vary depending on the specific program and institution.

In general, a higher major GPA is often seen as an indicator of a strong understanding and aptitude in a particular field of study. This is especially important for graduate programs that are more specialized, such as in the sciences. However, a strong overall GPA demonstrates a well-rounded academic performance and can also be viewed positively by grad schools.

In regards to your question about grad schools potentially looking negatively at a higher general GPA than major GPA, it is important to remember that admissions committees consider a variety of factors in addition to GPA, such as research experience, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. A higher general GPA may not necessarily hurt your chances of admission if you have other strong qualities that demonstrate your potential for success in a graduate program.

Ultimately, it is important to strive for a strong overall academic performance, but also to focus on excelling in your chosen field of study. This will demonstrate your dedication and passion for your chosen subject, which are qualities that grad schools often look for in applicants.