Admissions "formulas" using GRE+GPA

[MJordano]

Hello,

I've heard many schools use a formula that consists of GRE scores and GPA, and that they use the scores obtained from these formulas as a cut-off for admissions. I've also heard that some schools use overall GPA, and others use overall GPA from your last 2 years. Has any one heard of this before or know of schools with PhD programs that definitely do this?

I'm worried because although my last two years' GPA is a 3.7 and my major GPA is a 3.93 my overall for all undergrad years is only a 3.45. I was originally pre-med with a minor in psych, and now I'm a psych/bio double major. My chemistry and calc classes that I took during my freshman year really damaged my overall, though I've done very well every semester since then.

The APA Graduate Study in Psychology mentions that Illinois at Urbana-Champaine, UNC and IU all look at last 2 years' GPA, however this was an older copy of the book (2007 I think). Does anyone know if they still do this? These are three schools that I am very interested in for cognitive psych and cognitive neuroscience.

Thanks!

[Usmivka]

This will vary by department, not just school. Contact each department you are interested in, they should tell you either firm cutoffs and/or have information related to the average scores and GPAs of admitted and accepted students.

[MJordano]

Thanks. I'm a little shy because a lot of schools don't like to give out direct confirmations that they use certain formulas. I know a lot of schools specifically say on their websites that they don't use any particular formula, but I don't necessarily believe that. I probably will end up emailing some programs after I get my GRE scores, just so I have an idea.