- Joined
- Mar 7, 2008
- Messages
- 861
- Reaction score
- 5
I just wanted to make a point that I think is often missed around here, particularly with how worked up people get about numbers.
If anyone has taken a look at the recent MSAR (2009 ed), try to pop your eyes back into your head. I know that I was certainly shocked to see how much numbers have gone up in only the last few years (I have the 2007 MSAR). It seems like just about every school now has average GPAs around the 3.8 mark and MCATs that are 33-35. How is this possible, you might ask?
I haven't read the technical information in the MSAR regarding how they collect data (I'm not sure they give an exhaustive methodology anyway), but a quick comparison to the US News numbers shows a pretty significant discrepancy between median GPAs and MCAT scores vis-a-vis the MSAR.
What I suspect is happening is that the MSAR is reporting median statistics for all accepted students rather than just matriculants. This has the effect of inflating numbers because a school can honestly say "the median GPA for accepted students was 3.8" even if the median GPA for people who actually chose to go there was 3.6. Here's an example of how this would work:
Susie graduates from Cal Tech with a 4.0 and is disappointed with her 43 MCAT. She applies early and broadly to 20 schools, and returns secondaries for all 20.
Dave wakes up one day in a cloud of marijuana smoke in his dorm at Mediocre U and thinks to himself, "hey, being a doctor would be sweet." His 3.2 and 28 MCAT are reported to the 10 schools to which he applied in early October. He misses the deadlines for half of the secondaries because he is too stoned most of the time.
Susie gets interviews at all 20 schools, and very nervous about her chances for acceptance, takes out a loan to be able to afford to attend every one. Her interview skills are good but not fantastic, and she is offered acceptances at 10 schools ranging from The World's Best Medical School to San Juan State (she is fluent in Spanish).
Dave saves an old lady from being hit by a car (driven by another old lady) and breaks his leg in the process. He is a local hero for a day. Dave's alma mater, Mediocre U, extends him an interview invite even though he never actually paid his secondary application fee (the check bounced) and is very impressed with his laid-back nature and affability. He is extended an offer of admission.
Susie also interviewed at Mediocre U and was extended an offer of admission. The median stats for Mediocre U's accepted applicants were around a 3.7/32, because many people like Susie (who were nervous about their chances for acceptance) interviewed at Mediocre U - but did not ultimately end up attending. Because Susie received offers of admission from 10 schools, all schools factor in her incredible numbers when reporting their medians for accepted applicants. In effect, her numbers skew the true picture of the applicant pool. Dave's numbers carry less weight since he received only one offer of admission.
If anyone thinks this is incorrect (or better yet, knows why there are discrepancies), feel free to chime in... hence the purpose of the forum
If anyone has taken a look at the recent MSAR (2009 ed), try to pop your eyes back into your head. I know that I was certainly shocked to see how much numbers have gone up in only the last few years (I have the 2007 MSAR). It seems like just about every school now has average GPAs around the 3.8 mark and MCATs that are 33-35. How is this possible, you might ask?
I haven't read the technical information in the MSAR regarding how they collect data (I'm not sure they give an exhaustive methodology anyway), but a quick comparison to the US News numbers shows a pretty significant discrepancy between median GPAs and MCAT scores vis-a-vis the MSAR.
What I suspect is happening is that the MSAR is reporting median statistics for all accepted students rather than just matriculants. This has the effect of inflating numbers because a school can honestly say "the median GPA for accepted students was 3.8" even if the median GPA for people who actually chose to go there was 3.6. Here's an example of how this would work:
Susie graduates from Cal Tech with a 4.0 and is disappointed with her 43 MCAT. She applies early and broadly to 20 schools, and returns secondaries for all 20.
Dave wakes up one day in a cloud of marijuana smoke in his dorm at Mediocre U and thinks to himself, "hey, being a doctor would be sweet." His 3.2 and 28 MCAT are reported to the 10 schools to which he applied in early October. He misses the deadlines for half of the secondaries because he is too stoned most of the time.
Susie gets interviews at all 20 schools, and very nervous about her chances for acceptance, takes out a loan to be able to afford to attend every one. Her interview skills are good but not fantastic, and she is offered acceptances at 10 schools ranging from The World's Best Medical School to San Juan State (she is fluent in Spanish).
Dave saves an old lady from being hit by a car (driven by another old lady) and breaks his leg in the process. He is a local hero for a day. Dave's alma mater, Mediocre U, extends him an interview invite even though he never actually paid his secondary application fee (the check bounced) and is very impressed with his laid-back nature and affability. He is extended an offer of admission.
Susie also interviewed at Mediocre U and was extended an offer of admission. The median stats for Mediocre U's accepted applicants were around a 3.7/32, because many people like Susie (who were nervous about their chances for acceptance) interviewed at Mediocre U - but did not ultimately end up attending. Because Susie received offers of admission from 10 schools, all schools factor in her incredible numbers when reporting their medians for accepted applicants. In effect, her numbers skew the true picture of the applicant pool. Dave's numbers carry less weight since he received only one offer of admission.
If anyone thinks this is incorrect (or better yet, knows why there are discrepancies), feel free to chime in... hence the purpose of the forum
