Consider this: The MSAR is always one application year behind. This means that the numbers that you now see are from current second year medical class. That was the first year of the new MCAT. The MSAR only reported the new MCAT, it is likely that only about 1/3 (or less) of the members of most of those new classes took the new MCAT, so we are missing a big piece of the puzzle. Some programs targeted big "new" MCAT numbers, some did not. Neither MCAT nor the programs know what the new MCAT really means in the performance of students in their medical curriculum. The next MSAR in April 2018 will reflect another admissions class that is likely composed of 2/3 new MCAT scores, and of course the current admissions year will be 90% or more new MCAT. I know some programs were focusing very strongly on the highest new MCAT scores and maybe not so much on the GPA and personal characteristics. You can look at the MSAR for all of these factors. When you do that you will see that once again UCF, UM, and UF are slightly above the rest of a fairly equal pack.
While looking at the entering class has some value, the real value is in the outcomes of the graduating classes. In this regard you have national board exams (Step 1/2) and Match lists to consider. These two factors are also moving targets. You have know way to determine the board scores and must rely on programs to tell you, or infer to how they are doing. I always hear applicants tell me that nearly all programs say that they are above the national average -- I am no genius, but I suspect there may be some questionable integrity here because every program cant be above the average (hopefully mathematicians in the group can corroborate this?.) Match lists are also somewhat subjective in that most people do not know how to differentiate between a good and a better match list. Also match lists are a reflection of a student's choice so you may see a match in an odd place and say "Oohhhh, poor guy, he really got bagged." But you don't know that this could have been his top choice, maybe he is from that area, has family there, or even if that may be one of the top spots in that nation for that specialty. From what I can tell that average match rate for a majority of M.D. programs is in the high 90%....around 98% I am told. There is one national report that each program receives that tells the story after the match. It compares the program's match outcomes, board scores, research, etc and then places them in a quartile (~ 36 programs). UCF has consistently been in the upper quartile of the nation in this report and in fact, based on the math, it would appear that we are in the upper portion of that upper quartile. So it isn't about the entering stats, though UCF has been consistently been strong in the composite of stats, it is about more about the program's ability to support you in your interest's and prepare you for the next step. It is about outcomes and your peers. It is about curriculum and costs. For some it is about being close to family, or multiple clinical assets for training purposes (you see more methods and systems, and different cases and patients, this makes you more adaptable). It is also about down-time, teamwork, faculty, advanced learning facilities, and diversely talented peers from backgrounds that span academic and cultural interests. I could go on, but I won't because the short answer is that you will know the best program for you when you visit it. There is a best place for you and you may be surprised where you find it. Don't limit yourself and listen to folk lore any longer. Happy Hunting!!!
