All other things the same, which candidate gets in?

[cryhavoc]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Same grades, volunteering, etc.

One candidate is 21 years old with a 30 on the MCAT.

Another candidate is 23 years old with a 27 on the MCAT and has experience in the Peace Corps.

 

[DrHart]

Depends on the school

 

[Ismet]

All other things are never the same.

 

[NickNaylor]

All other things are never the same.

This + comparisons like this are just pointless in that 1) they don't represent reality and 2) applicants simply aren't compared like this.

 

[MrLogan13]

Don't worry about how another candidate may be viewed, worry about yourself. Do things you are interested in, do them well, and become the most competitive candidate you can be.

 

[Glandzburg]

Same grades, volunteering, etc.

One candidate is 21 years old with a 30 on the MCAT.

Another candidate is 23 years old with a 27 on the MCAT and has experience in the Peace Corps.

Applicants are never compared side-by-side like this. They could both get in, or they could both get rejected.

As Goro likes to say, making these theoretical comparisons is a fool's exercise.

 

[ski89]

Same grades, volunteering, etc.

One candidate is 21 years old with a 30 on the MCAT.

Another candidate is 23 years old with a 27 on the MCAT and has experience in the Peace Corps.

Quite possibly neither

 

[Old&InTheWay]

Are you debating between taking the MCAT now, or waiting two years while doing nothing in that period, and scoring three points lower?

 

[LizzyM]

Are you debating between taking the MCAT now, or waiting two years while doing nothing in that period, and scoring three points lower?

I thought it might be someone with two scores, the higher of which will expire during Peace Corps service.

It would be highly unusual at my school to consider either but we might interview a 23 year old Peace Corps volunteer with 33 MCAT and leave 1,000 21 year olds with MCATs of 35 or more behind. Of course, the irony is that the difference in percentiles between a 33 and a 35 is much less than the difference between 27 and 30 (bell curve and all that).

It comes down to the fact that 21 year olds with good MCATs are a dime a dozen whereas the Peace Corps volunteer brings a type of diversity of experience to the table that is otherwise lacking.

 

[Goro]

As mentioned above, it depends upon the school. For the average medical school, both of them. It's NOT a zero sum game. But Yale might go for the latter kid.

Same grades, volunteering, etc.

One candidate is 21 years old with a 30 on the MCAT.

Another candidate is 23 years old with a 27 on the MCAT and has experience in the Peace Corps.

 

[Old&InTheWay]

I thought it might be someone with two scores, the higher of which will expire during Peace Corps service.

It would be highly unusual at my school to consider either but we might interview a 23 year old Peace Corps volunteer with 33 MCAT and leave 1,000 21 year olds with MCATs of 35 or more behind. Of course, the irony is that the difference in percentiles between a 33 and a 35 is much less than the difference between 27 and 30 (bell curve and all that).

It comes down to the fact that 21 year olds with good MCATs are a dime a dozen whereas the Peace Corps volunteer brings a type of diversity of experience to the table that is otherwise lacking.

I completely missed the part about the peace corps; question makes a lot more sense.

 

[NeuResurgens]

It could go either way depending on the school. But the Peace Corps would be a big plus on any application.

 

[Psai]

Even fools need exercise, usually by running their mouth. (sorry, I couldnt resist)

rekt

 

[ridethecliche]

As mentioned above, it depends upon the school. For the average medical school, both of them. It's NOT a zero sum game. But Yale might go for the latter kid.

I don't think Yale would do that. They probably get lots of applicants with peace corps experience with better scores, no?

 

[Goro]

SOMEBODY'S getting into Yale with scores < the 10th percentile.

Yale's Class of 2014 seemed to be quite diverse as well.

I don't think Yale would do that. They probably get lots of applicants with peace corps experience with better scores, no?

 

[ridethecliche]

SOMEBODY'S getting into Yale with scores < the 10th percentile.

Yale's Class of 2014 seemed to be quite diverse as well.

I'd be pretty comfortable saying it wasn't due to peace corps though!

 

[resiroth]

I'd be pretty comfortable saying it wasn't due to peace corps though!

Oh boy, here we go!

 

[ridethecliche]

Oh boy, here we go!

?

 

[Law2Doc]

Same grades, volunteering, etc.

One candidate is 21 years old with a 30 on the MCAT.

Another candidate is 23 years old with a 27 on the MCAT and has experience in the Peace Corps.

I believe the punch line is "the one with the biggest $&@$" 🙂

As mentioned, all else Is never equal. The age won't matter. A few points on the MCAT might be a Bigger deal for some places than others. Peace corps is regarded as valuable at most places -- says something about the kind of person you are, shows a willingness to roll up your sleeves and get dirty, maybe suggests a worldliness and maturity a sheltered college student might not have. But these decisions never come down to direct comparison of two factors.

If it's that close, you just have both in for an interview and go with whomever the interviewers like best.