Course rigor

[Gloves]

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I know this has been debated to death, but I don't see how the general consensus agrees that the GPA number is all that matters. Course rigor definitely has to matter for med school.

It matters for undergrad admission, transfering, and any grad school I can think of (except maybe law which I hear likes LSAT above all else due to excessive GPA padding). Why wouldn't med school ad comes look at course rigor or the difficulty of the school? (I don't think you can deny that some schools give out A's a lot easier)

If we had 4 people with 3 different majors (Electrical engineering is the hardest in my book) how would they be judged?

Person A - GPA inflated school, Electrical engineering major (3.55)

Person B - GPA inflated school, Humanities major (3.55)

Person C - GPA inflated school, Fine arts major (3.90)

Person D - Very hard school (say MIT for instance), Electrical engineering major (3.90)

I don't have every example set up perfectly (or we'd need a lot more persons) but still I don't understand how anyone could think that person A and person B worked equally hard for their grades. Especially the comparison between person C and D which I made more extreme. I love art class, but come on it's nowhere near the difficulty of engineering. Come on 😱

Feel free to flame me, but at least post a reason why you disagree

 

[PremedGunner]

v

 

[the duck]

Doesn't make a difference to nit pick difficulty. The adcoms just want to see you can get good grades. They may grant you some leniency if you have below average grades and were and EE at MIT but thats about it.

😴 I'm going to take a nap while I wait for someone to point out that MIT has rather low acceptance rates for a college of its caliber.

 

[JJMrK]

Sure it matters. But no one can quantitatively tell you how much, or compare those four scenarios even somewhat accurately. Med school admissions is about the big picture. You need good numbers, but you also need to be involved in interesting things that you're passionate about. Major in something you're interested in and get a good GPA. Don't worry so much about what the next guy is doing.

 

[halekulani]

applications are about the whole package, not just gpa

these are accomplished humans evaluating your applications, not *****s. they have some common sense.

 

[docjlud]

I wasn't aware that the general consensus was that GPA is all that matters.....

they dont just want to see that you can get good grades........they want to see that you can get good grades in HARD CLASSES, with FULL COURSE LOADS....

Adcoms are not stupid........they know what courses and majors are difficult......if they see you have a 4.0 but took 12 credit hours a semester without a significant reason (like having to pay your way through school) they are not going to be as impressed as someone with a 4.0 who took a full load....same as if you have a 4.0 sociology major against a 4.0 EE major.....

They take everything into account....

 

[DrHouse579]

But, won't you care if you don't survive the cycle long enough to even be considered for a second round app? Applicant A, assuming his MCAT score is mediocre, will not survive the first round, where computers decide whether or not you will receive a secondary app based on your GPA + MCAT. The fine arts applicant, however, with his inflated GPA will be sent a secondary app, where he can write an excellent essay and list impressive EC's that may be enough to earn him an interview. This system's not fair. It's a game and you have to play it smart.

 

[gravitywave]

But, won't you care if you don't survive the cycle long enough to even be considered for a second round app? Applicant A, assuming his MCAT score is mediocre, will not survive the first round, where computers decide whether or not you will receive a secondary app based on your GPA + MCAT.

this really doesn't happen at very many places. the straight number screens that are done strictly by machine are usually very soft. e.g. Mayo won't send you a fee request unless you are truly uncompetitive. the point here is that people who major in tough subjects at tough undergrads might be at a disadvantage to people who major in puff subjects at less competitive places.

i agree with the above poster who said that people just need to major in something they like, and then do the best they can. don't worry about everyone else. bear in mind though, that a 3.0 isn't as good as a 3.5 no matter what.... so yeah you have to play the game some.

i am also firmly of the opinion that very few people who attend private undergrads get their money's worth over what they would have spent at their state school, pre med or no. but that's another thread.