Cutoff Equation

[deuce924]

I am aware of the 10 x GPA + MCAT = equation. Is that used by Pre-Meds to determine where they are competitive or is it actually used by adcoms? If it is used by adcoms, what is the number they use as a cutoff?

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[littlealex]

Its for premeds. I'm pretty sure whatever formula the adcoms use, its much more complicated than that. And they will never admit to using a formula.

Lastly, the magic number is typically for a pre-secondary screening anyway. Given your numbers, you will make it past any screens.

 

[Law2Doc]

I am aware of the 10 x GPA + MCAT = equation. Is that used by Pre-Meds to determine where they are competitive or is it actually used by adcoms? If it is used by adcoms, what is the number they use as a cutoff?

Agree with the above poster -- this is just a back of the envelope calculation some do to see if they are in the right ballpark. It is not something that should be given a lot of weight or thought. The average for allo matriculants is around 3.5-3.6 GPA and 30 MCAT, with a pretty tight range. If you are in this ballpark, you are competitive for the average med school. If you have higher you can look at more prestigious places, lower and your odds are longer. There are places that screen, and anecdotally folks with below a 3.0 probably never make it past the admissions office secretary. There is no official published number though. And bear in mind that this is not solely a numbers game. People with high numerical stats get nixed from consideration at a lot of schools for a variety of reasons, ranging from poor ECs, poor essays, unimpressive reasons for "why medicine", poor LORs, lackluster interviewing skills etc. Even the best numerical stat folks will have some rejections from schools they thought they were competitive at. So don't expect any useful numerical barometer. This is not an objective process and subjective considerations loom large.

 

[deuce924]

So I am guessing this was just some equation created to objectify a very subjective procedure.

 

[TheRealMD]

So I am guessing this was just some equation created to objectify a very subjective procedure.

Mostly, it's an easy way to eliminate some schools that you probably don't have a chance at. Also, your state of residency plays a huge part in what schools you can look at. It cuts that list of 126 by more that half.

 

[notdeadyet]

Mostly, it's an easy way to eliminate some schools that you probably don't have a chance at.

I'd use the number as a way to judge competitiveness of schools and define what's probably a reach for you, but I wouldn't use it to select your list. The process is way to subjective for that.

 

[Dr. Josh]

So reading through this thread i never saw what the equation was suppossed to equal to get past the front desk. 😕

 

[nka1985]

So reading through this thread i never saw what the equation was suppossed to equal to get past the front desk. 😕

One person (A Kaplan Instructor, not anybody from a med school) told me (10 X GPA) + MCAT > 65. But they also said this isn't really written in stone or anything, just that if you are greater than or equal to 65 you should be pretty safe. I don't think this is based on any real calculation the med schools use, just some basic math. Most say it's best to have a GPA>=3.5 and an MCAT>=30...so throw that in the equation and you get 65.

 

[littlealex]

I never really know how much faith to place in the magic numbers. I personally have a high MCAT and low GPA, and I know that one doesn't offset the other. Still, my magic number looks good, yet I get the feeling most schools in my number range won't accept me.

 

[Law2Doc]

So reading through this thread i never saw what the equation was suppossed to equal to get past the front desk. 😕

Exactly. There isn't a set number. I'm sure some schools have their own internal number but no point worrying about something you can't have.

 

[munnabhai]

I heard that law schools use (10*GPA)+LSAT scores as a major decider in their admissions process. Apperantly I heard that they dont have an interview process (which I found really weird). I dont know how internships play a role into the formulaic admissions.

BTW, this is all hearsay from pre-law friends.