Do adcoms weigh GPAs differently according to undergrad institution prestige/rigor?

[kesher]

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My senior year of high school, I decided to go to my flagship state school over more "prestigious" private schools to save money. My school is a respectable institution in my state and region of the country, but it pales in comparison to the top schools.

Do adcoms give students at top private schools more leeway regarding GPA than students at state schools? For instance, if the average GPA for a particular medical school is a 3.8 then my train of thought is, "I essentially need a 4.0 to get in to balance out the Harvard grad with a 3.6."

I've worked hard to earn a high GPA (3.95), but I know that my classes aren't nearly as rigorous as those at the Ivy Leagues. If I were at an Ivy League, I'd probably have below a 3.0. I'd imagine my 3.95 at a state school doesn't hold as much weight as a 3.95 elsewhere.

 

[libertyyne]

My senior year of high school, I decided to go to my flagship state school over more "prestigious" private schools to save money. My school is a respectable institution in my state and region of the country, but it pales in comparison to the top schools.

Do adcoms give students at top private schools more leeway regarding GPA than students at state schools? For instance, if the average GPA for a particular medical school is a 3.8 then my train of thought is, "I essentially need a 4.0 to get in to balance out the Harvard grad with a 3.6."

I've worked hard to earn a high GPA (3.95), but I know that my classes aren't nearly as rigorous as those at the Ivy Leagues. If I were at an Ivy League, I'd probably have below a 3.0. I'd imagine my 3.95 at a state school doesn't hold as much weight as a 3.95 elsewhere.

I wouldnt sell yourself short at harvard you would probably have a 4.8

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...e-inflation/McZHfRZ2RxpoP5Xvwged1N/story.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/opinion/sunday/leaked-harvards-grading-rubric.html

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Essentially, no. It can play a small part, but a 3.95 can get youbin anywhere coupled with the right MCAT score.

 

[efle]

See this survey from 2013: selective undergrad is a high importance factor when private schools are assessing your academics, but it is low importance to public schools.

This has been discussed a lot on SDN over the years. The TL;DR is essentially: The most selective medical schools generally want not only high GPAs, but high GPAs from top colleges. That said, going to a selective college will not win you back bonus points to make up for a weak GPA, and if you have a very high MCAT score then being near the top of your class at any college keeps all doors open.

 

[kesher]

See this survey from 2013: selective undergrad is a high importance factor when private schools are assessing your academics, but it is low importance to public schools.

This has been discussed a lot on SDN over the years. The TL;DR is essentially: The most selective medical schools generally want not only high GPAs, but high GPAs from top colleges. That said, going to a selective college will not win you back bonus points to make up for a weak GPA, and if you have a very high MCAT score then being near the top of your class at any college keeps all doors open.

So basically private medical schools won't want me because I don't attend a prestigious school, but I have a shot at public ones? Also, on Table 1 it lists "selectivity of undergraduate institution (private)" under highest importance and "lack of access to optimal educational resources" under medium importance... I had a lack of access to optimal educational resources because I chose to attend the least prestigious school I got into for financial reasons. These two considerations seem to contradict one another.

 

[libertyyne]

So basically private medical schools won't want me because I don't attend a prestigious school, but I have a shot at public ones?

I would worry about maintaining a 3.9 and getting a 520+ , then you can go where ever you want. There are only 665 people in the country who have scores combo's of 3.7+ and 517+, there are many more seats at top 20 schools then 665.

You have no control over the school you chose now. focus on what you can control.

 

[salemstein]

OP, I made the same mistake almost 10 years ago- went to an "inflated" HYPSM and found out the hard way that none of science classes were inflated enough. Had to reapply, and I did a postbac at state school and easily cruised through, with plenty of time to do extracurrics, MCAT studying and all.

 

[efle]

private medical schools won't want me because I don't attend a prestigious school, but I have a shot at public ones?

It depends. If you score top few percent on the MCAT and make straight As at your state school, you are very much still in the running anywhere. If you scored borderline competitive (say 515) and had an OK GPA (say 3.66) then you might start to have differences in your cycle compared to if you'd been applying out of Princeton

lack of access to optimal educational resources

I believe this refers to your upbringing / severe issues like needing to work full time to support others while also trying to complete course credits. Being a student at a state flagship or unknown private college is not lack of access.

 

[doctorbob23]

There is a lot of grade inflation in many schools. You can get in from any undergraduate institution. That's why they have the mcat

 

[CharlieBillings]

It depends. If you score top few percent on the MCAT and make straight As at your state school, you are very much still in the running anywhere. If you scored borderline competitive (say 515) and had an OK GPA (say 3.66) then you might start to have differences in your cycle compared to if you'd been applying out of Princeton



I believe this refers to your upbringing / severe issues like needing to work full time to support others while also trying to complete course credits. Being a student at a state flagship or unknown private college is not lack of access.

515 is borederline competitive?

 

[LoveBeingHuman:)]

This topic has been discussed several times..

It's time that SDN put a ban on this topic

 

[efle]

515 is borederline competitive?

For top 20s, which keep medians at 518-522 equivalent

 

[piii]

How many times does this question need to be asked each week?

 

[CLB_MD]

Speaking as a Columbia grad, absolutely not. Took a year off after graduating to fix my GPA and still no luck during this application cycle. I wish I had just gone to my state school instead. You made the right decision, OP.

 

[candbgirl]

I think "Lack of access to optimal educational resources" means before you were 18. Like in grade school and high school. It has nothing to do with attending a public/state university.


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[WedgeDawg]

A 3.9+ coupled with a 520+ MCAT from South-by-Southwest Idaho State College has the potential to get you into any medical school.

 

[Goro]

For the gazillionth time, NO.

Don't assume that the Ivies are always rigorous. Look up the term "Gentleman's' C".

My senior year of high school, I decided to go to my flagship state school over more "prestigious" private schools to save money. My school is a respectable institution in my state and region of the country, but it pales in comparison to the top schools.

Do adcoms give students at top private schools more leeway regarding GPA than students at state schools? For instance, if the average GPA for a particular medical school is a 3.8 then my train of thought is, "I essentially need a 4.0 to get in to balance out the Harvard grad with a 3.6."

I've worked hard to earn a high GPA (3.95), but I know that my classes aren't nearly as rigorous as those at the Ivy Leagues. If I were at an Ivy League, I'd probably have below a 3.0. I'd imagine my 3.95 at a state school doesn't hold as much weight as a 3.95 elsewhere.

 

[Goro]

You're not paying attention.

The median GPA and mCAT score for MD acceptees is 3.7 and 31 on the old exam scale....about 510 now.

Invest in MSAR Online to see what medians are at different schools. Even a 3.6 can get you into striking distance at Harvard or Stanford.

So basically private medical schools won't want me because I don't attend a prestigious school, but I have a shot at public ones? Also, on Table 1 it lists "selectivity of undergraduate institution (private)" under highest importance and "lack of access to optimal educational resources" under medium importance... I had a lack of access to optimal educational resources because I chose to attend the least prestigious school I got into for financial reasons. These two considerations seem to contradict one another.

 

[WedgeDawg]

For the gazillionth time, NO.

Don't assume that the Ivies are always rigorous. Look up the term "Gentleman's' C".

High median grades don't mean schools aren't rigorous without knowing what the distribution of those grades are and/or what the standard deviation is. A median grade of B isn't going to do you any good if 70% of the class gets Bs and only 10% gets As.

You're not paying attention.

The median GPA and mCAT score for MD acceptees is 3.7 and 31 on the old exam scale....about 510 now.

Invest in MSAR Online to see what medians are at different schools. Even a 3.6 can get you into striking distance at Harvard or Stanford.

Two years ago 10th percentile for Harvard/Hopkins were >3.7 and 10th percentile for Stanford was 3.65.

 

[aldol16]

I believe this question has been answered on SDN again and again. Or rather, not answered. There is no numerical correction factor that anybody uses to correct grades between undergraduate universities. That's why the MCAT exists. Any grade from any "prestigious" university is impossible to tell from any grade from any non-prestigious university. Is an A at Harvard "worth" more? Considering the rampant grade inflation, perhaps not. Oh, but these are the cream of the crop to begin with! Well, they'll say "tough luck." There are many people with high GPAs who are applying to med school from Harvard. If they could do it, why couldn't you?

Your application is viewed holistically, with all of your essays, activities, scores, etc. Nobody is going to look at your application and say "this kid only got a 3.6 from WashU so we can't offer him an interview. He fell just shy of that 3.7 mark that he needs to compete with this other kid with a 4.0 from state school A." They'll look at you holistically.