Do certain medical schools tack on extra points to GPA depending on UG school?

[Furballer]

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I have searched the forum, read many threads, but they're very vague. I've been told med schools (not all) can add an unofficial boost to your gpa depending which UG school you went to. Probably not based 100% off US News WR ranking, but is this still true in 2012? Are students at a slight disadvantage for going to unranked smaller schools perhaps?

 

[Narmerguy]

I have searched the forum, read many threads, but they're very vague. I've been told med schools (not all) can add an unofficial boost to your gpa depending which UG school you went to. Probably not based 100% off US News WR ranking, but is this still true in 2012? Are students at a slight disadvantage for going to unranked smaller schools perhaps?

Sure at some schools you'll be at a slight disadvantage. It's meaningless trying to generalize how much that disadvantage would be as different schools handle these things differently--thus the vagueness in the other threads. Short of some written confirmation from a school's adcom, most people have nothing to go on but speculation and urban myths.

 

[boshtrich]

I have been told that some schools compare average GPA with average MCAT scores for several undergad schools to determine the degree of grade inflation/deflation. However, as Namerguy said, this is still total speculation and could be totally untrue. In general, I wouldn't plan on getting any "bonus" GPA points based on what school you went to or what major you did. I was a chemical engineering major at a school known for grade deflation and doubt that I got any sympathy from admission committees.

 

[mimelim]

It is real, but don't count on it.

I had a 3.4 in Physics from a big name undergrad. I interviewed at HMS, Hopkins, Wash U. etc. What got me those interviews was the rest of my application (MCAT, major publications...) What stopped that 3.4 from holding my application back was that I was taking 20+ credits a semester of Physics courses in a tough program.

I doubt it 'helped' to come from a particular school, but I'm sure it made it a TON easier for the admissions committee member who had to counter the derisive question of their fellow adcom, "but he has just a 3.4?"

 

[cuculici1]

LizzyM has posted on here that it there is a little GPA lenience given to people coming from tougher schools, although you have to have a high MCAT to counterbalance the below average GPA.