Do med schools consider a possible grade inflation?

[platanus]

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I'm not sure if there really is a grade inflation.

However, do med schools seriously consider it? (if there is one).

 

[TheMemoirist]

Well, I don't think they consider grade inflation so much as they consider schools that are notoriously strict in grading. (For example, I have heard that MIT students receive more leeway because that school is known to be very strict in it's grading. That's just hearsay, though.)

Grade inflation, in general, I think, is accounted for by the MCAT. The impression I've always gotten is that the MCAT still stands as the objective judge of an applicants competitiveness with students from different schools where grade inflation may be more or less an issue.

Other thoughts?

 

[Doublecortin]

Well, I don't think they consider grade inflation so much as they consider schools that are notoriously strict in grading. (For example, I have heard that MIT students receive more leeway because that school is known to be very strict in it's grading. That's just hearsay, though.)

Grade inflation, in general, I think, is accounted for by the MCAT. The impression I've always gotten is that the MCAT still stands as the objective judge of an applicants competitiveness with students from different schools where grade inflation may be more or less an issue.

Other thoughts?

well, most if not all Ivies are known for their grade inflation, yes adcomms would give you bonus points for going there vs a state school, which can be as hard as hell

 

[lord_jeebus]

Adcoms are aware that grading is not constant from one school to the next. In the interest of admitting the best applicants, they will endeavor to take this into account.

 

[Maxprime]

I think they use common sense. For example, while Harvard may be notorious for "grade inflation" - remember who these kids are competing against. Most of the kids in their classes had 4.0's in high school and 1500s on their SATs. If you're middle of the pack in that group of individuals, I don't think you deserve a C average for undergrad.

I think the only people that are docked are people from really tiny schools that no one has heard of. If you get a 4.0 from some place like Nephew of Jefferson James College in New Mexico, I think they rely on the MCAT a lot more. (again, common sense - most people would)

 

[dd128]

I don't think a lot of schools publish the fact that they inflate grades. Nor is there any kind of reliable source from which to determine what schools inflate grades. The only source they would have is hearsay, and I doubt adcoms are going to make decisions based on anecdotal evidence.

 

[lord_jeebus]

I don't think a lot of schools publish the fact that they inflate grades. Nor is there any kind of reliable source from which to determine what schools inflate grades. The only source they would have is hearsay, and I doubt adcoms are going to make decisions based on anecdotal evidence.

They do have data of thousands of applicants each year with GPAs and MCAT scores.

 

[Bananas Foster]

They do have data of thousands of applicants each year with GPAs and MCAT scores.

And that data, very consistently, shows average grades are increasing among applicants nationwide.

Now is it grade inflation or are applications simply becoming more competitive? Actually doesn't matter, either way that 3.7 just wasn't what it used to be...

 

[littlealex]

I went to a school with a reputation for being competitive, and I have to say that from my interview experiences, my GPA got a lot more respect than it would had had I gone to a state school.

 

[ohnodapopo]

well, most if not all Ivies are known for their grade inflation, yes adcomms would give you bonus points for going there vs a state school, which can be as hard as hell

I dont know if that is true. Plus, consider that the competition at these schools can be insanely difficult.

 

[BigRedder]

well, most if not all Ivies are known for their grade inflation, yes adcomms would give you bonus points for going there vs a state school, which can be as hard as hell

Dude, that was your second anti-Ivy post in under 10 minutes, you really just sound bitter. Have you ever tried taking pre-med classes at an Ivy institution? That's where the MOST intense people go, because they know that it will help them on their application. Then consider that the curve is set at C+/B-. That will not help you get into med school.

 

[dienekes88]

I'm not sure if there really is a grade inflation.

However, do med schools seriously consider it? (if there is one).

I remember somebody at Dartmouth saying that the admissions office had each of their app readers go through the same set of colleges every year - similar to the college application process. The guy reading for X college was accustomed to seeing the grade distribution for that school and knew the lingo for the more common LOR-writers.

Maybe they won't specifically factor in grade inflation, but they will see how competitive you are against the other applicants coming from your school over the past few years.

well, most if not all Ivies are known for their grade inflation, yes adcomms would give you bonus points for going there vs a state school, which can be as hard as hell

Hahaha.

Dude, that was your second anti-Ivy post in under 10 minutes, you really just sound bitter. Have you ever tried taking pre-med classes at an Ivy institution? That's where the MOST intense people go, because they know that it will help them on their application. Then consider that the curve is set at C+/B-. That will not help you get into med school.

Eh... Haters are gonna hate.

 

[NewmansOwn]

I went to a school with a reputation for being competitive, and I have to say that from my interview experiences, my GPA got a lot more respect than it would had had I gone to a state school.

I don't know where you went, but you're making an ignorant generalization. Some state schools are superior to most private schools. Consider UCLA, Berkeley, UVA, Michigan, William & Mary and Wisco. These schools are insanely competitive for undergraduate admission, especially for out-of-state applicants. Not only that, most are known for not letting you slack off once you're there.

 

[jad2121]

I'm not sure if there really is a grade inflation.

However, do med schools seriously consider it? (if there is one).

no way they take grade inflation into account, otherwise Harvard kids wouldn't get in anywhere

 

[veaselhaufen]

Dude, that was your second anti-Ivy post in under 10 minutes, you really just sound bitter. Have you ever tried taking pre-med classes at an Ivy institution? That's where the MOST intense people go, because they know that it will help them on their application. Then consider that the curve is set at C+/B-. That will not help you get into med school.

I took orgo at an ivy. It probably was easier than my run of the mill state school.

 

[FutureDoc4]

I currently go to an ivy, but I did not start here. I transfered in (for a variety of reasons I won't go into here). However, I started at a "lower" ranked school. During my time at both places I took science and humanities classes. I have to say it's the same everywhere. No matter where you are there are slackers, super motivated people, the genius, etc. And when it comes to grades, I found the intensity to be the same at both institutions.

 

[yaniv34]

well, most if not all Ivies are known for their grade inflation, yes adcomms would give you bonus points for going there vs a state school, which can be as hard as hell

Come to Cornell. Major in a science or engineering. You'll have TONS of fun.

 

[Doublecortin]

no way they take grade inflation into account, otherwise Harvard kids wouldn't get in anywhere

.

Seriously,

and I am not an Ivy-hater. I just think you should be judged on the merits of your application, and not on your pedigree. I've heard countless stories of MIT kids taking a bunch of pre-reqs at Harvard BECAUSE they were easier there

 

[novastorm]

I honestly don't think they care about "grade inflation", its why we have the mcat.