GPA/MCAT Combo

[jkeaton88]

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I heard from someone that medical schools typically use the following formula to measure your numerical competitiveness, assuming that your GPA and MCAT are above a certain threshold: (GPA x 10) + MCAT. How much of this is true? Would this mean a student who has 3.9 GPA and 33 MCAT is roughly equivalent to a student with 3.7 GPA and 35 MCAT?

 

[NickNaylor]

I heard from someone that medical schools typically use the following formula to measure your numerical competitiveness, assuming that your GPA and MCAT are above a certain threshold: (GPA x 10) + MCAT. How much of this is true? Would this mean a student who has 3.9 GPA and 33 MCAT is roughly equivalent to a student with 3.7 GPA and 35 MCAT?

On SDN this is called the "LizzyM score." Search and you'll probably find more information.

 

[Narmerguy]

I heard from someone that medical schools typically use the following formula to measure your numerical competitiveness, assuming that your GPA and MCAT are above a certain threshold: (GPA x 10) + MCAT. How much of this is true? Would this mean a student who has 3.9 GPA and 33 MCAT is roughly equivalent to a student with 3.7 GPA and 35 MCAT?

If this is a real case, this is the reason why taking advice from fellow premeds can backfire quite easily. As in this case, something close to the truth gets distorted and presented as fact when it is both wrong and circumstantial.

Anyway, as Nick said, that calculation is the LizzyM score, and its creation was for the intent of giving applicants a quick idea of which schools they should apply to (because they likely have a good chance of getting interviewed). You compare your LizzyM score to the average GPA/MCAT of the accepted students at that school.

Lizzy has suggested that you actually subtract one from your own score when comparing, while others (applicants that is) have added one point to their own score when making the comparison to determine where to apply.

However, at the end of the day, this is not a numbers game and each school handles their numbers differently.

 

[Halcyon03]

From talking with multiple deans of admission during interview days, adcoms are increasingly depending on MCAT scores as a measurement of student's future success. So I'm glad I didn't use this algorithm when deciding where to apply, instead relying on my MCAT score to gauge my probabilities.

 

[apumic]

From talking with multiple deans of admission during interview days, adcoms are increasingly depending on MCAT scores as a measurement of student's future success. So I'm glad I didn't use this algorithm when deciding where to apply, instead relying on my MCAT score to gauge my probabilities.

Statistically, this rings true. MCAT is always worth at least 50% and is often worth slightly more. cGPA and sGPA are each about 25% of the equation with cGPA being closer to 30% and sGPA closer 20% (yes, sGPA<cGPA). The exact numbers can be calculated by trending the AMCAS acceptance grid. The value of the MCAT relatively to sGPA and cGPA varies by their relative numbers.

 

[Tapepsi]

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[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I think it's true. My score would be a 66 and the school I got into if you calculate the average GPA and MCAT of an admitted student it would be a 67.

Just remember though some schools put more weight on one category than the other. In my case, they put a lot of emphasis on good undergrad GPA's (higher than the average admitted student to MD school).

Just remember: This is a good way to decide where you will get an interview at. In terms of acceptance, you need to show them you're more than just numbers.

Applying early is also equal to a + 1 to your LizzyM. That's right Apumic?

 

[Tapepsi]

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