GPA? MCAT? LOR? Rank the order ...

[Maigret Man]

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Hey folks,

I just started a post-bacc, pre-med program. I am trying to get my ducks in a row. Please rank the order of importance for the following:

- GPA
- Letters of rec
- MCAT score
- Patient contact (such as working as a CNA or EMT)
- Research
- Volunteer activities

Feel free to add one if I am missing something.

Thanks!

Maigret Man

 

[shock827]

probably depends on what you're deficient in. GPA and MCAT are pretty important though.

 

[dr.z]

I think MCAT scores are very important maybe more so than GPA at many places. Other extracurricular things may depend on the schools.

- MCAT score
- GPA
- Letters of rec

- Patient contact (such as working as a CNA or EMT)
- Research
- Volunteer activities

 

[DubZteR]

Hey folks,

I just started a post-bacc, pre-med program. I am trying to get my ducks in a row. Please rank the order of importance for the following:

- GPA
- Letters of rec
- MCAT score
- Patient contact (such as working as a CNA or EMT)
- Research
- Volunteer activities

Just my opinion based on my experiences so don't flame me!

MCAT > GPA > Volunteer activities/Research > LOR > Patient Contact

 

[indo]

mcat is more important for getting secondaries (except at nyu and wake forest) and a low gpa is a pre interview deal-breaker

 

[Khenon]

MCAT > GPA > Volunteer activities/Research > LOR > Patient Contact

This is how I would rank them, minus the research. I've posted this a couple of times, but the need for research to get into med school is a myth. It can go down with patient contact or lower, IMHO. 🙂

 

[blump]

This is how I would rank them, minus the research. I've posted this a couple of times, but the need for research to get into med school is a myth. It can go down with patient contact or lower, IMHO. 🙂

you all are ridiculous...it is not that simple. Why is everyone so obsessed with rankings? Also, i would have to say that a very high GPA and a decent MCAT score is better than a low GPA and a very good MCAT score (depending on where you went to undergrad)

 

[sstache1]

GPA, espically science GPA, reigns supreme in my opinion. It's was the leading contributor to my wonderful status of becoming a reapplicant.

 

[Khenon]

you all are ridiculous...it is not that simple. Why is everyone so obsessed with rankings? Also, i would have to say that a very high GPA and a decent MCAT score is better than a low GPA and a very good MCAT score (depending on where you went to undergrad)

Why would you pick out my post to say that? 😕 Besides, I think everyone knows it's not that simple . . . we (or at least "I") were just participating in this thread.

Just so you know, I haven't thought any of your posts have been "ridiculous." 🙂

 

[KiKat37]

you all are ridiculous...it is not that simple. Why is everyone so obsessed with rankings? Also, i would have to say that a very high GPA and a decent MCAT score is better than a low GPA and a very good MCAT score (depending on where you went to undergrad)

Woa... I thought that mean/rude ppl only posted in the other forums... Have they invaded the re-applicants forum too??! This forum was so peaceful... 🙁

Blump, we all know that it's not that simple. We were just trying to help the OP by answering his question.

 

[shawred]

Many schools use this formula for initial cutoffs:

MCAT Score + (GPA x 10) = ?

Example: MCAT 35, GPA 3.7
35+37=72

As you can see, the MCAT is weighted similarly. But if you look at it as ONE exam versus four years of work, you realize it is disproportionately in favor of the MCAT. This is why when students study for the MCAT, they should not worry about keeping all A's. A "B" or two will knock your GPA down a tenth, but 5 extra points on the MCAT will more than offset that deficit. That is why I roll my eyes when people say that their MCAT score was bad because they were taking a full load. One, you probably shouldn't load up with physics, biochem, and o-chem while you are taking the MCAT, and two, that precious 3.9 is really not worth saving, considering that by "save" I mean, "oh NO!! My gpa PLUMMETED to a pathetic 3.78." What would you rather have? A 3.78 and a 33 MCAT, or a 3.92 and a 27? (A FOUR point difference according to the formula above)

 

[2112_rush]

My impression is that MCAT is more important than GPA. Same as SAT or ACT is more important than high school grades and Step scores are extremely important for residency. Grades vary alot from institution to institution so standardized tests are more reliable indicators of, well something, maybe analytical thinking skills. I'd disagree with the poster that put clinical experience last. Some schools think that's important and having great clinical experience can really set you apart from other applicants.

 

[Rupert Pumpkin]

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[blump]

Woa... I thought that mean/rude ppl only posted in the other forums... Have they invaded the re-applicants forum too??! This forum was so peaceful... 🙁

Blump, we all know that it's not that simple. We were just trying to help the OP by answering his question.

I am sorry, i didnt mean to offend any one at all...

 

[MoosePilot]

Oh really? How did you come to know that? (Not badgering, just curious.) A lot of the schools I've read about explicitly state that they don't make formulaic decisions, including a lot of the top med schools. Also, do you think studying for half a school year plus the summer is overkill for the August MCAT if you want 35+?

As long as you don't burn out, you can't overstudy this test. However, I do also believe that it takes some testing skills to make a 35+, so that amount of study doesn't insure you the score.

 

[Khenon]

Oh really? How did you come to know that? (Not badgering, just curious.) A lot of the schools I've read about explicitly state that they don't make formulaic decisions, including a lot of the top med schools. Also, do you think studying for half a school year plus the summer is overkill for the August MCAT if you want 35+?

I went to a pre-med seminar thing here at Mayo, and the director of admissions gave us this equation too (mayo specifically uses 10xGPA + MCAT > 60).

 

[Rupert Pumpkin]

.

 

[virilep]

like people said, the GPA and MCAT are initial cut off stuff, then the other stuff you do comes into play. there are other things that are like special circumstances. I know of a guy that had a 3.4 and got into vandy... but he was a vietnam vet. so i mean, it's all different. to the OP, concentrate on what you're deficient in. some schools do have certain numbers. there's a interesting thread on stanford's inside view. just look it up. gluck.